That Ole Black Magic, aka Startitis

Yes, I fell under the spell again. Came across this great Old Salty Santas chart (in my stash, which is a good thing), and decided I just HAD to kit this up. It's nautical and Christmasy all-in-one. I'm going to stitch it on 14 ct. Misty Taupe Aida (like the model, yeah I'm like that). Aren't they just adorable?!

Found a real treasure on eBay this past week. I had a saved search posted in there for the Oberlin Gettysburg cross-stitch chart, hoping for the one with just the word, like the other state and city ones, but got "BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG," which I think is way cooler, especially for a history buff like myself. It has real significance for me this year, since I walked Pickett's Charge in June.

And, finally, I am making good progress on the largest and last sail. I have mounted it in my stitching stand, and that has made it alot easier to stitch (and easier to photograph, too! )

Memories

With each October, comes increased Breast Cancer awareness and for me, that means memories, some horrific, some warm and loving. And, as I think about others facing cancer, I am reminded of dear friends who saw me through it and are there to this day. When my friend Marianne heard about my diagnosis 16 years ago, she told her husband she just had to see me in person. So she and Joe came down from Toledo to see me in Montgomery. Here we are in my driveway (me in my wig, overcompensating with way too much make-up!)

The following spring, as I was finishing up with chemo, they came down to Cincinnati again, this time to hear my son Nathaniel sing with the Cincinnati Boychoir during May Festival. Here we are on Fountain Square (I was sure skinny!). And, yes, she is still great at accessorizing with scarves!

Marianne and Joe lost their dear Westie last year. He had been Joe's dog before they got married, and brightened their days from 1991 to 2008. When I saw this design stitched on khaki fabric, I knew I had to stitch this for them. I gave it to Marianne this past week, when she was in town for our librarians' meeting.

Here's to great friends, warm memories, and to Finding a Cure !!

Past and Future

This week I attended a two-day retirement (ha!) and financial planning seminar, and all I have to say is: “Can I have a do-over??”

The amount of information imparted was like having buckets of water dumped on me. I’ve spent the weekend making to-do lists and reminders. I need to sign up for a Medical Flexible Savings Account, and, when Open Season comes around, sign up for a dental and vision plan. I need to check my fund allocation on my TSP (the govt’s equivalent of a 401(K)), and I need to get some debt paid down. Yikes!

Last Friday was my parents’ 56th wedding anniversary.

I’m a honeymoon baby (Sept. 18th to June 24th) and I’m told my maternal grandmother was really nervous that I would arrive too early. Oh, the morals of the mid-50’s!

Scared Silly is finished, too.

Silly Thoughts

Happy Labor Day Weekend - the official end of summer. It’s time to put away those white shoes and handbags, and pull out the woolies. I do plan to weed my closet this weekend, tossin’ and donatin’ things I simply haven’t worn.

(Who am I kidding? After this bloggin’ session, I’ll probably just chill till time to go to work!)

Had lunch with Shirley at Rock Bottom this week – delicious salad I must say. She and I shared some dating disaster stories, laughed (and almost cried). It’s amazing how many of us are out there, knowing full-well that this wasn’t in the script, that we were supposed to be almost grammas by now, happy and settled in our marriages and careers, only to wake up one day and realize that we got dealt the other deck.

I’ve been digging into my family tree again. Have been working on it off and on since high school, really. During my last hiatus, the internet has really kicked in. There are some amazing genealogy blogs out there, and I feel totally inspired to start my own. Found some amazing pictures the other evening and need to get them scanned. You may get a peek here someday soon.

On the stitching front, got some more Weeks Carrot so I could finish up my silly pumpkin and, since it’s almost that season, here’s “Scared Silly” so far:

Under Way Again

I thought it appropriate to post an updated photo of my "Sailor's Knots," on this the week of Ted Kennedy's passing. I did work quite a bit on it while at Mom and Dad's (thankfully I had packed my tabletop Daylite lamp). That one big sail is now all filled in, and I'm working my way up the left side.



I loved watching the scene from Boston yesterday, albeit in the rain. From the military escorts pulling the casket out of the hearse with such precision, to the Roman Catholic ceremony (being a New England Protestant, with emphasis on the "protest," I find all that ceremony fascinating). If anyone needs inspiration to conquer tragedy, look to that family. And, since my lovelife took a nosedive this week, I found it quite therapeutic to watch a funeral.

It is time to look to the future, learn from past mistakes, and move on. Stephanie will begin her senior year at UMaine tomorrow and already has a job offer. Nate is making real progress with his finances and has a new love. The air, even here in land-locked Ohio, has a new crispness to it. This is most definitely my season and I throw open my arms to embrace it. Just need someone to hug me back.

The Game

Most of you know that I am a HUGE Red Sox fan. Most Mainers are. Somehow, through the grace of God, I managed to be in attendance at Game 6 of the 1975 World Series at Fenway. Seeing as I have now lived in Cincinnati for over 20 years, the irony is inescapable. I’ve been told I’m like Dustin Hoffman in “Rainman” about it: “Game 6, Game 6, Game 6….”.

Needless to say, I was literally beside myself when my daughter called me to say she had purchased two tickets to a game on July 27th. It was totally unexpected and a wonderful surprise. Since she has been at school at UMaine , she has become a huge fan as well, and had never been to Fenway. So, we were going to have a great day in Boston. COULD NOT WAIT !!

We decided to take the Amtrak Downeaster from Portland at around 6 am, which would get us down to North Station by about 8:30 and we would have the whole day ahead of us, until the 7:10 game. It worked out perfectly. We did the Duckboat tour, where even I learned a lot. The tour guide did start calling me “Google” for short though.

Here are a few of the best shots during the tour (the first is us on the early-can you tell?- train to Boston):

After the tour,we took the T to Fenway, immediately signed up for the Fenway Park tour at 1:00, then went to get something to eat. We bought a few souvenirs and soaked up the ecstatic atmosphere all around Fenway and Yawkey Way. We were playing Oakland and were sure to win.

It was a hot day in Beantown and the crowds for Gameday were building already. The tour was wonderful, and included the Budweiser Deck, the Green Monster and many many facts. Since we were members of Red Sox Nation, we got to get into the park extra early for batting practice, which we watched atop the Green Monster. Afterwards, we found our way to our seats, just behind the Pesky Pole. They were great seats and we enjoyed every minute of it, as our own video can attest. And, yes, we won !!

Maine 2009

Having “lived away” now for most of my adult life, I tend to romanticize about my home state, the people and places that I remember from my childhood, I yearn for the intoxicating sea breezes, the pungent salty air of the harbor, and the scent of the ubiquitous pine. Just to be in New England!

I think somehow I must have passed this on to my daughter in the gene pool, since she chose to go to college there. Since she did not grow up there, I cannot explain it. But, nonetheless, we now share this bond, along with many others, and for that I am grateful. It is hard to explain to anyone who has never been there. They just don’t get it.

This year’s annual visit with the folks was restful, productive, and tons of fun. Although both my mother and dad are struggling with being on the edge of living independently and making some difficult decisions regarding caring for each other, somehow their stubborn Yankee resourcefulness and determination earned them all the more respect from me. It is this pluck that has gotten them this far, and, although it is frustrating at times to see them cling to the past, I know in my heart that I will be the same way someday.

I managed to pack an almost 50 lb. suitcase full of books, stitching, and family tree research to work on, and just about tackled it all. Top that off with a Red Sox game at Fenway, and a wicked good feed of lobster, and you have yourself a perfect 2+ weeks in Maine.

Headin' Downeast

Taking the time now to let you know I'll be heading home on Saturday morning for a much needed vacation.

I will NOT be thinking about the courthouse or the bookstore for over two weeks. I am taking my laptop with me, and will keep in touch periodically from the Scarborough Public Library or Panera (no internet at the folks'). Will have stitching and books, naturally, and plan to "just plain chill."

I've got my Family Tree Maker 2009 all updated, so will be pumping the folks for information, and have a 2G memory card in my camera, for lots of picture-taking. The biggest day will be Monday, when Stephanie and I go to Boston for the day, including the Red Sox game that night. It will be Steph's first trip to Fenway, and my first since the 1975 World Series Game 6.

Cannot wait!

What I've Been Stitching (When I Couldn't Blog)

Stop and Stitch the Flowers is finally finished, and I just love it. I have to admit it got a little boring at times, but you know the feeling of nearing the finish and you have such a great sense of "accomplished creativity," right?

Here are my Blueberries all done as well. I have (sort of) set a goal for myself to stitch up all my Mainey/New Englandy designs. Guess I'm feeling especially nostalgic (I leave for Maine on the 25th for two whole weeks!).

In between tackling those pesky "Gotta Finish These" projects, I picked up Scared Silly, since I had the funky fabric and all the fibers already. Even though I need my magnifier, it's been a blast so far.

Time to Catch this Blog Up !!

When last I wrote, I was headed to Gettysburg, which was awesome. I had never been, and love Civil War history, so this was a super big deal for me.

The conference was on Leadership Lessons from Lincoln, and was for Circuit Librarians and Deputy Circuit Librarians, of which I am one. It was two and a half days of seminars, discussions, break-out groups, and touring.

The highlight of the trip was seeing all my Deputy friends from around the country, most of whom I have known and worked with for over 25 years. Here we all are at our dinner together at O'Rorke's. I'm near the head of the table on the right-hand side. Such a great group. So many laughs and such great memories!

Here's our tour bus and our Guide at the top of Little Round Top.

Here are some more pictures from my great time in Gettysburg:

Hitting the Road

Here's my progress on Blueberries. But where are the berries, you ask? You'll just have to wait till I get back from my next trip. Will pack this up as my travel piece.

I head to Gettysburg on Monday for a short conference that the Court is sending me to, entitled "Leadership Lessons from Lincoln." I am very excited about it since I have never been there, as well as the chance to see some "old" Court friends. We were supposed to watch the movie "Gettysburg" before attending. No problem for me, because it's one of my favorites. Joshua Chamberlain is one of my heroes, and I love the way Jeff Daniels portrays him in the movie. You can bet I will be taking alot of pictures. After the conference, I am traveling up to Danielsville, Pennsylvania, to visit my sister Robyn and her family. Haven't seen them since they left Maine, so that will be a real treat.