Needlework Tuesday

Marie, at Daisy's Book Journal, introduced me to Needlework Tuesday - a group of bloggers who love to sew and craft.  The group was started by Heather at Books and Quilts.  As a long-time crafter, I have decided to join the club in hopes that it will encourage me to make progress on some projects that have been in the works for years (how embarrassing), and maybe even get some ideas for new projects.  When I went to work at the library in 2005, my quilting and cross-stitching came to an abrupt halt.  I haven't taken a single stitch on a quilt since then and have made minor progress on cross-stitch.  So this is my fresh start!

One Christmas some time in the mid 60's, my mother made a slew of red flannel stockings trimmed with white rick-rack and the recipient's name in red felt across a white cuff.  She filled them with dime-store toys and presented them to all of the nieces and nephew's on Dad's side of the family, plus my sisters and I - a total of 16.  I still have mine and treasure it, so when I had kids I wanted to make them each a stocking they could keep.  I have now made a total of 5 - one for each kid, one for Dave and one for our ex-son-in-law.  (Can I ask for it back and change the name for the next guy?)  

Then came the grandkids.  I began stitching as soon as I found out the first one was on the way.  That beautiful little girl, Tayli, died two weeks before her due date and the unfinished stocking went in the closet.  Later, Amy asked me to finish it as a keepsake for her, but I just couldn't bring myself to work on it, so I have purchased a new pattern with cherubic angels to stitch in Tayli's honor - but it's still in the package.  Then came the two little boys.  I have been working on Grandson #1's since he was born and it's still not done.  He's 6!  Grandson #2's sits in the package, patiently waiting it's turn.  With my recent unemployment and increased free time, my plan is to get back to stitching!

I'll post some pictures as soon as I find the cord to connect the camera to the computer.  I know I packed it.  If you're a crafter, please share your ideas, and don't forget to stop by Books and Quilts to see what the rest of the group is up to. 

Read-A-Thon Wrap Up

My Read-A-Thon ended up being more of a Read-A-Dash...short and quick.  I'm blaming moving for the air-headed disorganization that almost made me miss the whole thing.  With no prep time there were many interruptions and, worst of all, few snacks.  After my first read-a-thon, I realized that I'm not in college any more and all-nighters just aren't happening, so I usually only shoot for twelve hours.  My total this time was closer to four, plus some time spent checking out mini-challenges other participant's blogs.


On the up side, I elected to read to benefit the Leukemia Research Foundation.  My original pledge was five cents per page.  I completed a measly 200 pages, for a total of $10.  I have decided to go ahead and make the full $25 donation which was my goal.  If you would like to add your donation, you can give on-line, by phone or by regular mail. All the information is available at http://www.leukemia-research.org/.

Read-A-Thon: Mid-Event Survey

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? - Dropped Dead Stitch by Maggie Sefton, but it's not holding my attention, so may dig further into the stack.

2. How many books have you read so far? - completed 2 that were already partially read, and began a third.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? - I don't really know what I'll be reading yet.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? - Can you believe, I totally forgot the read-a-thon until yesterday?  So, no time for special arrangements.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? - FREQUENT interruptions.  Caring for my poor injured puppy, helping hubby with a plumbing project (ick!), laundry...

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? - The incredible creativity of the mini-challenge hosts.  

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? - Advance planning:  A trip to the library to stock up, fewer interruptions, more food.

9. Are you getting tired yet? I live in a time zone that started reading at 6:00 a.m.  Since I actually overslept and didn't start till 7:30 a.m., I'm doing pretty good now.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? - not yet

Read-A-Thon

Another book finished!  I completed the third story of a Nero Wolfe trilogy begun last week (before I got sidetracked with Water for Elephants).  That's another 64 pages which brings my Reading for Charity total to $6.60.

Grandson Trey and Molly

My dog, Molly, was injured in a freak stick-fetching accident yesterday.  While trying to run with a stick longer than her body, one end stuck in the ground, the stick snapped and the broken end gouged her stomach.  It's nothing serious, but she's stiff and sore today so I have been taking frequent breaks to coddle her and stuff her so full of treats she can't move.  And that's my excuse for not making more reading progress.  When all else fails, blame it on the dog.  

Next on the reading list is a cozy mystery, Dropped Dead Stitch by Maggie Sefton.

Read-A-Thon

OK, I slept through the first hour-and-a-half of the Read-a-Thon.  Mornings just aren't my thing.  But I have since completed the final 68 pages of Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.  That's $3.40 for the Leukemia Research Foundation.  


The Introduction Meme seems like a good place to start - even if it is a bit late.  The questions Shesten asked are:


1)Where are you reading from today? - Verdon, Nebraska

2)Three random facts about me…  I moved to Verdon three weeks ago, I love to cross-stitch, and one of my all-time favorite books is The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch by Marsha Moyer

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? - I'm selecting from the books I have checked out of the library, so it's a short stack.

4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? I'm reading for the Leukemia Research Foundation at five cents per page, and would like to reach a donation of $25.  That's 500 pages.

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?  Relax and have fun, don't fret over goals, and don't try to participate in every challenge - you won't get any reading done.

Reading For Charity

It's time for Dewey's Read-A-Thon again, and I nearly missed it.  Whew!  Good thing I decided to catch up on my incredibly overloaded reader this afternoon.  If you've never participated in this great event, check out the web site and consider joining in tomorrow (tip off is at 6:00 a.m. if you live on Central Time, as I do).  If that's too short notice, start psyching up now for the October version.

A new addition to my read-a-thon will be Reading For Charity.  Last year, I dedicated my participation to my dear friend Wanda:

My participation in today's read-a-thon is in memory of my best friend, Wanda, who passed away six years ago after a long bout with leukemia.  Wanda loved to read and always carried a book in her massive suitcase of a purse.  Reading racy romances got her through many, many chemo treatments.  She would have adored the read-a-thon with a cup of tea or a glass of blackberry merlot. 

This time I'm going one step further and reading to benefit the Leukemia Research Foundation.  I pledge to donate five cents per page that I read.  Wanda voluntarily participated in several experimental drug regimens, not in the hope of saving herself, but in the hope that she could prevent someone else from suffering as she did.  This is my small way of honoring that spirit.

So, this book's for you, Butthead!  (That was one of those inside jokes between friends.  I can no longer remember now how it got started, but believe me, she knows it is said with affection and a grin.)

I Know When I've Been Insulted

"I know when I've been insulted!"

Son's surgery went well - other than starting three hours late and taking longer than the surgeon predicted.  Ok moms, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't our job to make our kids as comfortable and pain-free as possible when they are ill or injured?  See, I knew I was right.  I've been doing this for over twenty years.  I know my job!  So, naturally, I thought Son should come home with me.  I even had a plan.  My dad agreed to loan us his van so we could make a bed in the back and Son could lie down and sleep the whole trip.  I would coddle and comfort him for three days and then return him to Hays for his first doctor appointment and retrieve my car.  Logical, caring, motherly plan.

Evidently, somewhere along the line, my responsibilities changed and I didn't get the memo.  He chose to stay in Hays and rely on friends/nursing students for assistance and medical care.  He didn't need a hovering mother.  I was crushed - sort of.  Wasn't it just yesterday that he WANTED my undivided attention?  My how time flies when you're having a mental breakdown.  However... the irony was that inside, in places you don't talk about at parties* or in Son's hospital room, was my total aversion to anything involving blood, pus, puking or compassion.  I am soooooo not a nurse!!!  That point can not be emphasized enough.  I don't have the stomach or the temperament for it.  So part of me wanted to be absolved of nursing him.  But that mom-guilt reflex that is installed at their birth kept me from admitting that.  "You want to go home and leave your recently hospitalized son to fend for himself?  You fail as a mother!!"

The result of this conflict in my head was sadly predictable - tears.  And let me tell you, there is nothing like a bawling mother to put a grown son in a good mood.  Especially one who is experiencing pain and discomfort and isn't exactly doing his Bobby McFerrin** impersonation to start with.  

It all worked out fine in the end.  He stayed in Hays were he didn't have to deal with my hovering and I went home and didn't feel required to hover.  He reports that he is doing well, improving consistently and, as it turns out, didn't need his mama to accomplish that.  Go figure!

*Name that movie
** Sang "Don't Worry, Be Happy"