A Sister

Amazing...two posts in as many days! My migraine roared in this am but now is gone just leaving the fogginess. So I am going to make today good!!!

Today is my sister's birthday and I still miss her! She passed away 18 years ago this October. At the time I could not imagine my life without her in it after all she was my mirror. I learned so much from her and loved being her sister ! She is the reason I cross stitch and with every stitch I feel that I honor her! Simply put she put a needle in my hand at the age of ten and said you will do this....and she was my big sister so I did and have been grateful ever since! I've adapted but not a day goes by that I don't think of her and still miss her! So Happy Birthday dear Maureen! I will honor you today and everyday! I stitched this piece for her and she got to enjoy it before she left this world.... I added the "Sisters" to the bottom to personalize the piece. It hangs with honor in my home and will one day go to my niece! Another piece I did because she thought it be beautiful is this one .... I do believe the backstitching took as long as the actual cross stitching! But she was right it is stunning...one day i'll do the companion to it. So today is a day for memories and good thoughts. I love you Maureen!!!!!!

I am grateful for my sister and my memories of her.....

Another day or is it....

Today's an anniversary one that I wish beyond all hope never happened. But I have found that wishing doesn't make something not happen. But just imagine the power if it did! But back to the anniversary it's been 17 years since my sister left this world. My deepest desire is to honor her memory since that is what she would have wanted for me to go on living and see the beauty in life! I think I've achieved that! And some years are good but this one creeped up on me and I feel lost once again if only for short time. I've learned how to incorporate her loss into my life since I firmly believe that one doesn't "get over" so a significant loss but rather incorporates it into one's life! So I thought after 17 years that I had a handle on it but grief does its own thing once again. I didn't work...never do....on this day since I'm never sure how I'll be feeling and today was no exception! I developed a migraine and came home from my 2 errands and went straight to bed at 2 pm no less. Hubby was confused and now is at work so that helps. I am planning an evening of stitching and tea. Then tomorrow is stitching group and Sunday is Stitching Retreat day!!! This was the first of 6 days off. I plan to take care of myself and have lots of stitching time! So dear sister know that I miss you and love you!!!

I am grateful for memories......

Where oh where is......

As the title implies.......I am still without my car! Amazingly the body shop found more damage and this time the two chief adjustors went and finally approved the work and now it's on the way to the paint shop so hopefully by next wednesday my car affectionately named Harry will be home! Since I know he feels abandoned...LOL. And yes I did name my car strange but true!!!

I was also supposed to be picking up 3 framed pieces from my framer and dropping off my last finish but that also didn't happen. My framer is a perfectionist and one of the pieces was off by 3 rows so it's being redone. They will all be done on Saturday! But I am working so I will pick them up on Wednesday since the women in my stitching group at SP want to see the finished product and then I will post definitely! So stay tuned.

I am thinking of doing my master bedroom and bath in purples! What does everyone think?????.....I have one wall that is perfect for some cross stitch finishes as it's on an angle. And purple is so soothing. Right now it's in black/cream toile which I love but I feel ready for a change since it's been about 4 years.....Well for nothing to write I did pretty well.....

Oh and an SBQ to finish the posting with...

Today's SBQ was suggested by Jennifer (http://astitchinwrinkledtime.blogspot.com/ ) and is:How did you get started stitching? Was there a person that inspired you?The permalink to this post is: http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/08

This is such a great question! I started stitching because my older sister put a needle and thread in my hand and said you will do this! I am ever so grateful for this...I started with stamped cross stitch bibs since mom was pregnant with my little brother (thus usurping my baby of the family status at age 11).....I was enjoying my reign too! LOL I quickly progressed to crewel and needlepoint and was doing small Christmas cards when she got her hands on a copy of the magazine "Cross Stitch and Country Crafts" (such a great magazine don't you wish it was still around) and on the cover was a little girl at a tea party with her dolls and she quietly but insistently challenged me to do the design.....I wasn't sure I could but off we went to get the supplies....I actually remember that day as if it yesterday..picking out the DMC threads and cutting the material centering the material, taking the first stitch and so on...such a great memory! A mere 2 years later she was done!!! And I am still stitching today and am addicted to counted cross stitch! So thank you dear Maureen for encouraging and challenging me in that way! Every stitch I now do is in her memory and there are no words for how this makes me feel. As much as I miss her I know she is smiling somewhere and that is immensely comforting to me!!! Would you like to see a picture of the completed piece....I've posted it earlier but here it is again..... (what's a post without any pictures?)


Thanks for looking and see you soon! Hope every ones weekend is relaxing, fun and if you stitch full of more hours than you can imagine for stitching

PS I almost forgot ....I am in the countdown to my brother and niece visiting and only 2 more days of work and then 8 whole days off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm just a bit excited, thrilled, ecstatic and expectant.....I'll be at the airport with bells on Sunday night that is after baking a raisin cake for my brother ......his absolute favorite and my niece has promised me a pecan pie so life is sweet......

I am grateful for my memories and my sister...............

A quick SBQ

A quick SBQ since I worked today and then more tomorrow...

Today's SBQ is:Do you like to buy "chartpacks" that include charms, buttons, and/orbeads or do you prefer to gather all materials yourself?
I have always preferred to put my own projects together......chart, fabric, threads beads, embellishments...... That is until the Limited edition Mirabilia's came out those are the exception to the rule...

And to Vonna, Jamie, Katrina, Wendy, Michelle, Lizzy, Angi, and Karen .....thank you all for you kind words! They truly meant so very much to me and I know came from your hearts! The year anniversary came around so fast and I didn't plan ahead so I worked but luckily was able to get off a few hours early again due to low census. So I was able to come home and just relax with my thoughts. More tomorrow..... since I got my FOTM package yesterday as well.....

I am grateful for my memories tonight and my online stitching friends......

a year has passed...

Today is a year to the day that my dad passed away. I flew in the night before and made it in time. In retrospect it was important for me to tell him that it was okay to leave and more importantly that I loved him! In my line of work so often I see family hanging on to loved ones and I always said that I would never do that and I didn't. He knew I was there....I whispered in his ear that I loved him and that it was okay to let go and to go to his God. I held his hand and said good-bye and as hard as it was it the only thing left to do...he had suffered for so long. And then just before he passed the hospice nurse woke my mom and me to say it was time. He died peacefully and I know he is breathing easily wherever he is. Here is a picture of us at his 70th birthday party ......when I was a redhead! It's a picture of a snapshot that my mom sent me so it's not the best picture.... Be happy Dad!