February 28, 2009

Well my big shopping trip for today was GROCERIES! LOL. When you're retired you get to go once a month and it's a big deal!!!!

My progress on my SALs is:

SMOs

and Prairie Schooler's Christmas Village:

I'm happy with the progress I'm making because I'm ENJOYing it! And that's what's important.

DH is visiting with a friend that he is planning on taking a dog training trip with next week. I am happy that he will be able to go because this for him is like stitching for me and besides... I'll get some quiet alone time which I treasure very much.

Take care of yourself...

love, Cathryn

February 23, 2009

Well, doctor says I'll live! LOLOL. Just a check up. Received Rx's refills and appointment for 4 months from now. Have to work on my circulation. Moving around a bit more. Will try to do that.

Still working on my SALs and Joined another SAL a while back for Blue Ribbon Designs Peppermint Twist. I love that and haven't started it yet. Would like to, though. Hmmm dare I start another???? :-o

DH & I stopped at the Olive Garden for lunch/dinner. I had a shrimp pasta dinner and DH had Eggplant parmegiana.... his favorite! Plus their wonderful salad and breadsticks... whew!!! I am still full and that was 8 hours ago. It was a gift card from one of the people I used to work with. It was wonderful!!! :D

Well, short and sweet this evening. Blessings to all who read. May your life be full, happy and healthy!

love, Cathryn

February 22, 2009

The end of one week or the beginning of another... hmmmm, all in your point of view I guess.

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment, just a regular check up in order to renew meds, etc., but the first since I retired. This time I have to travel many miles to see her instead of just a few minutes from work. :) Ah well, "such is life." I really need to hang that SanMan piece I did (Such Is Life). I say it so often.

This past week I worked somewhat on both my SAL's SanMan and Prairie Schooler. No update pics to post, though.

I hope your world is treating you well. I continue to pray for all us who suffer from the economic downturn and all it's stressors.

Love, hugs and prayers,
Cathryn

February 19, 2009

Good Morning! It's great to be retired!!! LOL. This morning we woke to a "dusting" of snow which wreaked havoc on the highway for drivers trying to make a living. And I sit here with my coffee and orange juice glad to be looking OUT at the world. I wonder just exactly where that "dusting" is???? I say a small prayer for those who HAVE to be out and about and a prayer of gratitude that I am IN.



I've already done a few stitches this morning in my SanMan "Dinky Dozen" SAL. The ice cream cone is almost finished... backstitching to do on the cone part and then I will be finished with July and on to April which will be positioned just above it.



I also want to work some on my designs... November of 2009 is styming me. Everything I try just doesn't turn out right.... and I have started my designs for 2010, but I don't know about them either. I am going to keep doing them, though because I LOVE the idea of them..... :D

Something that crossed my mind this morning... I miss my youngest so much. We used to be so close, but now she is so very busy with working and 2 children. I rarely hear from her and when I do it is 10 min or less. I wonder if this is how MY parents feel. Perhaps this is a teaching that I am supposed to learn from. I do know I have to let it go because everyone has their own lives and they must live them. Sigh... just wish families could live them together. We all seem so far apart.

If you are reading this far... I wish you a peaceful, yet productive day! God Bless!!!

love, Cathryn

February 17, 2009

Well, hopefully I will be able to post what I am stitching on now. :) My WIPs:

This is SanMan Originals Dinky Dozen from 2008... so far. ;)

This is Prairie Schooler's Christmas Village SAL

This is Whispered by the Wind's Cantata (in blue... original was done in red and green).

This is My Big Toe's Serenity Prayer.

Hope you enjoyed looking and come back again.

:D

Cathryn

February 10, 2009

Today was rainy but oddly soothing. Read emails and prayed a lot. It seems that everyone has troubles and is asking for prayer. That is one gift I can always afford to give.

I am currently stitching on a SanMan and Prairie School SAL (Stitch Along) and enjoying them immensely. Sometime I will start posting pictures here, but for now it is so much easier just to post than to add pictures.

DH isn't feeling well today. It's either a cold or allergies. Either way he is miserable.

The weather is so very strange. The snow is all gone and it's been warmer but now tonight and tomorrow there is a good chance of severe weather. I pray again for safety for all.

Take care,
Cathryn

February 8, 2009

What a day. I was just off. We were due to have company this afternoon and spent the day cleaning and chores in spite of both of us not feeling well and then got a call that company wasn't coming due to illness. That was a relief actually. Didn't much feel like it. Still feeling off.

Since retirement I am still trying to feel my way around to see what and who I am. I struggle for the security of routine because nothing is routine any more. I'm not sure if I want it anymore either. There's some comfort in doing exactly what I want when I want to after HAVING to do things.

What a day... here it is dark/evening and I am in a fog.

Take care,
Cathryn

February 5, 2009

Well, I finally did it! Finally took all the ornaments off the tree, wrapped them and the rest of Christmas up, much to my DH's delight! LOLOL. Just didn't have enough energy to do it while I was still working. This retirement stuff is becoming addictive!

Last night was the coldest it's been (since the last time ;) ) The outside temp here read 2*F. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! The poor outside animals are having so much difficulty finding things to eat. DH said that when he and his friend went on a day trip, the deer were at the sides of the road looking for food. They didn't even run scared and they were so thin. Poor things.

Xstitch update: Currently working on SanMan SAL, PS SAL, Canata.

:)
Cathryn

February 3, 2009

The laundry is done, my shower is taken. I'm sitting here while watching it snowing... snowing... snowing... I think we are supposed to get 3-4 more inches on top of the already foot of snow. (All right my Michigan friends... I can just hear you saying... 'that's nothing!') I feel so sorry for the rest of Kentucky who still don't have electricity, still can't get to their homes, still coping with icy cleanup. Prayers go out to them.

Yet... I can't help but be relieved that I don't have to travel 50 miles to work and 50 miles home again. Always struggling getting to and from work - no more!!! Sigh... back to my coffee and planning my day.

The new SanMan SAL chart presents me with a problem/challenge. It's large. I think it will have to go in the center of the afghan which throws off my pattern. Oh well, I'll figure it out.

I'm also knitting my own invention of the "Calendar Scarf." I saw it on the internet, but they no longer are giving out the free pattern. So I also saw a Knitting Calendar. I got that and there is a different stitch for every day. So I choose one and add it to my scarf until I think it's long enough. This will be so pretty when it's completed. Probably when I run out of yarn. I only have 4 skeins of this beautiful aqua suede yarn. It's so soft!!!

Wolfgang (my cat) is peacefully sleeping on the end of the bed and I must print out the San Man chart so I can begin to work on it.

I just got a call from my "old" office. The knot in my stomach immediately began. They can't find the monthly paycheck list and yet I KNOW I filed it. I can't help what happened after I left. Even my student said she saw it, but it's not there now.

I hope and pray you are all safe and warm.
Love,
Cathryn

February 1, 2009

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

Friday was my last day at work. I am now retired. No matter how bad the finances, I can no longer work because my health just won't allow it. So I will adjust. Thank God I stored away cross stitch like a squirrel storing nuts. I knew this day would come when I could no longer afford it. I am so glad I stored for this "winter" of my life. :) Cross Stitch makes me sane and nurtures my creative spirit and I just could not do without it.

I am finishing up with my SanMan Originals SAL #1 12 Days of Christmas. I will request #2 and begin that. I am happy about it because it will all be worked on an afghan and it is so soothing to work with.

Today when I woke up at 7, it was the best I have ever felt in the morning for a very long time. I have no idea why, nor do I want to question it. I am just very greatful for this feeling of being well-rested.

Well, I am off to stitch and plan my day. Be good to yourselves. You are the pitcher that must be filled so that you may pour others a drink.

God bless.
Love,
Cathryn