Sunday, January 13, 2013

Happy Twenty-Thirteen!

Happy New Year dear friends! I had hoped to be here at the start of the year with goals and resolutions but time escaped me as usual and I've been down for the count the last six days fighting this cursed flu that is making me miserable and super cranky. Oh my goodness, I've blown my nose at least a million times and sucked on close to 50 throat drops. It has been years since I've been this sick and I even got a flu shot way back in October! I've missed three days of work so far and my co-worker is trying to convince me to stay home for one more day to ensure my recovery. She's probably right but I feel badly being out of the office so many days despite the hundreds of hours of sick leave that I have.

It's already the thirteenth day of the first month of Twenty-Thirteen. How did that happened? At this point, it's useless to list goals and resolutions. I will be super happy if I permanently lose those last five pesky pounds I've been half-heartedly working on and have more finishes than I did in 2012. It was my lowest number of finishes in years. Only five. A little sad I think. This year, I hope to finish Jane Pattison and Fairy Moon and get them framed and hung on my walls. I hope to continue my path to more happiness and friendships. And everything else, will be icing on the cake. I want to keep it simple. Life is too busy and too pressured and I've been pulled in many directions and spreading myself too thin. I hope to find the balance between quiet life and social life that pleases me and provides me with the amount of rest I need.

Nothing too exciting has happened since my last post. For New Years Eve, I went to a fancy schmancy dinner with my social group and was able to see the fireworks show over the bay up close. It was a little weird since my ex was there and it wasn't how I had hoped or imagined NYE would be but I made the most of it and had a friend ensure that I had a good time and I did. I put on a party dress, curled my hair, put on fake eyelashes, made myself up and wore red lipstick. I had fun! It was a great time and I am glad that I went. Not sure if I would do the same scenario again but it beat sitting at home alone watching videos...not that that's a bad thing...just what I have done for a few years running now. Nice to do something different for  a change.

I don't have much worth sharing on the stitching front. However, I did manage to put the final stitches in the piney border of Jane Pattison. I was so happy when it matched up! Whew!
Excuse the bad photo. I really need to take the linen off the rods and press it. I have that annoying crease that won't straighten out! Now it's time to add some color and stitch the motifs. Of course, the color I start off with after all that green is brown. Figures! Not too exciting!

I've been stitching on a little something as well but I can't show it yet. It will be for show and tell at a later time.

And I have my TUSAL to report. I think I waited until after the first of January to remove my old threads from the jar so I have a puny amount to show.
Can you see them? Green from Jane and the rest from the secret stitching.

That's all for today. I hope you've all had a good start to the year and that fellow sickies start feeling better soon too!

Until next time...

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

When I have a border that needs to match up, I always have that little panic that it won't. There is a big sigh of relief when they actually get there and are right.

Congrats on the great border.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Natasha said...

Happy 2013!! I am so sorry you are still sick!! We just got our flu shot last week but that wont stop us from getting a deadly cold, knock on wood!!

I am glad you rang in the New Year having fun! Me, I was in bed by 10 yup 10 p.m but oh well there is always next year LOL Here is to a year of good times, great stitching and catching up :)

Dani - tkdchick said...

Jane Pattison has a lovely border! You've got lots of room to fill up that ort jar this year!!!

Barb said...

Great job on that border! I always stress when I'm getting close to seeing if they match. Hope you feel better soon. This flu thing scares me as one time I ended up in the hospital for a week due to the flu!

Melissa said...

Yay on that great border meeting! I bought Jane P as well but am waiting for the wools to arrive. it will be a first for me!

I hope you feel better soon. Happy New Year, Valerie!

Cole said...

That's a lovely border for Jane, and the stitchy gods were with you too! Thank heavens it lined up!! LOL

Great TUSAL! I hope you're on the mend, the bug that's been going around here has been nasty. Hasn't hit my house thankfully, knock on wood ;o)

cucki said...

very pretty border..i love it..
hope you feel better soon..
hugs x

Margaret said...

Yay on the border meeting up! Whew! Love Jane! I'm glad you went out for NYE and got gussied up. Such a bummer about the flu though. I'm rather freaked out about it. And now I've heard from you that you got the flu shot too -- sigh. Not good! I told everyone in my family to be extra good about washing hands and stuff. Ugh. Feel better!

Peggy Lee said...

I agree with the others here....I get that little bit pf panic when I'm close to the end of a border. It's a little party and happy dance when it meets!
I'm so sorry you have been sick, and even after having that flu shot too. UGH...
It's been a long, l-o-n-g time since I've worn a party dress and red lipstick. I'm sure you were gorgeous!

~hugs

Keeper of the Crowes said...

Hope you're feeling better soon, Valerie. I've seen "Jane P." in person and it's gorgeous. I know you are going to have such a good time stitching it! Wishing you the best in the new year!!

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Hope you feel a lot better soon. The virus that's doing the rounds over here is taking some people three weeks to throw off.

Lanie said...

Oh dear, Valerie, I hope you are feeling 100% soon. So far I have avoided the dreaded flu...knock on wood...hope I continue to do so!

Wonderful start to your Jane Pattison. I love that border.

Take care of yourself...lots of fluids, lots of rest...you know the routine!

Anonymous said...

Valerie,
I hope you start to feel much better soon. I am like you I haven't been this sick in years. I don't do flu shots.

Your border looks great. It is a good feeling when it lines up the first time.

a little orts are better than none.

Hugs!


barbara said...

Feel better soon!!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has to hold panic at bay as to whether or not my border will meet up! ;)

Ranae said...

Wow! Good for you getting the border done and matching up
I do my borders a little at a time while stitching the fun stuff, lol
Happy and healthy 2013!!!!

Katrina said...

Hope you are feeling much, much better and glad you had a fun NYE!!!!!!!

Love it when the border meets, always hold my breath when I turn the last corner :-).

Julie said...

The relief when a border meets is truly good, is it sad to think that! Lol.
Sending lots of get well wishes your way, there's a lot of this flu about. X

Carol said...

Oh, that darn flu--it is really running rampant even among people who had flu shots. I've felt close to getting it a couple of times lately, but think it was just me being tired from too much "stuff" lately. Hope that's it for the year, Valerie, and the rest of 2013 will be happy and healthy for you :)

Whew on the border matching up--that's always huge!! Looking forward to following along on your progress in the coming months...

Enjoy your week!

Giovanna said...

Nice border! Glad you had a fun NYE.

Melanie said...

Oh noes! The flu got you. :(
So glad you are starting to feel better now. I know some people who were down for 3 WEEKS with it. It's terrible!

I spent NYE in bed, reading a book. So I think your fun night sounds fabulous! Heh.

And big WHEW on that border matching up!!! Those always scare the crap out of me. It always seems like a 50/50 thing whether or not it's going to match. Heh.

Chris said...

Happy New Year Valerie! It sounds like you had a fun night out!
So glad the border met up! This is such a pretty sampler. I am looking forward to seeing your progress.

Siobhán said...

Agh, sorry to hear that you have the flu! It has hit Ireland in record numbers, apparently--some of the hospitals are closing because there's not enough beds for everybody. Yesterday's news said that the local hospital had 43 people lying on portable beds in hallways. !! I hope you're better soon!

Nice progress on your sampler! I didn't have a stellar year for finishes, either, but am figuring that I enjoyed the journey, and that's what matters.

kate n said...

Hi! Sorry to hear that you have been under the weather & I hope you get well soon. :) my stitching was minimal this past year too and I shall be looking to you for motivation! Lol I like the pine leaves and I know it will look great. I hope you have a great 2013!

Carla said...

Happy 2013!! Hope you get well soon!
I'm glad your borders match up!

Catherine said...

Love your current wip ~ isn't it the best feeling when the border meets up! Speaking of feeling ~ I do hope you are feeling better. The flu this year seems so nasty!
Here's to a wonderful 2013!

Anne said...

Happy New Years Valerie!! I'm with you on the listing goals and whatnot...I'll just do what I do and be happy with it. Love your progress on Jane! That border is so pretty. I hope you are feeling better too! Nose colds are the worse...I hate the after effect of a flaky nose :(

Hugs!!