IT'S TIME TO GET EXCITED!!!

Even though it's not OFFICIALLY fall just yet, now that we've entered September, I can't help but get excited that it is just right around the corner!! Throughout the summer months, I've read numerous posts by many in my various cross-stitch Yahoo groups that share in that same excitement. Maybe it's a cross-stitching thing.

Think about it. If you cross-stitch, then you know that most projects can't be whipped up in record time. It takes time, perhaps weeks or months to complete one project for some (and years for others). Avid, die-hard, cross-stitchers will begin thinking about the fall & holiday seasons long before they are due to arrive. Unlike most folks, we, cross-stitchers start getting geared toward the final quarter of the year along about mid-summer! I read in one post that someone's holiday season officially began July 25th because that was their kick-off date for making Christmas gifts for the upcoming holidays. Most would find that absolutely absurd, but who am I to make fun of someone for getting in the holiday spirit so early. I have already been listening to Christmas music as I work on my own Christmas projects for crying out loud!!!!

And now we're into September. I mean, where in the world did August go???? I can't help but feel slightly panicked somewhat! I've got several things that I really want to complete for this year's holiday gift giving. Aside from cross-stitching, I also crochet. So my project base for this year consists of a little of both.

(Please note the above is NOT my work. Found this image on the internet & LOVED it!!)

Here's the rundown:

For my youngest daughter - a Christmas stocking that I started when I was pregnant with her over 10 yrs ago. This won't be a gift but I would like to complete in time to put on display with the others when I decorate for Christmas in November.

For my oldest daughter - I have started a crocheted afghan that will include a graphed pattern that says "Class of 2008" with a mortar board & diploma. The graphed pattern will be cross-stitched over top of a white crocheted background. The afghan will be in her school colors. Considering Megan is now a Freshman in college, this was supposed to have been a gift for her high school graduation in June. Since I didn't make that deadline, I really need to get this done for Christmas or either just scrap the whole idea and move on to something else.

For a dear friend of mine - I also have started another graphed crocheted afghan that will have the logo for his 80's variety band that he put together. He designed the logo himself. The logo is black and white so the afghan will have a black border and white center with logo cross-stitched over top of the white background.

My stepmom - A set of crocheted placemats done in red, green, & predominately white varigated cotton yarn. Last year I gave her a set of placemats that consisted of the colors in her kitchen. The yarn was country blue, light brown, and white varigated cotton. My stepmom couldn't believe how closely they matched her colors and decor in her kitchen. She's used them all year. So I decided that this year I'll do a set of Christmas placemats for her and in the years that follow, I'll pick a holiday and do a set so she'll eventually have sets all year round to switch out and use.

Possibly my mom - I am taking part in the MSAL with the Oakhaven Designs Yahoo group. This is my very 1st SAL. I'm torn between keeping it for myself since its my 1st SAL or giving to my mom when done. I've made great progress and currently am working on Part 7 of 15 total parts. I know at the rate I'm working on, I should have completed well before Christmas.

So...now can you see why I'm panicked????

And then I am reminded of all the opportunities I'll have to do stitching during this season. You see, I tend to gravitate towards the television set more during this time of year (outside of Tuesdays & Wednesdays every week from January to May when American Idol is on) because there are just so many great shows on. Fall just isn't Fall until you've seen a Peanuts show or two.

And then, if you're a QVC addict like I am, can I get a...QVC, QVC, QVC!!! Now don't get me wrong. I'm not an addict in the sense of not being able to control my urge to purchase everytime my finger accidentally stops the remote from channel surfing when it lands on QVC. But during this time of year, QVC starts to transition towards the holidays and I just LOVE watching to see what they have to offer. Call it crazy or call me unusual, but there's something about this that's just festive to me. I don't normally partake in 'watching' QVC during any other time of the year. For me, when they have their Christmas shows on, its like watching a holiday favorite & another little something that gets me into holiday mode this time of year. And the best part about this unusual traditional pasttime is I'm doing two things that I love simultaneously...stitching & watching QVC!!! It's like having the best of both worlds to me!! And I can't even begin to tell you how relaxing both are!! So now do you understand why I love this time of year???? To think some of the best things in life are the little things! :)

What else can I say???? I'm totally stoked & ready for what lies ahead! I'll be posting pics soon of my progress on the projects mentioned above...(all but the MSAL as I can't post pics until that project is complete...you'll just have to take my word for it & trust that I'm churning along on it!!!!) And besides all that I've posted here, I haven't even gotten into the October stuff that we do around here....there's music festivals, pumpkins to carve, houses to decorate, hayrides....so...I'd better maximize my September. Tomorrow will already be September 4. I'd better get a move on!!!!

Until next time....HAPPY FALL & HAPPY STITCHING!!!

GOODBYE SUMMER...HELLO FALL!!!

This is it! It's Labor Day weekend! In the interest of the holiday and also given I, too, am trying to enjoy my long weekend, I thought I would take the 'lazy' approach on these last few lazy days of summer and share with you something I wrote in honor of Labor Day some time ago. Please enjoy!

When we think about the upcoming holiday in the sense of what the holiday represents, Labor Day most definitely was created to honor workers. Whether the holiday itself is truly celebrated in that sense is debatable depending on who ask.

This is a recognized holiday in America. However, there are lots of businesses who will not observe Labor Day and treat it as a normal working day. It is somewhat of an oxy-moron to have a holiday in place that celebrates working Americans and yet there are American employers who refuse to acknowledge their workers by allowing them a day off with pay.

I recently was speaking to a client of mine outlining my company's upcoming schedule for the Labor Day holiday. I was completely surprised when she shared that she would be working on Labor Day. The irony of this is the company she works for has the word "America" as part of its business name. It is so easy to assume that with the Labor Day holiday, the vast majority of working America outside of the service industry...police, fire, etc, would have the day off. So in speaking to my client, the very idea that she would be working on this day in particular, seemed appalling to me. What employer refuses to honor their workers on a day set aside just for this purpose? After all, without workers, where would the employer be?

In essence Labor Day has evolved as a holiday with a two-fold purpose. It is a holiday that celebrates the American worker and a holiday filled with nostalgic reflection of the summer season that has so quickly passed. It marks the end of one season while rolling flawlessly into the beginning of the next. As American workers, we celebrate the end of the summer, but we are never quick to forget how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to work and be free to enjoy all of life's celebrations.

I'm taking the next few days off, so enjoy your weekend and I'll see you back here real soon!

Now, get out there & go make it a good one!!

Happy Labor Day & Happy Stitching!! :)

Doesn't the picture below just make you yearn for cooler temps, & seeing the leaves changing colors?

I have this sudden urge to go out and buy a pumpkin!!!

Can't wait for Fall!! I'm so ready for it!!! :)

THE TIES THAT BIND KEEP US JOINED TOGETHER FOREVER!!

The raw emotion of the past several days was finally given peace this morning as I attended the funeral for my former father-in-law. What had been so difficult to deal with the day before, suddenly all fell into place as my 'other family' and friends joined together to say goodbye.

It wasn't until after the service that I realized that everyone who my former father-in-law considered part of my 'other family' at one point or another were all there in the end. The scenes played out in real life as if I were watching a movie on the big screen. One of my former husband's stepsisters embraced her 16 yr old son who had moved to LA from NC several months ago to live with his dad. He arrived with his dad (her former husband) with just ten minutes to spare, having driven all night to get there. What made this reunion so special is she had been told he would not be coming to his grandfather's funeral, in an effort to surprise his mother on this most difficult day for her.

Then there were the moments following the service where my own children found comfort in their father's arms and then in mine. Never once did any of our children rely on their stepmom to pull them through. I couldn't help but feel for a brief few moments that for the first time in as many years we were as close to being a real family again as we had been since my former husband & I split all those years before.

Together a former sister-in-law who once was married to my former husband's oldest brother and I stood and embraced; allowing the tears to flow. She & I both were feeling the ache of what these past few days have held. The many memories that we both shared in, the laughs, the good times and the bad. There was no need for words for we fully understood the depth of things. The hug was sufficient.

As I drove away from the cemetery, I thought about how in the end, my former father-in-law was without a doubt smiling down upon us all beaming with pride to see family, both past and present come together to bid farewell. Of all the things he did or did not accomplish in his time here on Earth, his greatest accomplishment rose in his death. His passing made us as a whole forget about past differences and for a short while today we were able to bridge the gaps as we gathered one last time.

I would be remiss if I didn't say that as with everything, my former father-in-law's passing, happened for a reason. It goes without saying that his health issues ultimately took him from us, but God had a plan today. God took people who all live different lives, and some who have gone their separate ways and brought us together with one common goal in mind which mirrors His master plan for our lives in eternity where we will not only see my former father-in-law again one day, but live forevermore with our Maker.

For all the anguish and heartache I've felt over these last days, I now find myself smiling as I write this. No matter where life takes us or what happens to us, we are all intertwined as one. Our paths cross and we continue to move forward in different directions where eventually one day we will meet up once again. Life is just like that. We experience life in all its splendor. We take the good with the bad and in the end everything works out okay.

I have a sneaking suspicion knowing my former father-in-law the way I do, that he got busy right away working to pull off this ultimate feat of today. This is one life experience that has definitely changed me for the better and one that I will never forget. It has opened my eyes more than ever to what is important and what isn't. Going forward from here, I will do things differently. I'll visit friends and family more often (this includes my 'other family' too!) and touch base with those who I might not have occasion to see on a regular basis. Its too important and life is too short to live with the regrets of yesterday. Never again, will I feel the inner prompting that tells me to go visit a loved one who's time is limited and then believe I have all the time in the world. We have to live for the moment we're in rather than thinking we can always do it at a later time. For that is truly the only way to embrace life and gain all that we can from it while allowing ourselves at the same time to give back to it and live without having to face the 'what ifs'.

So I close this by feeling grateful for the ups and downs of my own life. They have helped to mold and shape me into the person I am today & because of everything I've experienced in my life, I am better for it.

(This post is dedicated to James Elmo "Jimmy" Farrell who will be greatly missed. And I live with the reassurance that one day I will see him again and can visit for as long as I wish without any worry that our time is limited.)

May God Bless his life & May God Bless us all!