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Here you go Ladies and Gents... the up to date photo of my H&E design...

So far it is 59,808 stitches. I've broken 1 needle - massive amazon man hands - and I'm on my 3rd highlighter. This will be the biggest project I have stitched yet. Move over Van Gogh... Spirit of the Wild is the new kid in town. Did you hear The Good, the Bad and the Ugly playing just now? Or was it just me? (Ear worms, man.)

Speaking of music... If you haven't heard the Simon and Garfunkel Sounds of Silence cover by Disturbed... YOU NEED TO!!! Just GOOGLE it. You're welcome.

Ok, kids. Love you. Bye.

Time to play Catch Up

The Queen of Random Posts has returned. Maybe for just the day or maybe for a while. Who knows.

Finishing Van Gogh gave me a moment of "What now?" My inspiration went down the drain for a bit. I did start reading Wuthering Heights. I have to say, it's been one of the most excruciating books I have ever read. I mean physically painful. The story line is decent, but it's definitely not one of those suck you in and read until 3am situations. I will finish it. Even if I just read a paragraph a day.

I started stitching on my new big project last October. I have almost 6 pages of the 54 complete.
It's a Heaven and Earth Design, Spirit of the Wild, by Laura Prindle.
Here's what I had finished a few weeks ago. I'll take a new photo this evening... if I remember.

 Here's what it will look like when finished...

The kinder vermin are already fighting over whom gets to inherit this one. I think the Girl won b/c the Boy had already put his hooks into Van Gogh.

I randomly decided to get fresh ink last night. In randomly decided I mean just the act of heading out last night. Not in random choosing of symbol, place and size. And it's strategically placed so that it'll be hidden from the general population.

Just a subtle reminder to myself that my story is still being told. My struggles are my struggles and I just have to remember to "be still".

Welllll... that's probably enough for the moment. I don't want to overwhelm anyone.

A most fabulous day to you!!!
Smooches!

Just Stuff

Crazy times once again.

Wearing a tight pencil skirt and heels in Wally World = evasive maneuvering game with creeper = I win. You know how it is... you're rocking life, strutting your stuff, picking up forks and plates on lunch break for cake, smiling at people and them smiling back just because you've got it going on that day and then... WHAM! Somebody's gotta slow your roll and freak you the hell out. It wasn't one of those times when you know someone looks at you or you look at them and think - wow, God turned you into a masterpiece and I can appreciate that. This dude was the totally creepy, I'm going to throw you in my trunk wrapped in plastic bubble wrap and duct tape, give you the heebie geebie goose bump gotta go shave your legs again and puke kind of guy. He was standing around every corner I turned, just grinning like the Cheshire Cat. That's ok though... this girl's got some skills once she hits that button for stealth mode.

Enter PSA for the day... Girl's, if you're not wearing control top panty hose... you're just doing it all wrong.

Baby Girl had her first experience with cosmetic surgery yesterday. Since she was my smallest preemie at 2lb 2oz, she was on a C-pap until she could breathe on her own. She went in to what was supposed to be a 4 hr surgery to correct her deviated septum... we knew she would probably need the surgery for a long while now. However, the C-pap had caused more trauma than we knew. The surgery ended up taking 4 hrs longer than expected. The Dr. broke the nasal bones at her forehead and corrected them, he broke another bone that was growing into her sinus cavity and removed it, broke her cheeks bones and corrected them, straightened her septum and used cartilage from her ear to correct the shape of her nose. I am happy to say that my Girl can properly breathe now. The Dr. is thrilled with the results and says she's going to be famous. LOL. Frankly, I'm hoping she looks more like me, now that her bridge is skinnier, than her Father. She has a long recovery... maybe a year to fully heal... and I just hope her baby step-sister doesn't hit her in the face.

I started working on my next big stitch. No pictures of it as of yet. But, I have finished a few little ornies:

And... Snoopy for my Stud Muffin. (Yup, he's still around.)

Life is good, Peeps!

XOXO

Another One Down...

Finished another Christmas ornament weekend before last. I think it was the only thing I worked on, well besides laundry... obviously can't go to work naked!

I think it turned out rather cute despite the fact that I closed it up totally crooked. I figured I'm not perfect... a little wonky actually... so I'm not ripping it. My prerogative, right? LOL

Still have yet to buy the material for my next big project. Procrastination at it's best.

Worked on Precious again yesterday. The lug nuts to your car wheels are not supposed to look like this:

Just a little raunchy, right? Had issues knocking the wheel bearings out as they kept coming out in chunks. The fabulous brother of mine is taking them to a shop for me. What would I ever do without him? I don't know where he gets the patience to walk me through this stuff. Free hands on training!

Other than that, I'm keeping the 4-legged foster kids this week. Was out feeding horses at 5:30 this morning and just had to stop. I totally forgot how beautiful the stars are when you can actually see them. The things you miss when living in town and not on the farm.

Hope all is well with everyone wherever you are!

XOXO

Never too early, right?

Hello, beautiful people!

It's never too early or too late for that matter, to stitch Christmas ornaments, right? LOL

I now have 7 of the 12 days of Christmas done. (Not showing you yet, LOL)
AND... I have finished a snow man ornament...

Just kinda cute, yes?!?

Other than that, I have been too lazy to purchase the material for my next big project. I did however, receive a recommendation for a framer in town that will help me find the perfect frame for Van Gogh... yay!

OOOHHHH!!!! I actually went on a first date a couple of weeks ago.  He showed up at least 20 minutes early. I wouldn't have known except that I opened the door for Cricket to potty, no war paint, dripping wet hair and all... and there he sat in his car. Great impression on my part. I do have to give him kudos because he brought me flowers, told me to take my time getting ready, then sat in his car and listened to the ball game. It was pretty fabulous in that we went for pizza and then the park. Does it really get any better than that? Oh, yes it does... the stud muffin doesn't seem to mind my 50 shades of crazy! Just had to share.

On that note... remember that slight madness is a perfectly acceptable method for surviving in life.... just don't be an extremist. Take the time to be silly. Build that pillow fort and snuggle up for a movie. And above all else... don't forget to color outside the lines once in a while!

Hugs!

I won!!!

VAN GOGH HAS BEEN DEFEATED!!!!
Seriously, I almost cried. Almost. LOL.
4yrs, 7 highlighters, 121 colors and 87,400 stitches and 3 needles.
Starry Night.

Sorry the photo is not very good. It's rainy and overcast and good lighting is just hiding. I soooo cannot wait to get this stretched and framed. 

 On another note... (are you surprised?)... I turned 37  27 this past weekend. Momma & Daddy sent me some advice for my birthday that I think is worth sharing...

A Little Guide to Life

BE good to yourself.

There are some things everyone deserves - 

LOVE, respect, time to recharge.

NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS.

Seek out your DREAMS.

Start small.

Take it as it comes. 

Even a butterfly has to inch along

before getting it's WINGS. 

LISTEN to your heart.

Trust your gut.

If the way seems unclear,

LOOK WITHIN YOU. 

Let your voice be heard. 

You have a story to tell and opinions that count.

AND a difference to make. 

Stay CURIOUS.

Wonder. 

Take every opportunity to learn.

Knowledge IS a gift.

It will take you places.

Hold on to what's important. 

Let worries go.

No matter how you look at it,

some things just don't make sense.

The way you choose to carry on is what really matters.

And when you make that list of what you want in life,

make another list of what you've got.

Be sure to start with all the things that make you a BEAUTIFUL person.

THERE ARE SO MANY.

Most of all, 

REMEMBER:

You're loved ALWAYS. 

Soo... I say this directly to all of you lovely people... no matter what path you may be on in this life... head the words of my wise parental unit. 

Go and be magnificent!!

XOXO 

Where did those come from???

Hey, Peeps!

Sorry for the hiatus. Hit another rough patch on the road I have been traveling. Made an unexpected trip to Elvis Town... one half of my parental unit is a stage 4. Extremely exhausting week there.

The girl that I call daughter turns 17 tomorrow. How'd that happen?

Turned my self into a fried turnip changing the brakes on Precious. Darn car is going to turn me gray headed faster than the kinder vermin. LOL She broke down on me in Elvis Town... again. I refuse to let her beat me, though.

Today, I thought of someone lost to me. I shouldn't minimize the impact, for he may have been small in stature but he was big in personality and the world lost a treasure. I knew he was troubled and gave him my cell for any time day or night calls. I'd met his beautiful daughter. We laughed a lot. He called one evening but I was busy and couldn't talk long. He OD'd that night. I couldn't bring myself to attend his funeral. I still have yet to visit his grave. I pretty much did what I do and suppressed the trauma into a small black box on the shelf in an ever expanding library. I want to go. I can't go alone though. It's been 3 yrs now. Call me a coward for not going, but his passing nearly broke me. How'd I miss the signs?

Okay, enough of the heavy stuff. I bet you're wondering where the original question came from...
I was bent over blow drying my hair this morning (don't you?) and noticed that I have started developing old lady knees!!! When did that happen? Is there such a thing as a knee lift? It's not funny, but it kinda is because then in my shock and appall I flipped my hair back over to stand up and hit my head on the bathroom door. I mean, really?!

Well, in all of this random mumbo jumbo I have made some progress. So much so that I am only lacking about 4500 more stitches to complete Starry Night!!! Take a gander...

Some words of advice before I set you free on your own path:
Find the beauty in the everyday monotony. I know it's tough, but if I can do it so can you.
Enjoy the simple things... it's coming up on pumpkin spice season in this hemisphere... fall is grand.
Take the time to grieve... putting it off can suck some of the life right out of you. If you are facing some challenges at this point in time then I am sending you love, light, hugs and prayers... consider it a silent request met.

As for today... Never Forget...