All Is Well

We made it through and didn't lose power.  I can't say as much for others.  Praying for family still in Irene's path.

Leave of Absence

Please excuse my temporary leave of absence as my family prepares for Hurricane Irene.  I hope that damage will be minimal and that I will be back online after the weekend.

Shake It Up Baby!

At 1:51pm this afternoon I experienced something that I have never experienced before in my life........AN EARTHQUAKE!  I know!  I can't believe it either!  There was a 5.8 earthquake on the east coast!

It was the craziest thing.  I was sitting at my desk responding to an email when I noticed the building shaking.  I really thought I was having an episode with my equilibrium like I did over the weekend, but then I heard everyone else freaking out.  It was only 30 seconds, but it was the longest 30 seconds of my life!

All I can say about the whole episode is that I never want to do that again!

And if an earthquake was not enough, most of us on the east coast are closely watching Hurricane Irene.  She is slated to hit sometime this weekend.  Hopefully her path will move towards the west and out to sea instead of coming onshore in Florida, North Carolina, or Virginia.  There are already evacuation warnings for parts of the Outer Banks.  Luckily, we are on the same electrical grid as the hospital, so if it hits and if our power does go out we will be one of the first to get power back.  Quite a few years ago during Hurricane Isabel we only lost power for 6 hours and that was mainly overnight.  Still, I'm going to make sure that we have the cars fully gassed up just in case we need to go west.  I'm also going to pull out some extra cash because you never know.  We already have water, but it won't hurt to get a little bit more along with some non perishable items.  I guess I'll have to make sure to charge up our phones, the laptops and my nook.

Sigh......did I mention August stinks???

For Sale

I spent a little bit of time going through my stash during my staycation and I have decided that there are just some charts that I will never stitch.  While I love them all, I can't stitch them all.  So, I'm offering them to you before I attempt a run on the bay of evil.

All charts are new in the package unless otherwise noted.  The prices posted include shipping via USPS 1st Class Mail. I'm pretty firm on my prices, but all offers will be considered. (Especially if you are purchasing more than one item.)  Unfortunately, I will only be able to ship to addresses in the U.S. due to the rising costs of postage.  I will accept pay pal or certified money orders.  All items will be shipped within 3 days of receiving payment.  I can not be responsible for lost mail, so if you would like insurance or priority mail with signature guarantee, you will need to pay extra for that.  Just let me know ahead of time.

Here's my list of charts for sale:
Rose Lights by Chatelaine $10
13th Colony Bay Part #1 by By The Bay Needleart $8
The Peacock Stitching Chair by The Cat's Whiskers $14
Children's Garden by Butternut Road (not in original package) $4
The Silver Dragonfly by Nora Corbett $6
July's Amethyst Fairy by Mirabilia $6
Fairy Flora by Mirabilia $6
Spring Queen by Mirabilia $6  **SALE PENDING**
Summer Queen by Mirabilia $6 **SOLD**
Winter Queen by Mirabilia $6 **SALE PENDING**
Autumn Queen by Mirabilia $6 **SALE PENDING**
The Woodland Fairie by Mirabilia $6
Rose Celebration by Mirabilia $6 **SOLD**
Titania,Queen of the Fairies by Mirabilia (not in original package) $6
The Cottage Garden Fairy by Mirabilia $6 **SOLD**
The Bliss Fairy by Mirabilia $6
Wild Fairy Light by !?Who Knew?! $5
Fairy of the Glen by !?Who Knew?! $5
Victorian Antique Sampler by Donna Vermillion from Sudberry House (I believe this is OPP) $20

I've also decided that I'm going to let go of my ABC's of Aging Artfully by Lizzie*Kate.  The chart is in excellent condition and I will be including all of my leftover floss.  There should be enough leftover thread for stitching with one strand on 36 or 40 count fabric.  I am asking $15.  **SOLD**

Thanks for looking!

Happy Stitches!

Vacation/Staycation Part 1

I can't believe it!  I actually managed to get some sort of a vacation after all.  It was by no means long enough, as vacations typically aren't.

I thought it was going to be a really great vacation since I started it off by finishing my Lizzie*Kate fifteen minute piece.

ABC's of Aging Artfully by Lizzie*Kate

Unfortunately, the beginning wasn't as good as I had hoped because we spent it with my FIL and he bombarded us with "downers" about 10 minutes after we arrived.  (Now you know the reason for this post.)  I'm just glad that my days were filled with "quality time with DH" and my evenings with FIL were short since we spent most of our time out of the house.  Plus, FIL decided to leave early which gave DH & I some serious alone time even if it was for only one day.

DH & I spent lots of time on the beach in the OBX.  The OBX is our favorite "go to" spot.  (For those of you who don't know, OBX is the abbreviation for the Outer Banks of North Carolina.)  Our favorite beach is the 4x4 beach in Corolla where you can drive on the beach.  It is only about a 20 minute drive from where we stay.  Plus, on the way to/from Corolla, you have to pass through the town of Duck.  In Duck there is lots of great shopping.  The main reason it is our "go to" spot is that both MIL and FIL each have a week's time share down there.  DH & I hope to be able to get our own week sometime in the future.

We did a bit of shopping in between beach days and we came home with some really great things including this which I found at The Cotton Gin......

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love mermaids.  I love them so much that I have purchased all of the Nora Corbett/Mirabilia Mermaids.  I have completed four of them and I have two in progress.  All of the others are fully kitted and someday will be stitched.  I think this piece will be a great addition to my collection.  In addition, it will actually serve a purpose for us and will enable us to hang a few items so that they will be up off the floor.

When we returned from our first beach day we were treated to a breathtaking sight later that evening.....

On our last beach day before we left, we decided to drive down the beach a little further than we normally do since we didn't manage to see any of the wild horses that are native to the island. Many times they will come down to the shoreline to bask in the sea air. (Remember my pictures from last year?) Well, this time we decided to walk along one of the roads that access the other side of the dunes. As I crested the rise I saw this......

Amazing, right?  Just another reason that I love the OBX!

I hope you enjoyed my little trip to OBX.  Next time a few staycation pics!

A Traveling Finish

Did you see?  Maggee over at Stitching Devotee finished her version of ABCD by La-D-Da.

Check it out here.

I hope to get her the journal sometime this weekend so that  she can send the pattern to the next person. 

I have a great excuse as to why she doesn't have it in her hands.....I've been on vacation (but I'm home now)!  More on that soon.

Happy Stitches!

Woe Is Me

 Some people are never happy.

Take my father in law.  You never hear a kind word emanate from his lips.  A smile never hits his face.  I don't even think that he knows how to laugh.  With his attitude, I'm not surprised that my mother in law divorced him 15+ years ago. 

I really should preface this a little.  My father in law has had Crone's Disease for many years.  About 10 years ago he had surgery to remove part of his large intestine to help with the symptoms of this disease. Almost a year ago he had a pacemaker put in after he had a mild heart attack.  (It was his second heart attack.  He had his first over 30 years ago around age 40.)  So, as you can see, my father in law is not in the best of health and his high anxiety levels don't help either.  He is now going to have to have surgery (again) for his Crone's.  Only this time they will have to fit him with a colostomy bag.  Now, while it sounds gross, it will give him his life back and he will feel so much better.  However these things are not an excuse to try to make everyone else miserable right along with him.

Now, he is attempting to bring his "Woe is me" onto DH and myself yet again.  He is in a predicament that was self created and yet he tries to make it our problem.

About three years ago he moved from his condo into an "active adult retirement community".  You know, one of those 55 and up places that don't allow kids.  While this was a great idea for him, he did not consider the fact that this new condo community had rules.  The rule affecting him the most was the one stating that all dogs living there must be under 30 pounds.  While that is not a problem for someone like me, it is for my father in law.  He feels like he has the right to break these rules with his dog Winston.  (Winston is a 50 pound "Miniature English Bulldog".)

Long story endless, the condo association has sued my father in law.  He went to court and the judge basically put in back in the hands of the condo association.  My father in law now has a petition that has been signed by over 75% of the homeowners that states that they would support a decision to let Winston stay. 

While the association is making its decision, he wants us to take the dog because he could be fined if the dog is still there after August 24th.  While Winston is cute, he is not neutered and he doesn't behave.  Our dog hates being around him and constantly snaps at Winston if he comes near.  Winston also won't listen to me at all and only sometimes listens to DH.  He is just a big bully of a dog and we can't keep him.

If the condo association doesn't let Winston stay, I don't think that this will end well at all.  I know that he will want us to keep Winston, but I won't agree to that.  (I know that there are many "rescues" for these dogs, but I haven't looked into them yet. I feel that this is something my father in law should do for Winston if he can't keep him.)  I'm sure that if my father in law has to give up the dog he will blame me for not allowing the dog to stay with us.  I guess if I comes down to it than I will just have to live with the blame. 

Sigh........I really wish August would end and that September will bring some positive news for a change.......I'm sick and tired of all the drama!