HAPPY NEW YEAR, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY THANKSGIVING.....

Did I forget any? I am SO bad. I'm so attached to Facebook that I forget I should stop by here more often.

This is a crazy place. This morning it was 28 degrees. When I left the nail salon at noon it was nearing 70. And it's going to be warmer for a few more days. Then we start again.....That's why everyone stays sick around here.

I have to be glad this year is over. It doesn't top the list of the finest! The worst was in July when David's mother died. She was 98 and would have been 99 in another month. It truly was one of the cases of where it was time. The only enjoyable part was seeing family that we hadn't seen in awhile. We went back to the cemetery to check on things before we came home. Guess Michael got a little tired in the heat!

My favorite LNS has closed. Last Saturday was the last day. I will miss indulging my addiction so often, but I think the worse part is not seeing Diane or any of the other girls so often anymore. Of course, there's enough stuff in my stash to last me several lifetimes. Then again, Houston and New Orleans are nearby, so I'll get a fix every now and then.

I was 65 this year. Where did it go? And I've already had the first visit to the doctor for the year.  I've had back trouble for years and during the Christmas holidays it went south! Sooner or later I will have to have it fixed and I really dread it. Sometimes back surgery makes things worse.

As far as crafty stuff, I will try to get some photos up. I've been knitting a lot and have pretty well focused on two stitchy projects: ByGone Stitches Christmas carol sampler and also Anniversaries of the Heart. My goal this year is to catch up on my LHN's ornies. I have a lot done, but need to catch up as I stitch the ones for this year.

Linzie is still the light of our lives. She is so cute and so smart and doesn't like fireworks. She has us trained beautifully! Giselle and Mia still spend a lot of time with us. And I'm glad to report that I didn't see too many of our resident serpents this year. Not that I looked for them.

Since my back has had me waylaid for a few weeks, I've been obsessing on Cranford.  Don't know how many times I've watched both series. Now if  Downton Abbey will just start..

So that's about life here. Dull, I suppose, but keeps moving along. I'm considering setting up a cooking blog. Well, baking, mainly. I'm still thinking of names and how I will organize it.

We're all anxious around here. Monday night is the BCS Championship game. LSU vs. Alabama. We all know where I stand. We lost to them in November, but I don't think we will this time. ROLL TIDE!

Until then, smooth sailing ahead for all of you.

SOME CATCHING UP TO DO....

Here is "Quaker Christmas" in its new home-over the mantle in my bathroom. The clock belonged to my parents and is quite old. I still haven't decided what else to put on the mantle. Maybe a small plant? The bottle that says Bath Waters actually came from Bath, England. It came home with me from one of my trips to England.

It's the full moon, so it's time for a Totally Useless SAL report. I had lots of ords and thread wrappers from kitting "A Summer Ball" and "Chaplain's Garden". There's also a Belle Soir and some GA papers.

And here they are. All tucked away in their glass balls. They're growing! Had to change bowls. This one is an antique Japanese dish. I'm going to have to find a very BIG bowl by the end of the year.

And work is progressing on "Chaplain's Garden". I've ordered its companion "Murrle House". It's here but I haven't picked it up yet.

And my favorite: "A Summer Ball". I usually have a piece handy for traveling or sitting for a while so that I can just fill in and not have to refer to the chart. Looks like this one is it. I am going to change the white in the yellow dress to a pale yellow (instructions call for white). I just think it would look better.

My friends are doing well. Diane came thru her surgery well and Deanne is receiving her first infusion today. Thanks for prayers!

OBSESSIONS!

Well, I guess my mojo is back. I'm obsessing with The Summer Ball. I've finished the two left women (except for some back stitching and filling in). It's been a long time since I've worked on aida and I had forgot how quickly it stitches. I've never had any trouble with half crosses so no problem there. I'm going to change some colors: there's even one figure that's going to have my red hair! And Chaplain's Garden is coming along, too. A lot of ords for my Totally Useless SAL this time.

Siobban is getting me started on my next obsession. She did a piece and did a feature on it on Stitch Bitch's site. I've looked it up and am going to add it to the old stash in the next few weeks. The only source I've found is Volarium. The sampler is called Le Marquoir de Justine. It's just lovely and has a great story behind the sampler.

My friend Diane Guillory at my LNS, Cross Stitch Corner, had a pacemaker installed yesterday and is doing great. Lots of kind thoughts go out to her. And to my friend Deanne Webb, who is going to begin some experimental therapy at MD Anderson beginning Tuesday. Deanne is proof-perfect that God answers prayers. She has melanoma of the liver and needed this treatment. Her insurance company was a little hesitant to cover the costs. After a lot of prayers from our church and friends, it's going to be covered. And if you all will, say a prayer or two for her-and Diane's- quick recovery.

And I'm a happy camper. Saturday, when I had my little collision, I was on the way to a lab to have some blood work done. I got the results Wednesday and it couldn't have been better. As most of you know, I have heart disease and sometimes blood chemistries aren't always great. Well, this time they were: no diabetes, no bad liver studies and great cholesterol levels. Haven't been this low in a long time. PTL.

I'm still going to take those photos and I have a great recipe to send along. But I'm going to take the afternoon and see the new Harry Potter film.