Two Finish Weekend

I finished that sewing box thingy for my mom. Unfortunately I didn't think to snap a picture of it, but I'll do that one day this week hopefully. It was much easier than I expected, however it was very time consuming. Next time I'll think ahead and make the box part ahead of time.

My second finish was Little House Needlework's Americana Sampling. I felt like an idiot. I've had this mostly finished in my stitching bag for months and never pulled it out. Last night I decided to go ahead and work on it, and I was able to finish it in just a couple of hours. Why was I such a slacker all this time?? Anyway, I'm going to pop it in a distressed white frame and give it to my dad for Father's day. I'm selling the kit leftovers for $10 if anyone is interested. I swapped out the original fabric, so that's still in the kit, plus the chart and the threads. There's plenty of all the colors except maybe one. Even in that one, I think there's enough to squeak by. You can email me at autumn.crochet@gmail.com if you want it.

Spongebob Addiction

In my kids? No! In my husband! We started watching it here and there because the kids liked it and we could both tolerate it. Then, I'd notice he'd put it on before the kids would even ask for it. It didn't bother me too much because I think the show is pretty cute some times. Well, this weekend he put it on every time it was on. We have like 4 Nickelodeon channels so it's pretty much on from 8 am to 10 pm. I was ready to strangle him! Hopefully this is just a phase.

Sick, so sick

I think yesterday was one of the worst sick days ever. I was in really bad shape. Lauren got sick on Tuesday, but she seemed to be ok by Wednesday. And no one else seemed to have gotten sick, so I thought we were in the clear. Thursday morning, really early Maria woke up and crawled up on my chest and then proceeded to throw up all over me. Pretty gross. Then when Eva woke up she threw up all over the place. So, I had to go to work to run a few errands then I went home. Good thing too. I can't recall being so violently ill. Once all the throwing up stopped the aches and chills started. However, I did get in a lot of sleep. I feel about 75% better today.

Here's the link to that Mirabilia RR The pattern is Enchanted Mermaid and that RR belongs to Diane in Australia. It's going to be so pretty when its finished.

I've also been working on my mom's birthday present. I was pleased with myself because I was cruising along on it so fast. Then I realized I made a mistake in it and I can't fudge it. So I need to cut out a lot of stitches. Bummer!

The Mirabilia RR

I'm still working feverishly on all the beading. I should have it done this evening. Watch this space for my final picture!

Potty Training

This is going better than I could have ever expected. Lauren and Maria pretty much got themselves started. We were really sort of hit or miss in the beginning until I hit upon the fact that they didn't want to use the potty chairs. They want to use the big potty. This does cause a lot of fighting over who gets on it first, but it's worth it to save a few diapers a day. They aren't 100% at all but they can tell me when they have to go and they usually go when they get on the potty, but they still have to wear diapers for the time being. It'll be a happy happy day when they're out of diapers!

Mother's Day Weekend

It started off good. I had friday off work because my dad was doing his heart cath. He came out of that fine. No problems whatsoever. I had the morning planned out, the girls and I were going to run errands. Our first stop was Hobby Lobby. Just as I pulled in the parking lot, Lauren got sick. So, we had to go to Exxon and clean her and the carseat up. Then we went to Wal-Mart to get her some new clothes. Then we went back to Hobby Lobby. (I really had to go!) Then we were going to go to Target, but none of us really felt like it anymore. So we swung by McDonald's and got lunch then went and had a picnic in the park. Then we went home and watched Nanny McPhee. I have to say that I really enjoyed that movie. I didn't even stitch while I watched it.

Saturday we all went swimming at the health club. Lauren and Maria really wouldn't get in. The kiddie pool has a ramp entry and they'd be about up to their ankles and that was good enough for them. I eventually just grabbed them and sat in the big pool with them so they'd get used to it. We were all doing good until this plastic tarantula floated by. It bumped up against my arm and I nearly had a heart attack. So, they were pretty much done with being in the water after that. Then I went stitching at my LNS for a little while, and DH took the girls home. It was nice, there weren't too many people there. Then I got to sit back as the house was cleaned. That was my Mother's Day gift.

Sunday we were going to a crawfish boil at my uncle's house. Nobody ever told me what time it was supposed to be. I assumed it was at lunch time. We always do stuff at lunch time. Well, this time it was at 4 pm. So we got there really early. It wasn't too bad though. I watched the kids while my aunt went shopping and my husband and my uncle went off somewhere, I don't really know what they were doing. My grandparents also showed up early. So then the kids wanted to go swimming. So, my grandparents and I were watching them while they were swimming. Thank God I was there, Eva got herself in the deep end and couldn't get herself back. I had to jump in with all my clothes on to get her out. So, I got to sit around in wet clothes for the next few hours. Anyway, eventually every one else got there along with the crawfish. The kids got back in the pool again, but this time some adults were in there. When we all got home, we just crashed. It had been a long day!

I can't wait to watch the Gray's Anatomy finale tonight. Looks like it's going to be good. The President's speech better not interfere with it or I'm going to be pretty cranky.

The Day After

Well, I had a day off yesterday. It was pretty nice. Although, the reason that I had it off was because my dad was having a heart cath done, but he didn't end up getting it done because his temperature was too high and they wouldn't do it. So, it looks like I'll be having another day off next week.

I cleaned, a lot. I stitched, quite a bit. I ate, way too much. I took the girls to a restaurant I've been wanting to go to, Cheeburger Cheeburger. It was really good. Then we went to the Nestle Toll House store next door. Their chocolate chip walnut cookies are divine. That was our first time there too.

We finally got our Laurie Berkner DVD in the mail. It was quite enjoyable. I think I may have liked it more than Eva. Her favorite was We Are the Dinosaurs. Mine was Victor Vito.

Then I went to my stitching night. I left early so Marjean, Vicki and I could talk about everyone else. Ha ha ha! Just kidding. We went to Deangelos. I'm really glad that I've found people so willing to go there. I love that place but my husband isn't a big fan.

They finally got a good theme on American Idol, although I wish they would have done it earlier in the season so that more people could have participated. I think either Kat might be going home tonight.

I've been working on my Mirabilia RR. Hopefully I'll finish that soon. I started on my Foldable Book RR. And I'm about half done with my B page for the Erica Michaels book.

That's about it!

No News is Good News

I'm here, things are just so slow! Nothing going on AT ALL!!

When it Rains, It Pours

Friday's rain was pretty much nothing, but we finally got a really good rain last night. Then the bottom dropped out this morning. It stormed and poured for a good 3 hours. There was some pretty heavy duty flooding out around our house this morning.

The kids were terrified of the thunder. Actually, I think Eva was acting all scared, but I think she was just doing that to be cute. I don't think she was actually scared of it. Lauren and Maria on the other hand were like little spider monkeys crawling all over me whenever it would thunder. They were pretty upset, especially Lauren, she had a death grip on me.

I got a little stitching done last night. I started on my mom's etui. I got the pin cushion cover started and finished. I started on the box cover. I think it'll be a pretty quick stitch. We'll have to see how long the actual construction takes.
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Ok, so I haven't said anything about the New Orleans election. I knew it was going to come down to Nagin and Landrieu. They were the only ones that were running an election campaign here. I think there were too many people running. Perhaps if there were so many Forman could have gotten a few more votes and edged one of them out of there.

I personally don't think that either Nagin or Landrieu should be mayor. Nagin, well, for the obvious reason. Landrieu, because he's part of the history of neglect in New Orleans. Louisiana really has to get out of the habit of re-electing the same people (and their relatives) over and over again.

The biggest benefit of electing Landrieu though, would be that it would get him out of the Governor's Office. He's currently the Lt. Governor. Although, it would cause a bit of a problem if Blanco finally went nuts and had to be removed from office. The Lt. Governor wouldn't be able to take office because whoever would take Landrieu's place would be appointed and an appointed official can't become governor. The next in line is the Secretary of State, but the SOS is also appointed because the previous one died. After that, I don't know who is in line. I guess I should check that out.

Near Disaster

Lauren and Maria decided to help me stitch my A Page for the Erica Michaels book. Unfortunately they took the scissors to it and made 7 holes in it, right in the middle of the stitching. Fortunately, there were only 1 or 2 threads clipped in each section. I did some creative reorganization to make sure stitching covered the holes and disregarded some stitching rules like stitches go over 2 threads. So that's why some of my stitches look a little messed up, but from a distance I don't think you can tell. That's what I'm telling myself anyway.

I changed some of the threads. I used some golds to lighten it up a little bit.

Here's My A Page

And I finally scanned in the cows that I have received so far!

A Chance of Rain?

We actually have a 50% chance of rain for tomorrow evening. Please please please let it rain. We're in a "severe drought". We haven't had any measureable rain in over a month. And currently this is the driest January, February, March and April in Louisiana's recorded history. The last time this happened Governor Foster asked the citizens of Louisiana to pray for rain and we got Tropical Storm Allison that dumped like 2 ft. of rain on us.

This weather has my allergies in overdrive. I've been coughing for 2 months straight. It's getting really old. And I finally had to break down and buy allergy eye drops.

And if it couldn't be any worse, it's been like 90 degrees. In April! What's in store for August? And this doesn't bode well for the upcoming hurricane season. All that Gulf water is going to be superheated much earlier in the season, especially when you consider that we pretty much didn't have a winter.


I had a little story to tell about Eva. I was really impressed with her vocabulary considering she's only 4. When I picked her up from school she was obviously in a bad mood, so I was feeling her out trying to find out what was wrong. She finally broke down and told me that school was just too difficult. I was surprised to hear her use the word difficult rather than an easier word. Then later, Lauren kept telling her no, and Eva was all upset. It was actually pretty funny. I kept telling Eva to go lay down on the sofa and relax and Lauren kept telling her no. Eva would get all upset because Lauren kept telling her no. I'm like hello? Are you going to listen to me or Lauren? Anyway, Eva started crying and said that Lauren was horrible. That was another big word to use when there were so many other easier ones. So something's working somewhere.


Here's my most recent stitching finish. I stitched the bottom band for Suz's TWRR. It's from TW's English Garden Sampler.

Easter

We had a good Easter. Other than a huge mess, it went pretty smoothly. We had an Easter Egg hunt at my parent's house on Saturday. On Sunday we went to my parent's church and then we went to my grandparents for Easter dinner. Overall it was pretty nice.

I actually have pictures!! Be sure to check out the "I'm so cool" picture of my husband. Ha ha ha!


Here's the link to that Etui kit that I got. I ended up getting another kit at Hobby Lobby today. I got it for $2 cheaper than the first one too. I'm going to make one for my mom and one for myself. I've been thinking about making templates out of the pieces so I could make another one if I wanted without having to by the entire kit again. I think you could probably cut the boards out of illustration board rather than what the kit comes with. Would that be some sort of copyright infringement?

Randomness

Well I got Lauren and Maria's hair cut yesterday. Their first haircuts. They look pretty cute. I would have taken pictures, but yesterday was like the day from hell.

We didn't get home until like 5. Eva was throwing a fit because she wanted to watch Spongebob, but that comes on at 4 so it was already over. I was trying to clean the kitchen and unload and load the dishwasher with two little helpers that kept getting underfoot. Plus, supper needed to be cooked and everyone fed. Then I had to fill plastic eggs for the egg hunt at Eva's school and start makeing 4 dozen cookies for the party at school. I did that then threw all three girls in the shower. That was a major mess. Lauren and Maria really didn't like it. Then once I got everyone dressed I went back to the cookies. At this point Eva started throwing another fit because she wanted to go play outside. In the midst of all this I hear Maria saying "poo poo". She had taken off her diaper and went on the carpet and if that wasn't bad enough, stepped in it and tracked it all over the floor. Now of course their father wasn't home during all of this. Thank heaven for Oxyclean Carpet Cleaner. Came right out, and good job to ME for picking it up on a whim the last time I went shopping.

So the much awaited FEMA flood maps finally came out. I don't know if it's good news or bad news. Basically it boils down to you have to raise your house 1-3 feet above the water level at the highest point of the flood, if you want to be able to purchase flood insurance. So, like those big huge houses on the Lakefront might need to be raised as much as 15 feet. That's not only not very financially feasible, but aesthetically it's going to look really foolish. A lot of people are predicting that this will push more people over the edge of not going back.

Easter is what like 3 days away or something and I realized last night that I have no idea where the Easter baskets are. I looked and I could only find one and thank goodness I did, because Eva needed to bring one to school today. And I haven't done any shopping whatsoever. I was also dumb and volunteered to bake cupcakes for Easter dinner. And to top that, we're going to an 8 am service Easter morning. I'm going to have to get up at like 5 am just to get everyone there on time.

No More Online Browsing!

I already had plans to stitch this Alphabet Series from Brooke's Books. Then, I check out Kiwi Jo's blog and see this Alphabet series from Rainbow Gallery and Erica Michaels. I'm SOOOOO doing this. I think Marjean will too so perhaps we can split some threads and cut down on the cost of the specialty stuff. The finishing might be a little bit hard, but since I finished my Bee Charmer, I'm a little more confident in my finishing skills.






My next big finishing project is an Etui for my mom. I can't seem to find a picture of it online, but it's one of those kinds that's like a octogon shaped box. When you take off the lid and undo the drawstring the sides fall out like flower petals with all your different pockets and there's pin cushion in the middle. I think it's going to be a challenge! I got the kit at Hobby Lobby for like $5!

Speaking of which, Hobby Lobby is clearing out tons of charts. I got like 50 charts and 2 kits for $60. I've been really bad! Oh well, it's an excellent deal. There was this wretched woman at Hobby Lobby that really raised my ire, but I'm not even going to get into it. I'll just take satisfaction in the fact that she was old and ugly and had gross teeth. LOL

I'm here...really I am

I just haven't had anything to say lately. Plus, I've been sort of busy at work. It's also been very nice outside lately. Hot, but nice. We're supposed to get a cold front this weekend and it'll only be 80 degrees LOL

The girls had a good birthday party. Can you believe what a horrible mother I am? I didn't take pictures. My sister did and I haven't gotten them from her yet.

So yeah, LSU lost. Both men's and women's. Oh well, at least they made it as far as they did.

I heard about Maynard on our local news this morning. It was rather surreal to hear about Green Meadow Elementary School down here. Something about some hugging incident. Something stupid. I guess because of the Magno stuff the media is a little hyperaware of anything that happens in Maynard.

I finished Bee Charmer! Click for a bigger picture

Purple and Gold Day

It has been decreed that today is Purple and Gold Day in the Parish of East Baton Rouge and throughout the State of Louisiana. Why? LSU Men's AND Women's Basketball teams in the Final Four!! Baton Rouge is in a frenzy. Everyone is just so excited and proud. (Ha ha ha....on the radio they're talking about how UCLA is poised to accept the national championship after they lose tomorrow)

Tomorrow is the birthday party. I'm so not looking forward to getting ready for it. I've been cleaning all week and it's like I haven't done anything. It's like I live with a bunch of heathens. I'm not cooking anything for it though. Everything is being ordered. There's a grocery store near our house that makes fried catfish to die for. I'm getting that and some regular party trays. And the Winnie the Pooh birthday cake of course.

Let's see....I've been doing some stitching.

Ann's RR


A Shamrock Cow for my cow quilt


Here's a little WIP pic of Indigo Rose's Bee Charmer. You have to say that like they do in Fried Green Tomatoes...Bee Cha-mah. I'm not so thrilled with working over one. It takes forever.


And my next project is the band that my cousin is using for the handfasting part of her wedding. I charted it all out yesterday and picked my threads. I started working on it last night and I think it may work up quickly. It's only going to be about 4" wide, but it's going to be like 50" long. I'm just doing their names and the date down the middle and a interlocking ring border. Actually, see Ann's RR for an example of what it'll look like, except it'll be silver metallic and a blue overdye thread.

Some Kid Pictures

We played on Lauren and Maria's new swingset today. I got some cute pictures. Click for bigger pictures.






Normally I wouldn't post a huge diaper showing picture, but Lauren was just so proud of herself that she could do that.

Still Coughing

I'm still coughing. It's driving me crazy. It's not as bad as it was, but now it's just that annoying lingering cough. I think if I stop taking Mucinex though, I'll probably drown. I was talking to a lady last night who said that her doctor told her that until New Orleans is cleaned up we're all going to have this Katrina Cough.

I think it's going to be a quiet day at work. My grandparents aren't here today and my uncle has a funeral to go to. So I brought all my stitching so hopefully I'll get some stuff done.

My friend was making dresses for Lauren and Maria's birthday and she finished them. So, I can't wait to see them.

If anyone has any tips to stop Maria from biting Lauren I'm all ears. Lauren has these two huge bruises on her arm where Maria bit her. It's hard, because you can tell Maria knows what she did was wrong and she also seems to feel bad after she's done it. Maybe this is a little phase and hopefully it'll be over soon, or maybe Lauren will bite her back and give her taste of her own medicine.

All's Quiet

Nothing much going on here. I've been cleaning like an insane person trying to get ready for the party this Saturday. I haven't heard from anyone about whether or not they're coming so it could be all for nothing. At least the house is really clean. It's amazing how much you can vacuum and continue to pick stuff up. We just got a new vacuum cleaner with one of those clean carpet sensors and a clear canister so you can see how much stuff is in there. It's really pretty nasty and that carpet is only 2 years old. So, I guess it's a heck of a lot cleaner than it was before.

Lauren and Maria got a swingset from my grandparents for their birthday. They got it a little early. James, my mom, my dad and I put it together over the weekend. They love it. They were having so much fun with it.

Stitchingwise, I'm working on Ann's RR. It should be done in the next day or so. Not too much left on it.

Happy Friday

I've had this cough for about a week and it was just killing me. Wednesday I started getting wheezy when I would walk around, but it would stop when I rested. Well, yesterday I couldn't breathe even when I was sitting still. So, I was talked into going to the doctor. The difference between yesterday and today is absolutely amazing. I'm still coughing, but I feel soooo much better. I can actually breathe. And I can take a deep breath without collapsing into a huge coughing fit. I'm on asthma medicine so all this feeling of euphoria could just be because I'm high, but hopefully it'll be enough to sustain me through the day.

Or the happinness could be that LSU won last night!!! Geaux Tigers!! I was trying to rest last night and I was getting myself all wound up watching the basketball game.