Finito!

Another Friday, another finish...this one was 10 years in the making.  Yes, I am a turtle when it comes to cross stitch.

I decided against framing it and turned it into a small wallhanging instead.  Now the question is, will Himself give up a smidge of wall space for it considering alot of the walls in our house are covered with car memorabilia.  We shall see...

On the Co-Defendant front...

Here's The Diva in her Halloween finery.  Easy-peasy costume and a great stress reliever hacking it into shreds at the bottom.  Yay, Mom!!

 
She's a ghost if you can't tell, but now that I really think about it, she could blend in with all those Occupy Wall Streeters.  At least she didn't poop on the pavement though, right?!  If her attitude holds up, next year she's going as a witch.  I already have a broom in the garage with her name on it!

Captain Studly is grooming himself to be the next James Cameron as he has discovered a love of movie/video making.  It's all very artsy-fartsy...heavy on the fartsy.  Can we just say he's thirteen and leave it at that?  He also garnered himself a compliment from his principal about how much he's matured/what a nice young man, etc, etc which made me ask incredulously 'My kid?!'  I know, I know...bad mommy! 

If I can make it through the work weekend, I'll have off seven straight days.  No one better get sick.  As it is, Himself will be with me at least part of that time, hopefully with his head under the hood of his hot rod.  No, that's not my smarmy way of saying my skirt.  I have a stack of stuff that needs finished and more I'm just itching to start.  He's been warned to steer clear of me and call for takeout. 

Pray I show some restraint and stick with the WIPs!

I'm linking up to Richard and Tanya Quilt, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts.

Have a fantastic weekend and keep on stitchin' y'all!


  

Halloween WIP

Call me a witch, but Halloween holds as much appeal for me as going to the vet does for the dog.  Perhaps it's the crush of whining little ones every. where. we. go or maybe it's the obviously frazzled parents accompanying them, each wearing an expression that says they'd rather eat ground glass than be trolling for candy.  Or perhaps it's just the thought of a quirky holiday in which we celebrate children begging for candy (much like mine do every time we're at the grocery).  Whatever...The Diva's terribly excited about all that free candy and I'm looking forward to soaking my sore foot when the whole thing's over and done with. 

I successfully managed not to fall down all day and got my 10 year cross stitch WIP almost done.

I'm turning it into a wallhanging.  All that's left is to stitch down the binding.  I briefly thought of doing that by machine, but oddly enough, I really like stitching it down by hand.

Well, I must hop on my broom as we scour the countryside for treats.  Happy Halloween, y'all!

Make a List Monday: The Tuesday Edition

I must've smacked my head in Sunday morning's shower debacle because it slipped my mind that YESTERDAY was Monday.  Sigh.  Smile.  Carry on.

Actually, yesterday I was too busy sucking down painkillers to get my schmit together to even type, but it's amazing what a day of work i.e. no painkillers will do for your psyche.  Big whoo (twirling finger).

So, here's my 'to do' list for this week:

* Don't fall.  Anywhere.

* Get the label stitched onto Captain Studly's Albatross quilt.  YES, IT IS FINALLY QUILTED!!

* Finish 10-year WIP cross-stitch sampler

* Don't fall.  Anytime.

* Get The Diva's costume ready for Halloween.  I AM cutting it a tad close, aren't I?

* Come up with a Christmas gift for my Happy Stitchers quilting bee pal.  Any suggestions?

* Don't fall.  Under any circumstances.

With luck, I'll be able to accomplish the not falling thing.  Then again, I tend to be gifted in the klutz department.

Check out Confessions of a Fabric Addict for more Make a List Monday fun! 

Just pretend it's not Tuesday ;)

Happy quilting, y'all!

Taking Sympathy to an All New Level

Dear Etty,

I wanted you to know how sympathetic I've felt about your bum foot.  It's gotta stink having a hard time getting around, not to mention how it interferes with your sewing.  With that in mind, I managed to slip, twist and crash in my all-time favorite place this morning...the bathtub.  No wonder my kids hate bathing...the place is dangerous!

Anyway, one bone's broken (the doctor 'thinks'...can't you tell for certain from an x-ray?!) and it's turning a lovely shade of mauve.  Crikey, I need a pedicure!  I got this nifty boot and classy pair of crutches.  Yay me!

I'd try and milk this for some sympathy from Himself, but I swear the man's not got a sympathetic bone in his body.  Unless of course he's the one that's ill/injured.  Anyhoo...

Glad yours is on the mend and in a couple of weeks, mine'll be as good as new, too!

Fondly,
Stephanie

I Care

I've wanted to write this post for a long time, but haven't had the words and frankly, just didn't know how to go about writing it so that it sounded thoughtful and intelligent and heartfelt.  Apparently, today's the day and I hope I get it right.  If not, feel free to tell me...just be nice about it.

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I'm frequently asked 'Are you Jewish?' a question no doubt prompted by the fact that I wear a Star of David.  The short answer is 'No'.  Less curious folks let it drop.  Occasionally, someone will press me to elaborate and I'm happy to accomodate them.  Here's my extended version answer...

I wear a Star of David because I want the world to know that I support Israel and her people.  Period.  The fact that these people have been under attack from all sides for thousands of years and still manage to survive and thrive proves to me that God is truly for them.  Not to mention the fact that my Bible says the exact same thing.  No, I don't think that by supporting Israel or Jews that I'll earn my stars in heaven.  The Bible clearly says that anything I do to try and earn my way to heaven just won't cut it.  Yes, I'm one of those dinosaurs that reads and believes what the Bible says. You're free to think differently.

No, I'm not out to convert any Jews to Christianity.  I find that charge fairly amusing considering I have a hard enough time trying to do what Jesus wants me to do without going to the trouble of mucking up anyone else's chance at eternity.  Nonetheless, I have been accused of trying.  Frankly, I'm flattered that anyone would think I have that much ambition.   
The other day, I came across this blog post from Arsen Ostrovsky who was discussing the numerous rockets falling on southern Israel and he asked if anyone cared that his country was under attack.  Yes, Arsen, I care.  I'm no media or political muckety-muck; I'm an average suburban American mom.  And I care.  That declaration won't get you anywhere, but there it is.

My open support for Israel and her people has opened my eyes to what other people think of the issue.  And it isn't pretty.  I've been forced to reevaluate how I see and interact with certain people, many of whom I called friend.  No, supporting Israel hasn't made me popular and I certainly never thought it would.  I'd get more high fives for hugging trees or polar bears than I ever will for supporting Israel.  But it's what I feel is right and I'm not now, nor will I ever be, ashamed to call myself a friend of Israel.