Triple Chocolate Cake - the Last July Update

Well, this was a quick month - don't know why, exactly, was kind of busy, but not unusually so. Kids go back to school two weeks from today; I'm ready for them to be out of the house, but not looking forward to having to get them up, or lunch money. Right now, I'm just tired of the heat - which is odd coming from me, I know - but wow, I am SO OVER the freaking humidity and heat indexes between 105 and 110. Tired of the smell of this place in late summer - scorched earth, mildew and rot, and hot asphalt. Yuck. Gotta get back out west where I belong, where 115 is much more tolerable than 95 here because of the lower humidity.

Anyway, here's the chocolate cake I mentioned last week - since I got one whole piece out of last week's, I decided to make another one. I got my one piece last night - we'll see if there's any left next time I want some. Since this really is about the only chocolate cake I will eat - only because it has fudge in it and on it :) Not that big a fan of chocolate - I like chocolate, not chocolate-flavored things.



As for the week's stitching, there are little bits of lots of things :) I had Tuesday off to take the Kid to his senior pictures, and I also got to meet Lyne Thursday, finally, who was in Atlanta with her husband, attending an Audi thing before heading out to Tybee Island for some R&R. I also went to Monday's stitch in at the Stitch Store, as well as our monthly PINS get together on Saturday. Maybe that's why July blew past so fast, maybe I've been busier than I thought? So where to start? I guess I'll start small and work my way up...



First up - Ink Spot 11. I was working on this while the Kid was getting his pictures taken; one of the boys he's gone to school with forever says "What you working on there, Ms. Rife?" So I showed him,and he looked at it, back to me, back to the paper of what it's supposed to be, then back at me, and said "So...how do... um, how do you...?" I told him, you pick a starting place, and then everything is counted from there. He shook his head and said it was neat - but I heard "Yeah, you're nuts". LOL But hey, he looked at it - that's more than I can say for my own kid. Hey Maurice, if you need to be adopted, let me know! I also worked on IS 11 for a few minutes at PINS on Saturday, to finish the area I was in.



At Monday night's stitch in, I worked on two things - first, Secret Garden. I finished the tiny Smyrna stitch band below the gate - it's done in the first DMC Variation I subbed in, and looks a tiny bit bright right now - but those same DMC solids are used elsewhere, so am hoping it all pulls together then. Also go the first line of verse in.

Then I put that up and worked on Tanglewood a bit more, getting that branch filled in more. I need to contrive to have a larger set of Qsnaps with me for it - but I seem to have all my less-than-17x17 sets in use... Anyway, hope to work on it some more at tonight's stitch in, start the next branches up.



Over the weekend, at PINS (Purple Iris Needlework Society), I took Natalie's RR along, and worked on that there and yesterday, too. I got three more motifs done and am now debating which way to go on it :) Decisions, decisions. I don't want to repeat any color I've already used, so letting that be my guide :) I reallllyyyy like this chart - makes me want to get Garden Stars kitted & going - but Anatolia gets to go next! Because I don't quite have enough Ink Circles in my life at the moment - did you see the new SYHO pieces for August? LOVE THEM!



And lastly, Medieval Town Mandala - I worked on that middle building ALL WEEK (when I was home) and STILL didn't get it all the way done! Though, I do only have the Jesscia stitches to do for the windows. Then I can move on to the rest of town 4, and who knows, maybe have it done this time next week? Then the 4 corners, which I plan to do each one in it's entirety, not by the last 3 parts. Maybe. We'll see. Here's the overall:


And the detail of this corner:


MTM stays out this week, and we'll see what else I get into. Fortunately, nothing's hollering at me to start right now, not even the Halloween stuff, which is good, since 6 Bats would like to be finished. After the kids get settled into school, I need to get some stuff into frames. I'm not going to the fair this year - nothing done in allotted time that I want to take, so just never mind this year. there's one less thing I have to contend with in coming weeks - getting soccer season going will more than fill that gap.Well, that's the news. Happy stitching - stay cool, if you can.

3 Weeks to School - an Update

No, no food this week - same old, same old. Though I did make a triple chocolate cake yesterday, but it's already half gone, so not really picture-worthy at this point :) A kid will probably have it for breakfast today... And yes, only 3 more weeks before school starts here. I am not ready - don't have stuff bought yet, don't feel like getting them up again, not ready to give up my free child labor, especially in the laundry department - since most of of it is theirs....

 
(yes, that's a dandelion, the much maligned scourge of lawns everywhere - and fun for macro photography, WHEN you don't have a dog trying to take your arm off...)

On to the stitching. I think it is safe to say the slump is over :) I had a finish - Sonnet 18 by The Bard is now complete, and will be a companion to the Papillon Creations Romeo & Juliet pieces I have waiting, if I can decide on fabric for them. I am thinking Days Gone By for them, but since both contain yellows, not sure that's the right color. Might need to stick with something way more neutral. Anyway, here's the finished Sonnet, done on 28ct Chocolate from Silkweaver's (an RAK from Viv in the UK - thank you again!), using Carrie's silk in an LE color, Chestnuts:

Now, the only reason I finished the Sonnet was because I, ummm, *cough* started a new project last week, so was feeling guilty that my travel bag is FULL. Patricia Ann's A Secret Garden has been on my To Do list ever since I picked it up off the clearance rack at Hobby Lobby. And frankly I just got tired of listening to it whine, so Monday, I got home from work, walked straight over to the file cabinet, and pulled it out. Next thing you know, it was started. And I got the green vine all done before I decided it was not perfectly centered (I measured in from the corner, instead of starting in the middle); I was close, but being just perceptibly uneven would bug me, so I took out the vine, and starting in the middle, redid the left side, then the right side. That's better :) So by doing the gate then, too, the top band is now done:


This is on a piece of Star Sapphire 28ct jobelan that I have leftover from Knotgarden, using DMC, though I am going to add DMC Variations into the specialty stitch bands here & there. Might have to dig through the Carrie's, too, maybe :)

It was all I could do to not start another project, Vickery's Dragonflies, so to put that urge off, I worked on Natalie's RR instead. Her first piece was already completed, so I get first crack at her 2nd one for this year, Ink Circle's Second Chances :) You know, the one with all the PURPLES in it :) :) I got a few motifs done on Sunday afternoon. I want to work down to that bottom right motif, but it's a long way away...


I want that bottom right motif to be recreated in sterling silver, to be used for chandelier earrings :) Much smaller, of course - don't want to pull any neck muscles hauling big-ass earrings around :)

When I wasn't working on the things above, I was working on Medieval Town still, and am now to the dreaded middle building side 4. I will keep on with it this week and see if I can get that damn thing done - I will be so glad to put that particular building behind me! Here's just the shot of where I worked - the overall still looks like it did last time (which is code for I was too lazy to take this out of the Qs for an overall picture :) ):


And that's it. I didn't go to stitch in last week - barometer headache - so no update on Tanglewood. I am planning to go tonight, though, so plan to work on that then. Unless something else screams louder. Continue on with MTM, and who knows what? I have tomorrow off - Kid has senior pictures at noon, and I need a day off that doesn't involve driving all over ATL for doctor's appointments :) And Lyne will be in Atlanta this week, so I am planning to take Thursday afternoon off to go meet her, finally - though DH thinks I am meeting a guy instead. Idiot.And PINS meets this weekend - I can't wait! We always have such a good time! Anyway, check back next week to see what actually gets done - hopefully no new starts, though Glendon Place has 2 new awesome Halloween releases, so I am kind of itching to get 6 Bats out & finished as start the 2 GP's I have kitted :) Yeah, I'm an addict - but last I heard, cross stitch never killed anyone :) Made dinner late a few times, but too bad, huh? Well, happy stitching until next week!

Another Monday Update - HOT!

Continuing the food-themed updates lately, here's some cucumber & onions:


This is all mine, no one else here will eat it. What is wrong with people? Well, since cucumbers don't like me so much, I probably shouldn't eat it, either - but they are so good!

Like many places, it's hot, as can be expected in summer. I could use a few days of cloud cover, as that keeps the house cooler than the sun beating on it all afternoon - will NOT have a south facing house ever again :( Of course, if those trees I'd asked for many years ago had gotten planted, we'd have shade on the front, but.... Yep, ready to get on past August and the first half of September - though I hate to wish away time, not having enough of it as it is. And September 11th is not only Cass & Sheryl's birthday, it's also my 10-year anniversary at The Job. I got to pick my prize the other day - a nice shiny leather laptop bag :) I guess since I got 2 new computers last year, I probably shouldn't ask for one this year, unless I really do blow one up. Again :) Hey, it's my JOB to break stuff :) :) though I prefer to break other people's stuff - keeps them from doing damage, you see... Pay no attention to that woman behind the curtain! *

Anyway, on to the stitching bits.... Clicky piccies for bigger version.

I took Tanglewood to the day stitch in at the Stitch Store last Monday, as I had that day off for the July 4th holiday. I got the next branch completely outlined, and half filled in.

I don't know if I am going to go tonight, or not - might take this week off; and if the thunderstorms they say we are supposed to have do actually show up this time, I will probably have another barometer headache, so might be best to just take a week off. Hmmmm....

The Kid had a doctor's appointment this week, so while waiting, I also got out that Ink Spot 11, and got the 2nd coat on the purple (after I'd decided I wanted 2 strands instead of 1), and started a section of the 4th color, before I had to put it down. No idea what I'm doing with this when I get it done - but who cares about that? It's such a neat design!


And then I continued work on MTM, though there were a couple of nights I just didn't get to it - too tired, too hot, too many other things going on. But I do have a good jump on town #4, and plan to keep it out for a while longer. Here's the overall:


And the detail of that corner:


Other than MTM, I have no other plans for the week, though I expect I'll get Natalie's RR shortly, and look forward to working on yet another Ink Circles design :) Gearing up for school to start on August 9th - already! We have senior pictures one day next week - and bad hair :( And I need to get the U19 team updated and get it ready to go - tournament season is right around the corner. I guess the quiet is over, again. Until next week, happy stitching everyone!

* Wizard of Oz, anyone???

INVASION!!!!!

I think the garden spiders are really wondering what happened to the lilies.... These 3 are in the pokers & cannas by the front porch.

Potato Salad and Independence - an Update

Don't know why potato salad goes with Independence Day, but it does :) So, here's potato salad:


In the immortal words of Samwise Gamgee, potatoes: "Po-tay-toes! Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew..." I have a gif of that around here somewhere...

Also note the Pyrex bowl the po-tay-toe salad is in; bought about the time I appeared, via Green Stamps. Remember those? Well, you kids don't, but I do... It's the official Potato Salad Bowl of the Seibert/Williams family for 40-some years.

And look what else - this is a Sunday update... on a SUNDAY!! But since it's a Holiday Sunday, I can make an exception! And as it is Independence Day, I will post here my favorite Independence Day quote that wouldn't fit on my FB page - from President Whitmore in Independence Day the movie:
"Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. "Mankind." That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!"

I love that movie :)

Anyway, on to the stitching bits. Guess what? I finished the 3rd town on MTM!!! And I'm keeping it out to start work on the 4th one!!! I love this project! And it wants to be worked on, since I seem to be using the screaming rotation method now... Here it is:



And this is the 3rd town completed (still not sure about the metallic in the roof of the edge buildings, but whatever):


Another of Martina's lovely mistake-ridden charts - the little brown pointed roof bit on those edge buildings was only on the one on the right on the chart; if I hadn't been looking at the right side to see how I'd done the backstitching, I wouldn't have seen it - until posting the picture, when I usually see my hose-ups....

I took Tanglewood to the Monday nigh stitch in at the Stitch Store again, and despite the barometer headache from hell, I got another branch filled in. I left early, in an attempt to come home & go to bed early (which didn't happen, but what else is new?), or I would have started the outline of the next one that criss crosses that one. I assume I will take this with me tomorrow, too.


And I worked on the little Ink Spot during lunch a couple of times; I started out using one strand, then decided I'd rather have 2, so went over one section already with the 2nd, have the purple to go back over still. This is so bright - I love the redder color - it is 817; I don't think I've used it before on anything - I had to go get it at HL.



And that's it. As I said, MTM is staying out until... whenever. I suspect I'll get my next RR piece soon, so we'll see what that is and when I'll get some in on it. That's as far as I'm willing to go towards plans. Not much else to report here - SSDD, though it has been mercifully cooler - only in the mid-to-upper 80s! I have a suspicion we're goingt o pay for this respite come August... but until then, happy stitching!

PIE! An Update

It's now officially summer, and we are now officially out of the Cup, as is England (wtf?). But MEXICO is also OUT of the cup - Woohoo!! There are about 6 more weeks before school starts again (again, wtf?). And wow could I use a week at the beach - a non-oil-polluted beach, of course (again, wtf? WTG, BP). All of which means nothing, except it's strawberry pie season - see?
 
Not pictured: Cool Whip - because it's wrong to eat it right out of the bowl, hence the pie :) No, really, I get yelled at every time, so it must be wrong, even though the kids do it and the dogs are standing right there the whole time...

In other news, the stitching slump might be winding down - I ran into a little hurdle with another thing I've been working on, so while I tried to figure out how to get over that, I picked up a needle pretty often over the last week or two, despite losing all of past Tuesday night to fall soccer sign-up - yes, I'm still the damn manager, but now I am the sole manager, I am AUTONOMOUS!!! Yippee. Translation - more work for me! GO ME! Someday, they tell me, the Kid will appreciate it; so far, I ain't seein' it...


Anywho, back to the needle bits. I HAD to finish up my goof on Paula's RR, and was bound & determined to get to the cutwork section - so I kept it for an extra week, and got that band done. I had the top part of it done when it was supposed to move on to Jodie, but I figured I'd better do the bottom half, too, so the tension would match in the weird Honeycomb stitch. I really, really liked this piece (even if it does have hearts & pink in it - I can make exceptions for exceptional pieces); if the border doesn't get done, send it back, I'll finish it up :)

Overall to date:



The cutwork section:



I worked on Tanglewood again at last week's stitch in, and got the next branch outlined. I'll likely work on it tonight, too, and get that one filled in, get a start on the next outline.



And then, because I've been into the impulse starts lately, I also started Tracy's latest freebie, Ink Spot #11, which came out in her newsletter last week. I had a piece of Vikki Clayton's linen left over from Samplar 4 Saisons, so there it is. That's for lunch, when I can put the book down.



This past Saturday was the local stitcher's group, PINS. I worked on Mary Wigham again, and got the squirrel on!!! I've been working towards him from the beginning - he and the carnation are the only 2 colors I picked out specifically for the motif - the squirrel is in HDF BeSeeded :) There's a dime beside the squirrel for scale on the over-1 - he'd fit under it :) My eyes have been chewed the last few weeks (gee, I've gone 42 years without glasses, can't I go a little longer? PLEASE?), but I still don't have any problem with that French Country linen over-1 :) Good stuff, need yards & yards more...



And even though the rotation has been scrapped (temporarily or permanently, dunno), I did get MTM out Friday night - and will keep it out for an unknown length of time. I finally got that 3rd center building done! Man, it's not difficult, it's just freaking big! I may do that one first on the 4th side, just to get it out of the way - IF I can manage the counting :) I'll get this 3rd side done in pretty short order this week, I think, and then I'll decide if I move around to the left town, or put it up. This is the overall shown - detail here.



Other than MTM continuing, I have no idea what is planned for this week; I do know EGS isn't likely to make an appearance - totally don't care about it at the moment. I've never said that about any project before - have I hit maximum density on TWs? Again, don't know. Maybe I just need to work on some of this other stuff more, for a while :)



Anyway, that's the news, or what passes for news. Have a great week, and for those of you in the US, have a safe 4th of July weekend! The next update should include potato salad :) Because mine's the best :) :) :)

8000% Humidity - an Update

Everybody knows I hate the cold - but the heat the last few days has been utterly ridiculous! I know, I know, I'm getting old, thus my window of comfort is getting smaller and smaller. Yeah, yeah, never happy, too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry. But bitching about the weather keeps me from bitching about other things out of my control, such as...

This little tidbit: http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/34297/
Here is a tiny little rant that you can skip over if you'd like. If, like me, you think illegal immigration is a HUGE issue, then the above article is for you. Why? Because the people in that article are who my kids have share space with. We know half of those criminals, not to speak to, but on sight. The kid that died was the brother of one of our players. My kids have cops in their schools because of the gangs. And I'm not in LA, not in metro Atlanta - I'm in the sticks, just 30 short miles from where Deliverance was filmed, in a little place I like to call Tijuana East. And who gets to foot the bill for the ER and the incarceration and investigation? I do. I also get to pay for these useless dregs to drag my sons' education further into the toilet, thanks to No Child Left Behind, for people who have no intention of using their education, but take it and demand more because they think they are entitled to it. You think this couldn't happen where you are? Wait - they're coming.... You want to know the real Montezuma's revenge? It's the first authentic Mexican place opening in small town America, and they lure you in with the kick-ass margaritas and salsa, and then the next one opens, and the next one. I've been watching this evolution for the last 16 years - it ain't a pretty picture, folks. I can make you a margarita, when it comes right down to it.

Enough - I don't like to discuss political issues, but this one's pretty much right in my backyard, soooo.... Here endeth the rant.


On to lighter things. Still slumping, stitching wise. Over the last couple of weeks, though, I have done some. Apparently my rotation is on hiatus. Maybe I have too many things going, and I have project confusion? Don't know. Just not into it, I have other concerns at the moment. Last time I updated, I had been working on Chat Noir. I kept him out for a bit longer, and though it looks almost exactly identical to the last time, I did actually fill in several blanks.
Last time, I also updated Tanglewood; I took it to last week's stitch in at The Stitch Store and worked on it again, filling in another branch. Maybe if I take this to a few stitch ins (which was canceled tonight, btw), I'll get a side done :) I'm just so used to all you guys here knowing what it is, that I think it's weird when the local stitchers don't immediately recognize the name; then when I show them the picture, they're like "Oh, yeah, I remember that one. Is that what that looks like?" It's strange knowing there are two very distinct stitching communities, online and offline - and maybe that's why it's in decline? Not enough cross-over? Maybe I'm just too eclectic for my own good? Or maybe eccentric is a better word...? No comments from you peanuts, okay? Anyway, here's the latest:

And because Chat just doesn't provide enough confetti, I decided to break out World Tree for a few hours. I got to put in a new color!!! WooHoo! Finally got to that turquoise :) This really is going to be an amazing piece, all these colors against the black. I am kinda thinking the 939 around the edge of the black is a bit of overkill - I can't see it when I get it in, so why make the distinction? Because I am either nuts, or I realllllyyyy like a challenge :) I just hope I get this beast done while the eyes still work....

As for this week - don't know. World Tree is still out. I need to work on Paula's RR, as it has to ship out soon - and I need to finish putting back what I had to take out during that vicious frog attack a month ago (which just happens to coincide with the beginning of this slump). Might not work on anything, especially if this heat continues. This is good reading weather - and I get to go pick up Echo in the Bone next week :) Won't get to read it until I finish The Fountainhead & another Karen Harper Elizabethan mystery that I have here from the library - but right after those - I can't wait!! There was a time when I read a thousand-page book every week or two, before my life became consumed by thread; maybe I'm just reverting back? Dunno. Anyway, if you are stitching or not, have a great week!

And We Wonder Why...

Seen on a Kia from Missouri on the way home today:
A cheesy cartoon of a wizard, similar to this one, but not this one, since I stole this one from the internet:






And written below that, this legend:
Fastener Sourcerer
XXX-XXX-XXXX

Fastener Sourcerer? Sour - cerer? Sorcerer? WTF? Clearly suffering an addled brain from the previous twenty miles of 80-stop, 80-stop, 80-stop, oh-look-no-blinker, I am not able to puzzle this out. It's every bit as bad as 90% of the stupid-ass vanity plates that only the owner gets. Except the one PRNSSS has (scroll down to the next to last paragraph for that tirade).

Anyway, finally, it comes to me. Fastener SOURCE-erer. Oh, look, Ethel, it's a Play On Words, says Delbert. (If the car had been from anywhere other than Missouri, I would have imagined that conversation in Monty Pythonese) (Except possibly Arkansas - pronounced R Kansas, btw)

And we wonder why all the kids are growing up retarded??? Um, because people think it's okay to just take any old word in the language and bastardize it to suit their idiotic needs??? Now, we can't blame everything on gangstas and Ebonics, if this Kia is any indication. Assuming, of course, that both gangstas and Ebonics are relatively scarce in Missouri...

If it ain't in the Oxford English, then maybe you should stop trying to be clever. Because you FAIL, in some cases EPIC FAIL. And "ain't" is in there, so :b~~~~~~~~ (my sister would slap me if she lived closer).

People, just remember that for those of us with photographic memory (out of film or otherwise), we can't usually Un-See a thing once it's been seen, and bleach just isn't suitable.

Show Me State, huh? Come here, you dumb shit, let me show you how I'm going to smack you right in the damn head....

Thanks to Chris Cornell for helping me survive today's drive; if you haven't listened to all of his 1999 solo effort, Euphoria Morning, I highly recommend it, regardless of your driving conditions...

A Small Update

Not a lot going on here - survived the tourney in Columbus, though it was, as usual, largely a waste of time, though a good entry on the Kid's resume. Tryouts are this week for the upcoming season - no rest for the weary. I'm hoping it works out that I don't have to manage this year - I'm over it. We'll see...

In other news, not much stitching going on - just not into it, still, though I had more mojo over the weekend than I've had. I did go to the day stitch in last Tuesday - we talked Terrie into moving the Monday one, since she was going to be closed for Memorial Day, to Tuesday, which I also had off. I couldn't decide what to take, so I took 4-5 projects with me, and ended up working on Tanglewood, getting a branch filled in and another outlined.

I'll be taking Tanglewood with me tonight, too. Following the knotwork is meditative, which fits my mood the last couple of weeks. Anyone else wonder why "mojo" isn't recognized by the Multiply dictionary??? Hmmm...

I haven't worked on my rotation pieces for the lat two weeks - could give a s#%$ less about EGS right now, and not really feeling it for Knotgarden, either. The few nights I did put any stitches in the last two weeks, I worked on Chat Noir. I got in a few hundred stitches over the two weeks - if you look at the previous picture, you can see how much got filled in. Who knew whiskers were such a PITA???

And that's it, for 2 whole weeks. No, really. You guys probably think I'm really ill, huh? Well, who knows? Preoccupied, for sure. Just needing a change of pace, maybe. We'll see if I get Samplar 4 Saisons out this week, or keep on with Chat, whom I kept on the stand last night. For those of you NOT slumping, happy stitching this week :)

OMG - Look What I Just Drove!!!

It's so not a good idea to tell the guy across the street about the car you really like - because he handles all the used ones that come through his Chevy dealer (the same guy that is currently driving a Dodge truck with a Viper engine in it - wth?). So, tonight, after driving my 112th mile for the day (to & from work, to & from practice), I pulled onto my street to see this sitting in his drive:

I WANTZZZZZ ONE!!!!

And then the idiot handed me the key....

And since it's been over 5 years since I drove anything with a clutch, and a lot longer than that since I had one you couldn't just dump into whatever gear, I umm, *cough*cough*stalled*cough* at the corner.

But then I barked the tires at the other corner up onto the main road!!

I think I used all of the 6 gears - don't know I do know it's a good thing there weren't any cops between here & where I turned around It has lots & lots of go-fast


Damn, I make this look good!


That is really cool - but wow, so not looking for another car payment. And I really hope my poor Mazda didn't see me driving the pretty red car.


I guess I'll hold out for the Boxster or '64 GTO :) Or the GREY R/T with the flat black markings :)