Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Tuesdays Are My Stitchy Nights

It's Tuesday so time for my regular installment. First up is fun mail news. I was the winner of Melissa's huge bloggoversary draw celebrating her 8 years of blogging and 1,000 posts. Whoa! Talk about a huge surprise. I rarely win anything!! Her fantastic package arrived on Thursday night and it boosted my spirits. Look at all the charts!!
And she included a ton of goodies! I am so drooling over the fabric, Carrie's Threads, the scissors, PinPals, the Chatelaine and most of all...the cute little door hanger Melissa made...just perfect for Fall!
Here's the little door hanger contributing a lovely splash of color hanging on my living room door. I can see it perfectly from my stitching spot on the futon. I love it! Thanks Melissa!!
I've been stitching but not much. Life keeps getting in the way. Here is my small start in Mirabilia Letter G. This will eventually end up being a gift.
And I stitched a little bit more on Red Sampler. I better get cracking! My mom's birthday is the 24th although they don't come back from their trip until the 29th so I have an extra few days to finish this up and frame it. Umm...I still have quite a ways to go!
On Saturday, I made a quick trip to NiaH to pick up Tall Turkey from the finisher. I had him made into a small weighted stand up. A perfect display for Fall and Thanksgiving. I had a couple of Halloween things and Christmas things but nothing for Thanksgiving so here he is! She did a great job! It's backed with green velvet and has a multicolor-metallic cording. If you click the picture, you can see how cool the cording is a little better.
Well now is the part for the good news and the not so good news. The EDD hearing for *the boy* went well considering the former employer did not show up to the hearing so *the boy* won. But the whole thing...appeal after appeal and showing up to the hearing was just a waste of time, money and brought about a good deal of anxiety. *The boy's* doctors appointment also went well. Not great but it's a step in the right direction. He's been upgraded to a cane. Three views of x-ray came back healed and one view is still questionable. There's a little gap so he has to be careful walking with the cane, still use the bone stimulation machine and go back in 6 weeks for a progress report. Now the not so good news...*the boy* and I are taking a break from dating. We've been dating a little over a year and the majority of it has been him unemployed, crippled, sick and me taking on the brunt of the expenses and caretaking. I'm mentally, emotionally and physically drained. As much as I would like things to work, it's just not working for me right now. I'm quite sad and torn up about it. We both feel him going back to RI is for the best until he fully heals, can get a respectable job and afford his own space. Perhaps when he is ready to come back, the stars will be re-aligned and it will actually be normal and happen smoothly for us. For now...we're on a break and not broken up...but it really does feel broken up to me. I wonder if that even makes sense. My birthday is in a couple of weeks and I feel terrible...certainly not the happiest of times. He asked to stay til then so he can still give me a special day since we had just started dating this time last year and he was out of town on my birthday. I figure it's best to try to have a happy day with *the boy* before he leaves than be sad and alone on my birthday. I so wish things could be different and normal and what we had planned for months ago.

So there it is...a total bummer. I'm not quite sure what will happen but I'm happy to have my stitching, sewing homework (lol) and great blogging and real life friends to keep me occupied and entertained. I'm definitely grateful for that...

I'll come back with more vacation photos soon...

Until next time.

11 comments:

Melissa said...

Oh Valerie, what a bummer. This is a post with mixed feelings isn't it? You started off with winning a great giveaway, you've got lots of great stitching...

Sorry about the relationship with the boy. I don't know what to say for fear of saying the wrong thing! I hope things will work out for the best.

Anonymous said...

Oh Valerie, I'm sorry that things have turned out this way. I think it's a good idea to have him around for your birthday at least, even if you're taking a break. I hope you can stay friends and that things work out in the future, however that may be.

Carissa said...

Valerie, I'm so sorry about how things are turning out for you and your "boy". This last year has been quite a challenge for yourself and for him.

Congratulations on your wonderful giveaway win....you received some lovely, lovely things and your turkey is just adorable!

Missy Ann said...

Wow! What a wonderful haul. Letter G will move fast soon, once you get a bit laid down to work off of, the letters move quick. That Turkey is so cute!

And you & the boy, well just ((((Valerie))))

Margaret said...

Valerie, I'm so sorry to hear about you and your boy. I hope things work out in the end. So glad you won Melissa's giveaway -- you need that something to cheer you up! Hang in there! Things will look brighter.

Edgar said...

I am so sorry to read about the break you are taking - it will be nice for you to have him around for you Birthday.

That was some super givaway - congrats!!

Branlaadee said...

I am sorry to hear about you and the boy. You gotta do what you gotta do though.

Congrats on your win. Lots of great stuff you have there!

Your tall turkey looks great! And you definately better get cracking on the one for your mom!

You'll have to let me know next time you go to NiaHS. I'll go too and buy you a birthday Starbucks. :)

Carol R said...

Sorry to hear you and the *boy* are taking a break. I am sure you will remain friends and who knows what the future may hold for you both.

Lovely WIPs.

[[[hugs]]]

Katrina said...

Oh Valerie, that's so sad. What a shame. It's a lot for a new relationship, too much. I don't blame you for feeling like you need some breathing room.

Congrats on winning the giveway. Love all your bits and pieces and the stitching is gorgeous.

Michelle said...

I am sorry to hear about your break with the boy, but it's great that even though it hurts you are doing what you need to do for you and knowing that you are feeling drained. The things you've been dealing with for the past year are all very stressful and difficult. Good for you for taking care of yourself, and like you said, maybe the stars will align and it will all work out in the end.

As for stitching, your turkey is so fabulous! Love that cording, and I'm loving your new Mirabilia start too.

doris said...

You know, there are many established relationships that don't make it through what you two have gone through in just the first year of yours. That's an awful lot to take on when you're trying to get to know each other. I can only imagine the emotional exhaustion you're feeling. Time helps, though, and there's no telling what will happen at a later date.