Time has flown

Yes, it has been a very long time.  I since I have posted, or read any blogs. I won't go into a ton of detal, suffice to say it has been a really rough past few months because of my depression.  But thankfully things are back under control for the time being. 

Lots of things have gone on.  Greg has switched companies and is now working for Shepler's Inc. as a Program Manager.  He seems to enjoy the work and the people.  It is so nice to have him come home and not complain about the politics and backstabbing.

Rebekah is doing well in fourth grade and really enjoys school.  We did have some trouble with her not buckling down and studying or working completely up to what she could do, but she has straightened out. 

Patrick is doing really well, too.  The teacher thinks if he can pull up his in class grades that he could be put in the gifted program. 

Mariska is in kindergarten and is learning to read and write at leaps and bounds.  She is just as stubborn and head strong as always.

Me, I haven't been up to too much.  The only stitching I have managed to get done is the Fleur d Lys sampler.  I would upload a picture, but the camera is not working at the moment.  I am still working part time although I tried working full time for a while earlier this year.  It just didn't work out.  I found all I was doing was working and sleeping and not getting anything else done, housework, yard work, anything.  So I went back to part time. 

The kids got their christmas present early this year.  We had taken out cable earlier in the year when finances were really tight.  With Greg's new job we decided we could afford to get Direct TV.  I will admit, it wasn't just for the kids, lol. I am enjoying watching my Avalanche again, and just in time for a winning season!!!! 

The reno's on the house continue.  There was a manufacturing issue with the shower and surround we put in. You are not supposed to drop the shampoo and have it put a hole in the floor.  So we are reuseing the glass, the fixtures and doing a tile floor pan and tile walls. 

The grands from Colorado are do in on Tuesday and the kids are stoked.  They enjoy it when they get to see Grandma Ruth Ann and Grandpa Bill.  And we enjoy it too. But lets face it, we are just chopped liver when the grands and the kids get together.

Well, it is getting late.  I should wrap it up and at least minimally catch up with every one.  Merry Christmas!!!

 

Something has their attention.

Floofy, Rose and CG watching a neighborhood squirrel in the driveway.  I just couldn't pass up this picture

I think I am caught up

I think I have finally caught back up with everyone's blog on Multiply.  I still need to go through those that aren't on here (Meari, Rene and Kelly come to mind first).

We have been getting our first taste of spring the last couple of weeks.  We have had daytime temps that have gone as high as the 70's but a few that have struggled to make it to the high 40's.  Today is poised to be beautiful.  Max is heading out to his hutch, laundry is on the line and the windows will open here shortly so the upstairs can get a good airing out. 

We still have the finish work to do on the shower.  This project, like most, is dragging out.  Here is how it looks so far.  It is nice to take a shower and not have to step in and out of that damned claw foot tub.  I don't know how many times I nearly fell and broke my neck.  I am not too crazy about the all clear glass as far as upkeep goes, but it is nice to not have the shower curtain anymore.

I have posted pics of Great Lakes Lowland framed. I am not sure I like the mat job I did and may be changing it.  That is one of the advantages of framing myself.  Its relatively easy and inexpensive to change.

My progress on Fleur de Lys is not much, but I am working with metallic right now and although, as I said before, I love the look, I hate the work.  I am not sure there is something ickier out there to work with, or not. I did enjoy doing the row witht he lazy daisy stitches.  I forgot how much I enjoy those.  They were one of the first stitches my Grandma Gladys taught me.  She tried satin stitch first, but I didn't get the concept of  coming up from the bottom and going back down,  I would keep trying to go up from the bottom, over and over.  I had such a mess stitched around the hoop.  I was all of about 5 or so.

I guess I should get back to it.  I have to get up there and clear out some bedroom before the kids get back home.  It is time to cull toys....Hope you are enjoying your day, where ever you may be.  

Finished in 2009

by Jeannette Douglas. Finished in 2008, framed February of 2009

Time for the yearly BIG project

If its tax time, it must be home improvement time.  This year we are installing a shower stall into the bathroom.  We decided to install a mid-range shower unit and then keep the old claw foot for another year.  Next year, it will be next on the agenda.  We debated installing a lower end shower/tub unit, but decided that for the value of the house, this would be the better option.  So, hopefully by this time tomorrow, we will have a vanity back in the bath (it is currently in the garage) and a new shower unit.  I will take pictures as the project progresses,  You never know what you will catch, ;)

Here is the update on "Fleur".  I have gotten quite a bit done, for me.  I am enjoying working on this, especially the GAST "Egyptian Nights" that are used on the stained glass window rows.  Now the metallic that is used for the leading, I can do without.  I love the look, hate working with it.

Hobby Lobby was having a 50% off sale on their framing supplies, sectional frames, mat board and foam core, so I bought the supplied to frame up "Eastern Seaboard" and "Great Lakes Lowland"  I hope to have them done this weekend and will post pictures as soon as I get them done. 

The weather here has been beautiful the last couple of days, record warm.  It is supposed to get back to typical Feb weather by the end of the week, but we going to drop slowly.  They are calling for rain and thunder tomorrow.  It will make doing the shower a pain, but, oh well.

That is about all the update I have for now.  Will sign off.  Time to take my meds and head to bed!   Have a good one, all!

Cold, Cloudy, Monday

But I am still a little tickled.  My meds seem to have me stabilized as far as my moods go, and I have finally lost enough weight to put on my engagement ring.  I guestimate I have about 5-10 more pounds to lose before I can get my wedding ring on.  It is just still a bit too small to fit over the knuckle.

I don't really have a bunch of stitching update.  I will take a picture a bit later and get it up. 

We did end up getting really crappy weather last week, but OKC got slammed much worse than us and since Greg was at the plant in Norman, he was stuck down there two nights. 

Congrats to any Steelers fans.  I didn't really have a stake, but I was sort of rooting for the underdog Cardnials.  They ended up making a game of it at the end.  I wasn't overly impressed with any of the ads.  None really stuck in my head.  I was spending some time flipping between the SB and USA's marathon of House, so I may have missed some. 

I guess that is really all I have to say today.  I will check in later. 

Overdue update on a cold, nasty day

We are supposed to be getting some nasty weather today and tomorrow.  We really haven't had much, just some cold, so I guess I shouldn't complain too much.

Here is an update on Fleur de Lys Sampler.  I have made some progress on it.

Things have been busy around here the last few weeks.  Patrick had his first Pinewood Derby with his local Scout troop on the 15th.  He got eliminated, but apparently beat the number two and number three cars and had better times than the car that won.  I missed it as I had to work, but Greg took some pictures and you can see them here.  When  I can pry the finished car and trophy from him, I will take pictures of it.

Bekah started cookie sales.  JOY!.  Her troop has been fairly quiet after the shopping trip the made for the local domestic abuse shelter.

Mariska is still doing well in school, and is really starting to show a big stubborn streak.  But then again, she always had one.

We had that nasty flu like bug run through the house last week.  You know its not good when one girl wakes you up at midnight to tell you she puked and the second wakes you up at 1 to tell you the same thing.  Mom got sick later in the day and Grandpa, Grandma and the uncles all got sick they day before we did.  Not a pleasant week.  You know I am ill if i throw up.  I just don't throw up.

On a sad note, Grandma G, Vicki's mom, passed away on the 23rd of a massive heart attack.  Vicki is Greg's (DH) step-mom and the kids' Grandma.  It was very sudden and quite a shock.  She hadn't been well for a while, she suffered from COPD, but wasn't really in bad straights.  They aren't having a funeral, on her request.  She was cremated and they are going to scatter her ashes with her husband's in the Colorado mountains.

Well, I need to put this down for a while, catch up with some people and some housework, make some phone calls, get M to school and run a couple of errands.  Have a good one!

Patrick's Pinewood Derby Night

Patrick's is 5th in from the left.

Local Pinewood Derby Night, Jan 15th. Patrick did not win. It was a double elimination and he beat cars two and three and had better times than the car that won, but lost two races. I don't completely understand how it works. But he won a nice trophy for Boy's Choice car for his "Monster Truck"