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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Excuses.....

Hi everyone!  I hope that all of you are doing well and that life has been a good to you as it has been to me this year.
I know that I have been a bad, bad blogger and a very bad blog follower for the last months.  I am not even going to begin trying to apologize for my long absence - but I do have some terrific excuses - I promise! 
The photos below have been uploaded and ready to go since October 2nd...  blush, blush.

So, let me move on to my List of "Grand Excuses"... 
1)  A wonderful excuse:  We bough a new house in a neighboring town last week and we moved our entire household over the Labor Day weekend!  I love the new house and I will be even more thrilled when we get all the boxes unpacked and all our stuff stored away.  The kitchen and the master bedroom and bath are pretty much taken done now.  Bubba and all the birds are moved in and Bubba is thrilled about our fabulous sun porch!  
(DH told me that he was on the verge of crying every time he saw a box marked XS tough... I don't think that he realized the extent of my stash collection until he had to move it out..  Luckily, he had help from 5 friends, so everything went smoothly. 
Oh, and I am turning 40 today, so yesterday we picked out my birthday gifts at Sears; a brand new washer and drier from Whirlpool in a yummy cranberry red.  I can't wait for those babies to arrive!!!!  Not until September 25th, unfortunately....  :-(
2)  A sad excuse:  Work has been very turbulent yet again and we just went through another gruesome mass-layoff - the third one since I started working here 7 years ago!  I was lucky enough to be safe this time again, but watching colleagues and good friends getting laid off is a terrible experience.  You can't help but worrying about them and feel really guilty about still having a job.
3)  A pathetic excuse:  I have been enjoying reading a stack of books on my iPad lately.  It started off with Hip^Hip tipping me off about 50 Shades of Grey.  I loved this trilogy and not only for the s-e-x, I promise (- seriously)!  (Don't judge me!  LOL) 
All right, I know that a lot of readers could not get past all the "kinkiness", the poor and very inhomogeneous language, or the parts that seem less than realistic - like the heroes young age, unlimited assets (money and "other things", ahem), his looks, and that the heroine is supposedly "plain" (an a virgin, of course...), etc, etc - but I still loved it!  There is definitely a love story behind all the "action" and the main characters do evolve and mature immensely throughout the books.
That said, I do agree with the less than impressive use of the English language (heck, I think Ithat I write better in English and this i only my 2nd language!) and how many young American females say "Oh my" to themselves several times a day?  Just wonderin'...
So if you have read 50 Shades, you may, just as me, still find it hilarious to read the reviews at Amazon (the favorite being this reviewer: cupcake on top - I love the "I gave this 4 stars. Don't judge me." comment) and I also found this article that made me laugh til I cried.  I tried to read it to DH, but I was laughing too hard for any of it to make sense.... "public transportation", oh wow!
4)  A tired excuse:  I was really torn up  and drained about losing Princess for a good week or two.  I could not stop crying and anything would set me off.  I never cry at work and now I found myself running for the rest-rooms or locking my office door, crying my eyes out.  I would cry while driving to and from work, while eating breakfast and lunch and dinner, while trying to go to sleep, while putting on make-up (that really did not work at all...).  After I had cried the worst out and a few weeks had passed, I suddenly realized that I was smiling when I thought about Princess instead of crying.  Bitter-sweet, but still, a warm feeling in my heart.  Bubba was confused for a while too, but she seems to be doing really well now.
5)  An ecstatic excuse:  So, something that DH and I have been working on together for almost a decade years finally happened!  We are going to be parents!  We are celebrating our 23rd week of pregnancy today, so I am starting to feel safer and safer for each week now.  I can feel them kick - yes, them - paternal twin girls!  DH is thrilled and I am starting to get relaxed enough to enjoy myself too!

Well, after all of my jabbering, let's get on to what really matters - stitching!!!!  ;-)

I could not pass on the adorable needle-roll from Just Nan, Lady Scarlet's Scissor Roll.  It looks like it sold out within just a few weeks, so I was lucky enough to grab one early.  It was a quick and easy stitch/finish and really very enjoyable.  I also appreciated that this "half-kit" called for DMC floss and not super expensive silks - always a plus in my book!.
This is the out-side:
Here it is rolled up - it looks tiny because it is!
Another view of the roll-up:
Last rolled up "side":
Here is the stitched and freshly ironed part waiting to get finished.  The photo is clickable, so you can get a better view, if you would like.  I love those little panels - they are just adorable!

This is another really fun, small and super-cute small; the Frog Pin Keepe kit from Schoolhouse for the Needle.  It was another quickie, even though the finishing took a little bit longer for this one.
Front:
Back:
Here they are together....

Remember this piece from my crazy post about crows and pears?  I finally stitched it up and it was a joy to work on.  I used hand-dyed chenille for the trim and I picked all the WDW floss randomly from my stash, as well as the linen cut.  The leaves are felt applique, which was not as hard as I feared, so one less intimidation on the "i-list"!  :-)
Here is the back.  I finally tracked down crushed walnut shells to fill the pillow with, so it has a nice weight and feel to it.

The third stocking got stitched up as well.  I did finish the fourth one yesterday - I am happy, since they are not real "fun" stitches.  There is a lot of areas to just fill, fill, fill and fill....  I think that the finishing will be a breeze though.  (If I ever find a backing and lining fabric, that is.)
So, now I have one each for the twins and for DH and myself stitched up!  Good, since the twins are due on December 20th!  :-)

The latest part of the EMS samples has been downloaded & printed and is waiting for me at home.  I tell you, it is just so hard to get started on each new part!!!!  Only 4 more sections to go - almost there!

And last, here is a photo showing why I have to throw so many of my Vera Bradley purses in the laundry machine repeatedly...  This is apparently the place where the cool birds hang out.  Some of them even get in to the purses and sit there until discovered and chased away by someone mean (=me!).  Sigh!  (This is why I don't own any crazy expensive designer purses....)

Well, I know that I have talked your heads off, so I'll let you go!  I'll try to post and keep in touch after we have the computer up and the Internet running at the new house.

Take care and Happy Stitching!

25 comments:

  1. Yay for the twins! Yay for the new house! Yay for the new washer and dryer! Yay for finishing the stockings! Yay for 50 Shades of Gray (insert impish smirk)! Girl, you need to take a nap. You've been busy.

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  2. Big congratulations on the babies and the move . What a great Christmas you are going to have .
    Take care , looking forward to some little cutie pics .X

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  3. Happy birthday and congratulations on the "new two"

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  4. Your stitching is lovely, Jenny, but not as lovely as your big news about your little twins--no wonder you need a new washer and dryer! Wishing you lots of energy and continued good health throughout the next few months :)

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  5. I think that a lot of us have been a little remiss with blogging, but WOW have you gotten a lot finished. Everything is wonderful! And the 50 Shades of Gray - AHEM! LOL Those aren't my normal kind of books, but I loved them!! And would read them again!!

    And a major league congratulations on your Twins! How exciting!! That is the most fantastic news!!

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  6. Oh my gosh! What exciting news! I can't imagine anything more exciting than the news of an impending birth and twins to boot! Congratulations to you both. I hope your family will be very, very happy in your new home.
    Golly, there was so much news, and such pretty stitching but your announcement takes the cake!
    Congratulations on all yhour great news!

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  7. Wow! So much news and such exciting news too! Congratulations on the twins -- so wonderful! And the new house! Again, congratulations! Wow! Sorry you were so down about Princess. I totally understand. I'm so glad you kept your job. I bet it was really hard to see friends lose their jobs. So sad.

    Such a bummer about your VB purses -- good thing you can wash them. lol! I just love your stitching! OMG! How did I miss Lady Scarlet's Scissor Roll? It's just gorgeous! And the Scholehouse piece! Wow! I'm in love with both. Sigh... Wonderful finishing too!

    Soo good to see a post from you again. Take care of yourself. You're eating for 3 now! :D

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  8. Oh my goodness, congrats!!!!!!!! That is just wonderful news. TWINS?? I just bet you're tired!!! My birthday is December 21st and it's not so bad to be a Xmas baby. :)
    Love the new stitches! I'm impressed you've gotten anything done at all with all that going on.

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  9. Wow I thought I had a lot going on with packing up and moving across the US next week. You got me beat by a mile. Congrats on the twins. How exciting.

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  10. Glad to hear the twins are doing great. You've been very very busy. The lay offs are hard. Rich has dealt with quite a few and it's very nerve wracking. Can't wait to see house pictures. I called Fifty Shades my pornographic romance. They were a fun read. Glad you are well!

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  12. Oh my goodness. First of all Happy Birthday to YOU!!! Congratulations on TWINS. I'm very happy for you. So sorry for your loss with Princess. You have so much going on in your life. Mostly your events sound very exciting & happy. All your projects are lovely. I am going to back and relook. I just love your pillows:)
    love Annette HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN!

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  13. wow congratulations for the twins..i am so happy for you..
    happy birthday to you ..
    all your projects are looking super cute...
    sending you lots of love and blessings xx

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  14. Jen, such great news! Congrats on the TWINS and your new house! Now that we are putting two and two together, you probably needed more room for the new arrivals in December. You are going to be a busy girl!!!! That is just such great news and I would love to see your face and that big grin and sparkle in your eyes!!! I hope you are taking good care of yourself and please keep us up to date with your blogging. We all love new babies!!!! pam in iowa

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  15. Hurraaaaaa!!! Så himla bra nyheter. Längtar efter dig. Puss vackra

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  16. Dear Jenny,
    You had very good reasons for not blogging.
    I felt very sorry for you when I read about Princess since I have to cats and love them immensely and know exactly what it would mean to lose one of them.
    The economy is not at its best here either but hopefully we will get through it.
    On the other hand you have some very exciting news.
    Wow! Two lovely little girls to play and stitch with. I am so happy for you.
    What a change in your life!
    To complete the whole picture a brand new house and more....
    You will definitely remember your 40TH Birthday.
    Enjoy it all!
    A big hug
    Paola

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  17. Congrats on the big news!! Wishing you all the best as you start a very new and exciting part of your journey through life!
    Your stitches a lovely!

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  18. Det var fina nyheter! Grattis till er båda! Kram på er!

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  19. Congratulations!! Twin girls, how wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!

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  20. Oh My!!!!!!!!

    You did save the best excuse for last didn't you. I'm a little scared now because my friend is expecting twins too and things come in threes... so who will be getting the third set of twins?

    The Guardian review of 50 Shades is hilarious, especially the public transport comment. I've only read the first 2 chapters of Book 1 and the first page of Book 2 which lifted so much from Twilight Book 2 I gave up immediately! But they are selling incredibly well as are all the re-releases in our Cupboard of Smut. People who haven't read a book in years (or their entire adult life) are buying 2 or 3 at a time.

    ps Love Lady Scarlett's Scissor Roll.

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  21. Oh my - twin girls, so exciting!! Big congrats to you and dh. And a new house and a new washing machine - it's all go in your household.

    thanks for sharing the link re the shades of grey review - too funny!!

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  22. Oh my, you're expecting twins, this is more than good news. And a wonderful excuse for not blogging more often, lol. I have twins, too, a boy and a girl, and they were my first kids, too. I hope you'll feel great during the second half of your pregnancy.
    Great stitching, particularly the needleroll.

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  23. Soooo many congrats are in order but mostly for the new house and the twins!!!! :D Keep well!

    Hugs.

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  24. Jenny!!
    I totally missed this post and I was going to email you since I haven't seen an update!
    What fabulous things, the baby, the house. I hope that you are well and getting settled.
    I hope that work has settled down too.
    Are you stitching?
    I miss your posts.
    Hugs!!

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  25. Big congratulations on your impending arrivals and what lovely timing. Hope you are feeling OK and not long now! All the very best for you all.
    Fee

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