A Late Anniversary and such

Although I didn't have it completely finished by their anniversary my parent's piece is completely stitched and at the framers being framed.

An Emblem of Love designed by With My Needle

For those who are curious about such things I used 36ct Lakeside, V. Lt. Examplar with a single strand of Belle Soie in Eggplant and Florimell Silk Floss from Gloriana Threads in Old Gold. It's all cross stitch with one thread of silk over 2 linen threads. The picture doesn't do justice to the slight variations of the Belle Soie nor the Gloriana. I'm pretty sure I've given credit before but I'm going to again. I really am indebted to my DF Melody for being willing to destash the pattern, fabric and Belle Soie so I could get started once I'd decided what I was going to stitch. I'm also thankful for DF Jackie since she let me borrow enough of the beautiful Florimell to work some of the hearts and the years in the gold. I thought I had something that would work in my stash but neither color was just right and what Jackie had is perfect. I've known for years the stitching friends are priceless and this project just proves that over again.

I did manage to finish the goal I set for DT's Alphabets in February, not that I've managed to work on it yet in March but there's still time. Another alphabet finished...

Looking at it I don't feel like I did much, but that was the goal. Here's a picture of what it looks like so far.

Hard to get a really good picture while it's on the scroll bars. March's goal is to do the section that looks blank right now. It actually shouldn't take me too long. I'm still impressed I've been able to stay on track with this one. I'm sure it can't last much longer.

I didn't finish Valentine Rose, the February block for Anniversaries of the Heart (AotH) during February, in fact I'm still working on it. I have just the year my aunt was born and a couple of initials to add and it will be complete though. My March goal for that isn't the March block, "A Wish for You", instead I'll be trying to get the bonus pattern found in the 7th block, "Swan Lake". It's an alphabet so hopefully won't take me too long since I'm getting so good a stitching alphabets. Although I'd like to stay on schedule with this piece, one block a month, even if I do it's going to take me longer than a year to stitch as there are 12 month patterns and 2 bonus patterns, one of which covers the width of 2 of the blocks.

Well and then there's the facination I seem to have with "HallowEden". I picked it up a last week after I'd finished AEoL and just keep working on it. I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately, mostly from RA pain, but I can sit and stitch and listen to a book and eventually feel tired. That's how I got the present finished and I'm thinking that's how HallowEden will be accomplished. No picture yet, but I'll get one soon.

That about does it. No party for the parents since they've decided they'd rather take a cruise when mom is feeling better. Still no job, but there are prospects. But spring has sprung and at my house it looks like this. Enjoy!

And there was much rejoicing!

I just got an email that I've been offered a new short-term contract/consulting job.

That is all.

Becoming a hermit

I feel like that's what I've become over the last couple of weeks and maybe more like the little guy up there then I'd like. Between the upper respiratory infection and the medicine I got last week after the first antibiotic didn't do anything to cure me. Then this week came and with it the rain. And by rain I mean get out the boat because the creek is gonna flood. It's rained continuously since Monday or maybe Sunday evening, I'm not even sure any more. I so want to get out, but don't dare because of how I've been feeling.

The good news is I think this last round of $6 per pill WITH insurance antibiotic is actually working. It makes me sick to my stomach so food hasn't been my friend, but I'm to the point that I just want the URI gone so I'm willing to deal with the yucky stomach. That leads to more good news since I can't take my RA meds when I'm on a antibiotic. If all goes well I'll take the last antibiotic Friday and can then go back on the RA meds. After not taking them for 3 weeks I'm feeling the pain again which just isn't fun and is the bad news.

The other good thing is I managed to finish a scarf I've been working on and did finish the top of a box from one of the classes I took in Oct. But even this hasn't made me feel as happy as I had hoped. Hopefully when I'm feeling better my mood will improve. But right now I don't even feel like being around that many people. I'm supposed to have dinner Friday with friends. Last week I didn't feel like going to meet my knitting buddies nor to go Sunday to the stitching group I belong to. I'm hoping that this Friday I'll feel better and won't miss dinner with my friends. We all haven't been together in a couple of months and I know we have a lot to talk about.

Sorry this post sounds so depressed. But some days I'm not the happy girl and this seems to be one of those days. Tomorrow I'll try and get some pictures of projects and show you some pretty pictures.

Just stuff

Just a few things to update those who might be interested about what's been going on.

• Thursday was my 2nd appointment with the Rheumatologist. She looked at the x-rays of my hands and was very happy with how they looked. Apparently there is no joint damaged yet. So, now we can start treatment. I'll be starting Methotrexate, a DMARD (disease-modifying antirheumatic drug) at the end of next week. Methotrexate is considered an aggressive treatment for RA, so I'm happy with her decision and the information she gave me. I'll go back to her in 7 weeks and we'll see how things are progressing. Until then I'll continue to take Prednasone and sometimes the Mobic (for pain mostly) along with the Methotrexate and folic acid.
  
• For someone who has never been good at taking lots of medicine for an extended period of time, on a schedule, this is going to be harder then it seems.
  
• My new sweater is coming along, have about 10 cm of the back done, need 30 before I start the next section. Right now I can work on it without a pattern, love that kind of pattern.
• Went yesterday with DF Melody to the local ANG meeting. I enjoyed myself. Even worked on the canvas piece I've had a few years. I managed to finish up 2 of the squares on it. I'll have to get a picture this week and post it. I thought I might start my FSU Santa canvas, but I didn't. I did get some wonderful help on ideas for stitches. I think it's going to look great. When I start I'll take pictures.
• Today's ReGenesis service was great! Or at least I thought it was. We had somewhere between 91 and 97 people in attendence. I'm so excited that the service is growing.
  
• The coming week looks busy. I'm wondering what I'll manage to do, and what I'll have to leave undone. Only time will tell.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and has a wonderful week. I promise some pictures of what I worked on yesterday and the framed "Little Green Acorns" later this week.

As much as I can right now

So, I've finished as much as I can on Traditional Elegance II. I am on hold until the Japan Thread arrives from Needlecraft Corner. (I completely forgot to link to Drema's site the last time I mentioned this, so here you go. If you stitch and you've never ordered from her, I highly recommend this shop. Everyone is always nice and helpful.) I know, you want to see some eye candy, so here you go...
I'm very happy with the way it looks now, so I can't wait to see what it looks like with the added sparkle.

I also worked on the Baby Surprise Jacket I'm making for one of my co-workers who's baby boy is due any day now. Didn't get a lot done on it, but at least I got a few more rows done.

Can't believe the weekend is over. Thursday is my next appointment with the rheumatologist. Hopefully this time we'll talk more about treatment protocols.

Finally

Today finally came. The day I went to see the rheumatologist for the first time. Had to be there at 8:30 AM and it took a good hour to drive over to that part of town. Not that I had to cross the river or anything, just traffic. I was smart enough to bypass NAS JAX, since at that time of the morning it can be a little busy around there.

First off, I like Dr. B so far. She was friendly and nice without being cloying or too perky. She also took her time with me and asked a lot of questions and told me why she was asking them. She also examined me, which mostly comprised of her pressing on joint areas and down my spine. Some were more uncomfortable then others. Not much to report though. She confirmed that my tests do indicate RA and not Lupus. That the inflammation levels weren't too high, so that may be a good sign. However, she wants to do one more set of blood tests to make sure there is no sign of Sjogrens and that my liver is functioning properly. I also have to go for some X-rays so she can see if there is any damaget o the joints. I go back March 19th when we'll discuss what type of treatment she wants to put me on. Until then I'm to cut in half the dosage of Mobic I'm taking. (It helps to treat the swelling and stiffness from arthitis.)

That's all. I also dropped off "Little Green Acorns" at the frame shop. It will be ready in a couple of weeks. Of course I haven't put the other one I picked up on the wall yet, so I should probably get that done some time soon.

Thanks everyone for the good, positive thoughts and prayers that have been sent my way. I do appreciate them and am blessed to have such great people around me. I am truely blessed.

It's a new year!

Ok, so I'm late, but I had things to do and stuff. (Yes, I did almost nothing on Saturday, but that doesn't count.) I'm here now with a quick update on what's happened since last I typed and you might have read.

New Years Eve and Day was spent with friends in Savannah. We had a wonderful time, but then that group usually does. Dinner at Corleone's Trattoria was amazing! (Sorry, no website.) Then we went to the show. Afterwards there was dancing on the stage as the band kept playing great music. We ended the night opening the 5th bottle of champagne in the Fox's room and toasting to the new year.(That's me at the restuarant. I look a little blurry there but I think it was the picture taker's fault and had nothing to do with the 4 bottles of champagne that had been drunk and the fact that I'm holding my 2nd Cosmo.)

The next day we all managed to rouse ourselves and had breakfast at Clary's (again no website), but you don't need one. Any local can tell you how to get there and it's well worth it. Breakfast was delicious. And yes, for those who read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, it's that Clary's. A few of us decided to opt for the trolley tour. I'd never been on the one there and it was very interesting. I would love to go back and spend more then a night and day there for a change and go on the ghost tour.

Then it was home, where I spent the weekend doing stuff. Nothing special, nothing exciting, just stuff.

A long time ago, more like a couple of years really, I decided it wasn't worth making resolutions at the beginning of the year. However, I do try to take a little stock of things and decide what I might want to try and change. So, here's my list, that is subject to change at any moment.

• Continue to eat healthier. This is even more important now I think with the RA diagnosis.
  
• Exercise more. See above bullet for the reason. I want to start taking yoga, or pilates, or something of that nature.
  
• Take time to do something I enjoy each day for at least 15 minutes. Whether it's knitting or stitching I need to make sure I do something. I'm going to start posting what I managed to work on each day as a measure and to keep myself accountable.
• Blog more. I like blogging, I just need to be more faithful with it.
  
• Read at least a chapter a day. I've not been reading as much as I normally do. I love books and miss them, so this shouldn't be hard. Again, I may even start writing down here what I manage to do on this one.

There are probably some other things, but these are the basics. We'll see how I do.

Today's Count:
Knitting: worked on Masonic Lodge socks, finished another repeat after ripping back 4.
Stitching: nothing
Reading: B is For Burglar - 1 chapter.

It's almost Christmas!

And we do have a few decorations up. Enjoy some pictures.My hand-made ornament tree.My "Garnet & Gold" tree, or "The Angel Tree" as it's also been called since it has both all garnet & gold and loads of angels.

This is new. It's actually a 4' tree planted in an old wheelbarrow with some new LED lights. I love how they look, and will be switching to them as my old lights give out.
Finally a look down the back walk to the sun porch. I realize it's very blurry, but I was trying to get a picture so you could see the lights and I don't have a tripod. I need one, but don't have one. So, this is what you get. Still, you get the idea.

This year is a very tamed down version of our decorating. We got a late start and with me working and everything else we just didn't get as much done. Oh well, it's still pretty. I'll get pictures of the other rooms tomorrow before everyone gets here for Open House.

In other, very wonderful, news...it seems my contract is going to be extended after all. I'm extremely happy. I truly like the work and, for the most part, the people. Plus I already knew a few people which is great. They are extending for another 3 months, but hopefully some other good things will happen during that time. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement after yesterday's news. I'm still trying to process what it's all about, but I've already taken some steps to feel better, and it's not just the medicine. I've scheduled some time with my previous personal trainer and we're going to work out something so I can get in better shape. It's not like I haven't been procrastinating enough, but this is a great motivator.

So, that's all. Big day tomorrow and then it's Christmas! Stay safe if you have to be out and about tomorrow. I'll be going to work myself. Should be a fun day. Enjoy whatever you're doing tomorrow.

No pictures, just a resumé

I know I promised that once I'd attached the two parts of my Mrs. Beeton wristwarmers I'd take a picture and show you. But I didn't even get to that until really late tonight so no picture. What did I do with my day you ask? I rewrote my resumé, that's what I did.

I've been saying I'm going to update my resumé for at least a month now, ok longer. Long enough that I called my good friend and "keeper of the hard copy of my resumé", Michele to get said hard copy. That was months ago. Apparently I put it in a very safe place because for the last month, when I got really serious about updating it and trying to find a new job, I couldn't find it. I also couldn't find the copy I had on disk. Believe me, I've looked. Today was the day I had to get it done. So I took one more look at my old 3 1/2 inch diskettes. You remember those, don't you? We were all so excited when they arrived on the scene, almost indestructible and small. I still have some in a case in my office. Why I've kept them I'm not sure since my current computer can't read them. Lucky for me, my laptop which is several years older does have a drive for them since today I found my resumé on one of them!

So, my drama is over. I found it, I've updated it and I've even sent it off in the hopes that I'm the perfect candidate for a job here in town. Short term, consulting job doing what I used to do, which is Quality Assurance and testing of software. Tomorrow I'll be talking to the consulting firm I'd actually be working for. We'll see what they think and go from there.

Let me just say that it's nice to have friends who support you and are willing to help you when you need it. The whole reason I even know about this potential job is because of a friend and the only reason my resume looks as good as it does is because of friends who helped me out today with wording. I admit that I'm pretty confident in my abilities, those of you who know me in "real life" know that. (My friend Kathe says it's because I'm a Cancer...ok, that works for me.) But when it comes to writing down what I do, or what I've done, I can tell you, but I can't seem to make it sound right on paper, or really on a resumé. So, to Kathe and Heather who helped me today; talked me off a ledge in some respects, I send my thanks and gratitude. You are both great and I'm proud to be your friend. (Enough mushy!)

Tomorrow I'll make time to take a picture of the Mrs. Beeton's. They are so adorable. I'm totally in love with this first one. Oh, and pictures of some of my other projects that need updating too.