The Faery Glade

It's a chilly March morning here in NH, and so the hunt for a hat and gloves right as the kid was walking out the door was frantic, but productive. Tory went out the door with a kiss, a hug and no fuss this morning. I treasure mornings like this--she is ever her mother's daughter and doesn't do mornings well at ALL. Our mornings (and evenings for that matter) are starting to get less chaotic, less frantic--more organized with much more time for snuggles, tickles, laughs and family time. It has amazed me what one Lenten commitment can bring me.

This year for Lent I wrestled with what to 'give up' and what to 'take up'. There are the tried and true "chocolate, mt. dew, snack foods" but honestly if you know me those make you laugh because talk about setting myself up to fail! As I was driving home from PA in late February, a thought that had been rattling around in my head took hold, hard. When I can't let something go, and it pops into my head at the *oddest* times, I usually realize that's God telling me I'm either right, or wrong! LOL This time, the thought that wouldn't go away was "Give up clutter". I mulled that thought over the entire 8 hour drive home, and realized it was not just clutter of my house I (and God) was referring to, although that was (and is still) where I started.

It was also clutter of my heart, my mind, and my soul. I've used this Lenten season to let go of old stuff--emotions-like anger, hurt, pain, envy--and packed away old memories that did me no good. I am uncluttering my heart from the past struggles with organized religion as I rejoice in the Church and the activities and community we've found there. I am uncluttering my soul of old resentment towards God from ages past. And how freeing and joyful it is let me tell you. But also hard.

Easier is the uncluttering of my house. If it hasn't been used in a year, it probably has been or will be either donated or thrown away. If it hasn't been needed in the entire 4 1/2 years I've lived here, chances are I don't need it! Uncluttering our routines and schedules has helped immensely--all of us. It leaves much more time for the things we *want* to do and not a rush to do what we have to.

Now, if I could just find the strength to unclutter my stitching ;)

Peace to you

The last few days have been blah-ish days for me. Not even sure why, but there were a few moments of 'why did I even get out of bed?' for me lately. I think I'm done with it, which is good because there's no earthly reason for me to feel that way!! It irritates me when things are going well--and have been--and then WHAM! I feel like the weight of the world hit me. So, having spent a lot of time in prayer these last few days, I feel a bunch better! Woke up this morning feeling more positive, and more energetic. I even got breakfast together for the hubby and kid before they flitted out the door. As little of a morning person as I am, Tory usually eats breakfast at school (75 cents for a hot, well balanced meal can't be beat!) and Dan scrounges for a bagel and yogurt usually with his morning coffee. It was nice to sit together and eat!

I sketched out a new design by me yesterday. It's for a secret exchange, so I can't give you any details yet! :) I hope to get it started next Monday after I have my RR out.

Today is going to be a quiet day--I'll probably catch up on some laundry and maybe dust my living room. After that it's going to be stitch stitch stitch until it's time to make the homemade mac-n-cheese to take to the church potluck tonight!

Peace to you,

My closest friends are family of the heart--the family you choose, not the one you're born into. Many of them do not read my blog--some of them I've not yet met face to face. They are no less dear to me and I know I could call them any time, day or night.

I found this on Jamie's blog, and it's so appropriate. Make sure you tell the ones you love that you love them. You never know when it'll be for the last time. Please copy the verse and photo for your blog and carry on the chain of friendship! Leave a comment so we can all follow the chain!


Holding Hands
This picture shows a line of little girls holding hands facing the immensity of ocean waves.
Alone they might be washed away, but together they stand strong.
Thank you for holding my hand somewhere along the way when I was facing a wave of my own.
I hope you will reach for my hand when your own wave threatens.
All of us girls...
Old and young...
Near and far...
Hold special memories of good times we've shared.
We've had our share of hard times when our friends were there to make us feel better.
We've shared...
our hearts
our times
our secrets
our fears
our hopes
and
our dreams.
Let us never break the chain of friends!

Wow I didn't think it had been that long since I blogged. I've been busy lately with cookies, DI competition, a seriously strained back, and life in general!

As far as cookies go, Tory's final personal total was 408 boxes sold, with 150 of those going to US troops!!!!! I am so proud of her, and so thankful to each and every person who bought from us!! Thank you all! She's been confirmed for camp, in early July and both mom and daughter are excited ;)

Destination Imagination competition was Sunday ( after being snowed out Saturday by a freak March blizzard!). DI is *always* a long long long day--we got there at 8 am and left at 6 pm. We were in Tilton, NH which is just over an hour away! It ended up being a 14 hour day, but it's always fun! I got some stitching done, but not much because of my back.

I strained the lower part of my back on a slip on some ice. This was compounding a strain a few weeks ago, so I'm pretty much in tons of pain! LOL The doctor called in some muscle relaxers and that seems to be helping-it's better today. I've also developed some sort of head cold (thank you March snow grrrr) that has my left ear clogged and echoing. Lemme tell ya that is NOT FUN!

The other thing keeping me from stitching lately is I've taken up scrapbooking. Yes yes, I know--ANOTHER HOBBY????????? Yeah okay--but I don't see me being obsessed about this one! No seriously, I enjoyed what I've done so far, and the only reason I've done so much is that there was an online crop for the BB I've joined. Oh yes, and it's all my best friend Crystal's fault. Completely! If you'd like to see some of my layouts, you can go here: Angi's Scrapbook Album

I'm back to stitching now, and am working on some of my March goals :) So far so good!

Peace,

Last night was the Celtic Woman concert in Manchester NH :) We had floor seats we were all very excited about! The concert was not a disappointment at all--lovely singing, some old favorites from their first tour, all of my newest favorites and some new things I've never heard them do. It was amazing! They are apparently alternating the new girl Hayley Westenra with one of the original members, Maev. Maev has a baby and as another example of how wonderful this organization is, they are switching them so she can spend time with her family and Hayley can meet her own commitments.

Tory had an awesome time, and I think had just as much fun pointing out all the different costumes from the DVD, and figuring out where all the lights were coming from as she had listening to the concert! Because she is 9 and thus short, she got to spend the concert on my and her daddy's knee so she could see! She was thrilled! She was also thrilled to get a t-shirt and I got a tote bag with the floral logo. Yes I know, I need another tote bag like I need a hole in my head!

The weather, however, could have been nicer to me!! It felt like -5 with the windchill or colder when we got to the Arena about quarter til 7. MINUS FIVE!!!!!!!! And our seats, were on the floor. In an ice hockey arena. I don't think I thought this one out that well LOL. I shouldn't have worn the skirt set I did--I should have worn sweats! My feet are frozen still I think! When we got out of the concert around quarter til 10, it was even colder!! It's MARCH for pity's sake!!! We are *supposed* to get up into the 30's today and I swear to God it'll be like a tropical heat wave!! I need to live in a warmer climate--seriously.

No stitching since Monday--I'm really starting to get jumpy and twitchy! Today there will be stitching!! After, of course--cookie delivery!

We picked up Tory's Girl Scout cookie sale order last night, and wow is there a lot here! And we don't even have them all!! So far she's sold 377 boxes of cookies, and of those sold 125 are being donated to Operation Soldier for the US Troops in Iraq!! I'm so proud of her, and of me too! LOL I don't think we're going to reach her goal of 500 boxes sold (she'd be recognized as a Cookie Diva by the Council then) but I hope to get over 400 boxes with 'extra' sales. Her troop is doing a few cookie booth sales, and she'll get a percentage of the sale, and we can still take orders for a few more days. Hopefully we'll catch the neighbors we missed :) She had wanted to send at least half her sales to the Troops, but we aren't going to do that. I'd love to send more. We got her camp confirmation as well! She's going to 2 weeks of Girl Scout horseback riding camp! Not cheap, but oh so worth it for her--which is why we PUSHED cookies LOL.

So that'll be my day today-- sorting cookies and starting to deliver. Let's hope we can get them out of the house fast--DH is too tempted LOL!

Have a great day!

Not too much happening today... so I'm going to make this a picture blog! :)
Aren't you glad you chose to read today ? :)

Here's some fav pics of my family!
This is our close friend Jamie who visits us quite a lot! She's become an honorary sister to my kids and I got to teach her stitching, and she's taken to it like a duck to water!

Tory on her way to a soccer game! It's so funny because behind that mouthguard, she still had NO front teeth!!

Her first concert with the clarinet! She looks so grown up.

Dan and Tory snuggling with our Ginger Love Puddle, aka Simba!

My two goofball furbabies--they sleep like this all the time!

Finally my newest start--Ink Circles Cirque de Circles. It's stitched with Vikki Clayton Russian Sage Premium silk on Silkweaver's Meadow Mist Reflections. The floss is a bit more bright/pastel than I thought, and I'm debating ripping it out and changing colors to... something! Not sure what though. It's hard to tell right now, but I don't know how these colors will look in this big design.

I'm resolving to make this a positive day--even if it's only because I'm going to be able to post a lovely picture of my baby girl and myself!

Not much going on right now, I had a new start on Sunday. Didn't have too much time to work on it, but I started Ink Circles Cirque de Circles as part of the Monochrome SAL on the Passione Ricamo board. Really, the SAL was an excuse for Dawn and I to stitch this chart! LOL I'll post a picture of that maybe later, maybe tomorrow.

Here's a few more questions from my comments section:

Again from Outi:
4. Your favourite author?
Boy that's a difficult one. When I was growing up it was Anne McCaffrey with the Pern Series. These days my most read books cover a huge genre gap from fantasy to romance to thrillers! Most often read are Anne Bishop, Nora Roberts and Laurell K Hamilton. I will buy just about anything by Phillipa Gregory too, and I think I have nearly everything Marion Zimmer Bradely wrote! Told ya it was hard!

5. And, of course, you favourite cross stitch designers? :P
My favorite designers are definately Mirabilia, Just Nan, Indigo Rose, and Passione Ricamo. I seem to have tons of WIPS from just these four designers. I also have bunches of Chatelaine as well.

These are from Karen! :)
1. What's the longest you've ever taken to complete a cross stitch project?
Hmm, can I let you know when I complete it? LOL No seriously, not counting an utter UFO that has been hanging around (if I even still have it, I may have pitched it, it was on Aida) for about 20 years--My longest completion would have to be my Midsummer Night's Fairy from Mirabilia. I bought her as a kit from The Stichery, and HATED the Stony Point Linen. DESPISED it. Barely got any progress done on it, and then I discovered hand-dyed fabrics. Restarted it and was zipping along until I sliced the fabric BOTH ways when trying to frog her wing. I was heartbroken, but with the help of some friends was able to reweave, and finish her! She took Best In Show at the Deerfield Fair that year, so it was worth it!!

2. What's your favorite meal?
Anything I don't cook??? Ummm... Probably would have to be Veal Marsala when I can afford it and for a home cooked meal--probably my mom's roast beef, mashed potatos, homemade gravy and corn. I just can't manage to brown the beef like she does!

3. What's your biggest fear?
Being alone

Well that's it for me! Anyone else want to ask questions ? :) :)

Here's the picture of my baby girl and I as I promised!


Take care of yourselves!

Well let's see how I did!

For February I said I would:
1: Finish Shop Models!!!! Both of them.--Okay I've finished 1!!
2: Ship out Spot RR on time-- YES!!
3: Stitch JN RR--YES!!
4: Stitch 5 hours on Autumn Faery Spirit.--YES!!
5: Stitch 2 ornaments-- No :(
6: Start laying out Mira RR--No :(

So I was a little more than 50% on the goals!

So for March I would like to:
1: Finish last shop model--deliver them by March 15!
2: Start Ink Circles Cirque de Circles SAL March 4th
3: Get Mira RR ready to go!
4: Stitch 5 hours on PR Autumn Faery Spirit
5: Stitch JN RR/Spot RR and mail on time!
6: Meet all exchange/mailing obligations!

That seems like enough! Trying to stay realistic!

So I'll answer a few of the questions that were posted in my comments! More will come tomorrow with my trip report!

Outi asked:
1. Where you met your husband?
Well I met him online actually! We were both in a chat room and had known each other through a mutual friend. We got to be good friends for almost a year before we both started admitting how we felt about each other! We started a long distance relationship for 9 months before I moved from PA to NH! :) We got married about a year after that, and this November will be 4 years married!

2. Your favourite colour(s)? (I could make a guess about purple... this is just a hunch. )
You would be right, purple is my very favourite colour!! I have had to promise Dan I won't make the entire house purple. Luckily enough, his favourite is green and it works perfectly with purples and is my second favourite! So we have various shades of purples/greens/blues throughout our house. I think it works!

3. As a kid... what you wanted to be when you grow up?
Well that changed often! What I settled on however, was thinking I wanted to be a teacher. My parents convinced me that history teachers were a dime a dozen and that I should focus on elementary school. I hated it, and have SUCH respect for those that do teach elementary school! I would love to have actually gotten a history degree and taught history in higher grades, but I never finished. Now I'm a stay at home mom, and love it. Although I am thinking about going back to school soon!

More tomorrow!! Peace :)