Good morning, snow!

This morning we have fluffy white stuff falling from the sky!

That was at 6:45-ish.  Now that it is almost 9am the flakes are a lot bigger and there are a lot more of them.  Lots and lots more of them. [I think the herbs in the planter box may be toast-- -don't you?]   Save for the driving in it part (my poor sister!), it is really cool.

For comparison, yesterday it looked like this:

My American friends, that's your National Christmas Tree.  It is probably undecked today as they were dismantling its compound yesterday morning.    And yesterday's chilly winds did not dissuade the "photo club" at the White House (though it did bring down the numbers considerably)--

Oh, something I never noticed/paid attention to before was this monument in the sidewalk between the White House and the National Christmas Tree.  It is the official Zero Milestone marker set in 1920 and from which all roads in the U.S. were supposed to be measured -- apparently that didn't happen, but we still have the milestone and a remembrance of the first Transcontinental Motor Convoy which went from DC to San Francisco in 1919.

I'm going to break the cool travel-ness here, and shoe-horn some stitching in -- otherwise you might think I was avoiding the issue...... you would be right!

I joined the By the Bay's Serenity Harbor SAL for the year, and for the last few days I've been jealously watching people's progress.  When i was packing I just could not see my way clear to packing this bundle:

That is a badly-lighted (sorry) pic of my floss toss for this.  See-- that's a pretty big bundle to pack.  So I am just going to have to wait until I give up my East Coast fling to get needles in to this one.

Ok, warning,  I am saying this up front:  this is NOT mine.  I merely facilitate the finishing for my friend Judy.

Isn't it pretty?  And we had the perfect shade of velvet in the finishing corral at the shop!  Such miracles do not happen every day!

She did a great job.  I sure would love to claim it as mine!...... especially since the eagle-eyed amongst you will note there are no pictures of my stitching progress since I have very little to show for the last few days.  Oops!

Ok, enough slight of hand,,,,   back to pretty vacation pics.

I was in DC a day before the family and I decamped for an early Christmas in St. Louis with one family bundle.  The first night in St. Loius we headed out to the light display at the Botanical Gardens and it was SPECTACULAR!  Kudos STL!!!!!!

Nope. That is not part of the Christmas lights, but I love Chihuly.

How cool is what I call "the light saber garden?!!"

For the Doctor Who fans... I don't think they meant to do this... or maybe they are fans too who could not resist......

And I leave you with a minor theme of my photos ...  the first pet of the holidays (besides Princess, of course).  Meet Q -- totally mellow and peaceful until you mention the "S" word.  [Squirrel]

Happy Tuesday!

P.S.  In case there is a very observant person out there who pays attention to my sidebar, you will note that in my Reads Allegedly in Process, Stephen King has appeared.  Now, that's not something I EVER imagined happening... ever.  But the 13-year-old nephew gave it to me for Christmas explaining that he remembered us talking about Edgar Allan Poe last year and he understood that King had his roots in Poe so obviously it was the perfect thing for Aunt Ruth.  Gulp.  What's an aunt to do? ---- Suck it up and read, that's what!  lol  Preening proudly that I've "raised" another generation of book people.

Look who's done!!!!!!!!! Whoop Whoooop

Yes, dear friends, there has been a miracle.  The problematic jay is..... drum roll please..... DONE!    Yeehaw the first Badgerish finish of 2015.  And I even got his pic in focus and uploaded within a half hour of completion (I would have been faster if I had not had to stop to call my bank to explain that, no, I was not the person who entered my account password incorrectly repeatedly this morning causing Mr. Bank to lock my online account.   Sigh.  Allegedly all worked out now.  Prayers accepted......)

As long as I'm showing off, I'm going to share some of the DC atmosphere I've been soaking up.  My first or second night here was really foggy cool.  We took a swing into the District to visit "my swoosh" (I consider the Air Force Memorial "mine" and I call it the swoosh.) --

And the Washington Monument.... well, the bottom two-thirds.

I will be back to talk tree later, but I owe Linda a pick of the finished tree.  It's a bad one and there will be others (I Just can't find them right now.) , but I don't want Linda thinking I ignored her.  For the record, that's 9 feet covered with about 750 ornies.  The kid's tree has another 80 or so.  And 39 large ones circle the dining room ceiling.  As I am "the official hooker of Christmas"  (I really need a badge or sash.) I can tell you that it take about 12 hours for your fingers to stop hurting for every 4 hours of hooking you do.

Well I'd better get my fanny to bed.  I know I owe many more pics-- I have a lot of adventures to catch you up on.

Happy stitching, my friends.

It Is Good to Have Goals (aka: Annual Exercise in Foolishness)

Go ahead and save yourself some time -- set the Hilarity Index to "high" because it is the annual setting of the goals season.   And, yes, gentle reader, in the face of all my previous experience, I am going to set some.  Hey, there's always hope, right?

Before I get to the actual goaling, I want to show my intentions are pure.  So, starting as I mean to go on allow me to unveil my blue jay:

This is the pure ole jay that's been hauling around with me for several months trying to be started, but always suffering from the curse of the black silk -- the wrong silk, no silk, you know the story.  Anyway, there he is.  Before you faint from shock at my show of commitment, you should know that I intended to finish him today.  I got distracted.  There was sleeping in, the Rose Parade (the best parade in the whole world... not that I'm biased), the family walk to the swamp (errr, wetlands) to visit the ducks (who had the good sense to be elsewhere), and there was outdoor hockey to cheer at---

Sorry, Blackhawks.  Good show Capitals!   And, to cap off the day, there was Fiddler on the Roof at Arena Stage courtesy of my dear brother in law who took us as part of our Christmas.  If you get the chance, do go.  It was a very nice production.

Ok, I'm stalling, back to the topic of the day..... Goals.  Go ahead and save yourself some time -- set the Hilarity Index to "high"--

This humble badger's goals for 2015:
Stitching:  I think I'd like to aim for 24 finishes this year -- 12 ornies and 12 significant projects
At the moment the projects foremost on my mind are the following (categorized by how I think of them)

• Daunting:
• By the Bay's Serenity Harbor sampler SAL -- the one fresh start on this list
• needlepoint flag (about 10% done -- just boring basketweave)
• Ellen's flag  (about 20% done -- languishing due to largeness)
• Ethel (needlepoint) (about 30% done -- I spend most of my time staring at it and figuring out what stitch to do next)
• Mrs. needlepoint  (maybe 3% started -- got set aside in efforts to finish auction items, small gifts, and exchanges.  I think February will be the Month of the Mrs.)
• Boothy's KandQ  (maybe 2% in -- damn color changes)
• Tish's Ladies Day (needlepoint)  (probably 65% done -- sky, hair, faces, and jewelry remain)
• Ewe and Eye/Trilogy -- Rose City Stitchers  (probably 45% done -- other things seemed more important)
• Artists Collection summer barn quilt needlepoint (maybe 8% in -- It's mine so it can't be all that important, but I'd like to finish it to see if I want to do the other seasons before they are no longer painted.) 
• Friendly Stitchers' A-Stitch-A-Week sampler  (I believe I have all my boxes done, and 3 or 4 filled in.  I got sidetracked coming up with perfect fillers for the squares. And it's mine so it is never very urgent.)
• Large:
• Susan Roberts' engineer nutcracker needlepoint  (about 3% in -- a present which needs to be done for next Christmas-- so by August/September)
• Waterweave's Eagle Eyes "Darryl" needlepoint  (about 28% done -- lots of color changing, lots of color differentiating, and a stitch guide that was a laughable waste of money -- great canvas; TERRIBLE guide.  It's mine too.)
• Dawn of Spring SAL  (probably 70% done -- I got hung up beading a row... lots and lots of beading)
• Carriage House Samplings' A Mind Independent and Free  (about 7% done -- over-one.  My enthusiasm for over-one is limited.)
• Manageable:
• plum floral fan needlepoint (65% done -- need to do the handle, couching, and figuring out how to do the flowers.)
• olives ornies needlepoint  (maybe 3% in -- fun, but not important;  but they take a lot of space up because they are on a long canvas so getting them done would help out my stitching bags.)
• Painted Pony Home of the Brave ornie needlepoint  (50% done -- lots of fiddly color changes)
• Blackbird Designs' America  (45% done -- somewhere my count got off)
• Beau Geste Santa banner ornie needlepoint  (about 5% in -- coming up with multiple small stitches is a pain the the fanny.)
• Golden Gate Bridge ornie needlepoint  (80% done -- I need to do it on my stitching stand and I usually don't haul that out-- just lazy.)
• Stitch Specialists' Tree of Stitches  (about 50% done -- I got busy envying everyone else's.)
• powwow shawl dancer needlepoint  (about 75% done -- background, hair, face, and bead fringe)
• Quaker a la Six Mains (90% done -- just need to custom the wording)
• Beau Geste Santa hiker ornie needlepoint (about 3% in -- finding small stitches... still)
• Smalls:
• big tree ornie  (about 1% in)
• leeping sheep ornie  (probably 45%)
• Drawn Thread bird wreath ornie  (probably 40%)
• pending new start ornie exchange with Jenn  (pending = 0.0%)

Because I get so enthused seeing everyone's activities in Blogland, I joined a series of SALs and challenges.  I'm rationalizing that they will help keep me focused and active.  Yeah, right.  You know you are all going to have to help keep me on track.

SAL's/Challenges joined:
Stitching from Stash 2015 (approx. $25/month)
Friendly's Getting It Done in 2015 (focusing on, well,getting stuff done)
Smalls 2015 (post the last Wednesday of every month;  trying for one every month-- two would make me blissful!)
Turtle Trot 2015  (10 projects to pick and deal with and post about on the 10th of every month-- happily, as you can see from the above list, I have no shortage of opportunities for this one)
Edited to include:   Jo's Gifted Gorgeousness (posting the 15th of the month)

On the book front I was really good in 2014 and I hope to continue that trend in 2015.  I've set my Goodreads goal at 65 and hope to read a page more than I did last year, but really I aim for not getting bogged down in anything.  Life's to short for boring or annoying books.

Ok, beyond the goals for 2015, allow me to share a little of my inspiration of the current moment.  My sister-in-law was an amazing quilter (God rest her soul).  Here in the Blue Suite where I write to you from tonight, my bed is covered with one of her beauties-- a calendar quilt.  Here's May for your enjoyment --

And here's a piece of her's that lives in St. Louis right now but used to hang in the Blue Suite.

Oh, before I wander off I have happy news.  Princess is home and enthroned in her favorite chair by the fireplace.  She was boarding with the vet while we were in St. Louis and she had congestive heart failure.  Poor dear had IVs and and oxygen tent.  But she's back to her somewhat friendly, blind-ish and deaf-ish, but pretty self.

Good night and here's to 2015 treating us all well.

Bye Bye 2014

Dearest 2014, it's been nice having you, but it is time for you to go now.  Not that I'm rushing you.  You have been decent enough.  Hopefully your friend 2015 will be kinder and gentler and more peaceful.

Here's to you, 2014 -- you let me get some stitching done (not much at all though!).   And you let me get a decent amount of reading done (she says preening that she met her goal of at least one more page than 2013).  I have a cool family and friends, more stash and books than I could finish in a lifetime, and the Fortune 500 has not redundanted me yet (fingers crossed).  All in all, a fine year.  Thanks.  now, 2015, if you could work on the peace-on-earth thing, I'd be over the moon.

Here's to you 2014...... and to your promise 2015--

Lighted penguins on the patio, outstanding champagne in my glass, and all is pretty decent with the world.

All the best to you Blogland!

Peaceful Holiday Wishes and Gracious Holiday Miracles

As I was selecting pictures for this Christmas Eve post, it struck me how many little holiday happinesses I have already been lucky enough to have.

There was Hanukkah with my Auxiliary Family complete with the unveiling of my friend Jenn's completed Raymond Crawford menorah --  what you can't quite see in the picture below, but I bet you can imagine and smile about is that both of "my" girls, Dahvi and Sophie, have their hands clasped together and held close to their chests because as they ran to see the freshly unpacked candles they called the True Stitcher's Mantra to each other -- "Don't Touch!!!!"

Somewhere I have better pictures of these, but for now this wussy shot will have to do.  They are truly stunning.

I've also had the Happy Geek Moment -- -with my Katie (niece) as she and I poured over the map of Ankh-Morpork which came as an insert in one of my presents to her.  All hail Sir Terry Pratchett!

I mean come on folks, what else besides a holiday miracle would bring a 14-year-old and a none-of-your-business-year-old together for over a half hour to pour over a map of a fictional city looking for favorite locales, people's houses, and streets of notorious repute?!

There was also the blissful hour plus spent learning about blowing glass from Cousin Tom--- who was exceptionally patient with people who knew not of the glass-making process.

And check out some of the glistening miracles he's created---

See that all green swirly ball with the red top in the upper center of the pic?  It is mine now.  Another lucky bit of holiday happiness.

I have even had a little holiday postal joy.  Mary  received in good order and in excellent time the following ornie I made her (one of the secret, unseen projects.... unseen no longer) as part of a holiday exchange with the Stitch Specialists yahoo group.

It is a pattern from Gift of Stitching magazine done in Icing and Herb Garden by Belle Soie with copper-colored beads.

So, see, many miracles and much happiness has come to me, and I wish the same to you and yours.

Peace on Earth and goodwill to all.

Whew -- made it, and, Whoops -- off again

Hello gentle reader.  I made it safely to the East Coast only to be packing to head to Missouri tomorrow.  I feel a bit like the beginning of a whirlwind.  I've only had boots on the ground for maybe two days, and off I go again.  I bet this time I don't get a fast pass from TSA like I did on the way here ---- it was so cool not to take my shoes off....it's the little things.

But before I head west to hang with my niece and cousins for a bit, I have stuff to share.  Stuff I have been making you wait for.   At long last you can see the ornie that went to my friend Sally in an exchange in Yahoo's Friendly Stitchers group.  Sally said she liked snow and whimsey so I finally had a reason to stitch this little guy --

I had been wanting to do him for a long time and finally I had the perfect excuse.  Thanks, Sally!

This was his back--

In exchange, check out the awesome ornie Sally sent me -- Isn't he wonderful?  How ever did she know I have a soft spot for cardinals?

Of course, in typical me fashion, just because I have gotten a couple ornies done didn't mean I focused on long-standing WIPs and UFOs.  Oh no!   I started a new piece --

He's by Vee and Co, but I'll be switched if I can remember what he is called.  Oh, and he'd have been started earlier if he too hadn't been caught in my infamous missing-black-silk affair.  He made the trip east with me so maybe he will become more apparent to you soon.

It will be a while before the above ornie takes real shape though because I have my hands full for right now........Practically the first thing off the plane began the tree trimming.  Decking the tree is serious business at my sister's house -- we have limited time to get 750-900 ornaments hooked (my job) and arranged on the tree.  Here's table one of many, many, many!  (Table one and two are always the Radko batches.)

On day one of decking the tree I hooked about 400 ornies and my sister got them all up on the tree.

Here's this year's poor tree before the 400 -- he has spinal issues.

With 400 ornies on him he barely looks decked!

And this, for the record was the first ornie to get hooked this year.   (with my gift of a needlepoint cocoa cup for my sister for Christmas last year in the background)

And here is the end of the evening--- the dregs of my whiskey smash.  Yummers!

Nope, no hall decking after whiskey smashes--- my sister is smart!

Nite nite -- someone needs to get to sleep so she can get up early for work so she can get plenty done before joining the jet set again.

Pleasant dreams/days to you all.  

Apparently Christmas Is Coming......

... whether or not I am ready.   I can tell this because finished goodies that had deadlines for my finishers so that there was time to pack them for Christmas traveling have started to arrive.

Remember this guy?   I'm pretty happy with how he came out.   I gave my finisher free rein on fabric, cording, and feet with the only guidance being "not too fussy or blingy."  I think she did an awesome job.

I love the copper ball feet and the suede -- I would never have thought of that tan suede on my own.

Mind you, I have a problem now-- exactly how am I going to safely transport this across the country?  It's a personal failing I know, but I am never successful at bow fluffing.   Oh well-- I'm a big girl;  I guess I will just have to cowboy up on this one and work it out.   If you see me on a plane clutching a box to my chest as if the Ark of the Covenant was in it, you'll understand.

And this little darling came back.  I am embarrassed to admit I forgot I didn't already have this.  LOL   I would probably have forgotten all about it if left to my own devices.  The red is Very Velvet, the white is Snow, the cording Patina.  The finisher used raw silk for the sides and back and you can barely see the rhinestones she studded the sides with.

While I totally love how this came out I fear it is going to cause me a problem.  You see I am pretty certain once my sister sees it in person she's going to want one too.  I hope the finisher got extra rhinestones.

The arrival of these finishes got my brain kicked into gear thinking about packing for my Christmas adventures.  This has caused another problem for me.  You see, I am lately obsessed with reading-- totally and completely obsessed.  Partly this is because I've run into some wonderful book series  in the last few months, but it is also fueled by the fact that I'm within something like 900 pages of topping what Goodreads said was my total number of pages read last year.  You know being that close just makes me itch for that extra page.  LOL  I know-- it is nuts.  Why should I care how many pages I read.   But I just can't help myself-- if Goodreads is going to give me that metric I feel compelled to look at it, and *thwap* I get hit in the face with a new compulsion.   Possibly I need a 12-step program for reading obsessions... no wait, I like me as a compulsive reader!  I'm pretty certain it is cheaper to be addicted to books than drugs.

Anyway, all that is to say that I started making a pile of books to pack.  I knew I was in trouble when the pile looked like this:

With serious consideration I got it down to this:

Do I except the reading-to-pack pile to stay this circumspect?  Nope.  Sorry, I know me.

I leave you with a little urban, Christmas spirit--   I love it when a city glitters!

I will say the laugh of the district is why does the fountain say "10880" when that is not the address.  Sure it is actually a "decorative" pile of tree ornies, but why make them look like a street address?  Possibly it's God's way of giving me something to chuckle about?

Little things

Friday greetings, gentle reader--   How has your week been treating you?   Hopefully well -- hopefully gently.  

Mine has been singularly annoying and unproductive.  Now you won't believe that when I share the pics below since I actually have some stitching to show, but I hasten to say that these little bits were accomplished last weekend at LosCon--- it is what happens when there aren't panels that are worthy of much note taking.  

So, save of the charm placement, LK's Home is done--  a very fast and easy stitch.... bless you LK!

And Peace is done save for a charm and bird eye--

Also completed over the weekend was the finishing on my two exchange ornies.  The Post Office has them now.  Soon I hope to show you them in all their ornie glory.

While LosCon did not offer too many fascinating notes on what to read, it did continue to add to my jewelry collection.....     I go the earrings that match this last year:

And I needed more purple and green jewels for Leukemia and Lymphoma events so this amethyst and green semi-precious stone whose name I don't remember right now had to come home with me:

And even without any real book recommendation alerts from the panels, two more books made their way home with me.

And, yes, you can possibly guess form the tenor of the comments above that I did not find it a particularly good convention experience.  I actually thought of packing it in and checking out of the hotel early.  Yes, day one was *that* lame.  I stayed the course though and things got better -- though I expect that I just lowered my expectations and focused on chatting with my tribe rather than getting any of the usual convention joys -- like finding new books, new authors, science fiction chatter (spies as a theme -- now which dunderhead came up with that?), masquerade fun (only 4 entries, really?????),  and damned funny panel debates.  There has to be some really amazing story about how all the programming managers were hit by an asteroid and the chairperson had a lobotomy so she was unable to see her con degenerating.   I almost did not buy a membership for next year, but I caved in the end -- though another disappointing showing next year will probably spell the end of my 20+ year Thanksgiving tradition.

Have yourself a peaceful and productive weekend.  May the stitching fairies be kind to you!