Come tell me all about what's new with you!
Oh, wait.
I forgot that you have to actually be smart to do that.
I had an abdominal CT last night and am waiting for results. I still think it's pancreatitis, but I'm going to let the professionals give it a go before I don the white coat and start prescribing fluids and rest, which is exactly what I've been doing.
Still feel like...ugh.
How was your day?
There are two additional baskets on the floor that hold other Christmas projects that I hope I'll get to eventually:
There's another bin of Christmas stuff behind my chair, but those are things that I will probably save for another year.
I'm sure I'll futz around with stuff for a few days before I show any measurable progress, but it was a lovely afternoon today gathering and bagging and organizing and such.
What's in your basket?
I'm not at Guild tonight, and after stomping around in a little snit about it, I decided to put myself in time out with the Wizard and some stitching. I. Just. Don't. Feel. Good. And I'm mad about it. I know that we'll get to the bottom of it eventually, and my entire BellyBean team and Dr Campbell are ON IT, but I'm just a bit bummed.
Enough of that.
Today is the official feasting prep day, so as soon as my damn good has been slurped, I will head into the kitchen and get everything ready for tomorrow. Our menu? All of the usuals...turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, Rich's Italian stuffing (*), cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, corn casserole, sweet potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and cranberry sauce.
Yowsa.
That sounds like a lot, but it is, after all, Thanksgiving!
Blessings and peace and love and health to all!
(*) Rich's Italian stuffing is basically meatball mixture...ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, and sharp provolone...stuffed and roasted inside the turkey.
Dearies, I had a rough week.
Last Sunday was 36 years since my mom passed away, Tuesday was Stewey's passing anniversary (even though I screwed up and thought it was Thursday), I was just plain 'ol sickety sick sick all week, and yesterday I learned that my Aunt Lou (who was also my Godmother) passed away.
In between there I went to see Dr Campbell, and although labs and tests all looked good, I need to go get some imaging of my belly after Thanksgiving, because it would appear I have either swallowed a beach ball or am expecting quintuplets.
But on a happy note...I lost another four pounds!
So what did I decide to do today? Stay in bed with a cup of tea and a book, or plant myself in the chair with stitching and watch the Irish?
Nope.
Why not start tarting up CS2 for Christmas while simultaneously DoorDashing lit garland and chocolate covered pretzels while poor Rich drags bins and bins and bins of holiday crap in from the storage closet outside?
It's not even half-assed complete at this point, and I'm not sure if it would even qualify for a quarter-assed job, but at least it's a start. Tomorrow I'll re-gather my wits about me and see if I can throw some more tinsel around and call it a Griswold.
What's new with you?
Your Spinster is just a crock pot full of big hot mess this week, Dearies.
At first, I thought it might be a stomach bug thing, but now I'm seriously considering a trip to Dr Campbell's office to inquire about some new meds we've been trying.
I'm just...ugh. Sickety sick sick and mad and miserable and generally very unhappy cow that should be put to pasture far far away from others.
Plus, I just realized that Tuesday was the day that Stewey died, and all I want to do is pull the covers over my head in the big girl sleigh bed and feel his little self snuggle up for a snoozy nap while making the sheets smell like baby shampoo.
Damnit.
I'm going to go wallow for a minute and maybe try a little stitch therapy later. Please carry on without me and do something fun. Back in a flash, I promise.
As I was pondering my own plaid, I received this in an email:
Cheers, Dearies!
(What can I say? The little freak show circus in my head runs amok sometimes.)
So I fiddle-farted around and rummaged through things a bit, and found the little Mill Hill pumpkin piece that I had finished, and then I took it from there.
The neck cord was a 2am inspiration, when I realized that I apparently do not own one single solitary safety pin, and I was going to have to figure out how to attach the thing to my clothing. An eyeglass lanyard was the solution, and before I knew it, I had myself a full-fledged name tag worthy of a half-assed Spinster Stitcher seminar preparation session gone awry.
The little white tassel was presented to me upon registration as a first-time attendee, but I'm pretty sure it was meant to warn the other attendees that I am...just...extra.
So now I have an official name tag for Fall Meetings, and I'm already percolating on what to make for Spring!
That tiny little green sign next to the pillar on the left side of the photo?
That, my Dearies, is the Spinster Bat Signal.
THE STARBUCKS WAS EXACTLY 59 STEPS FROM MY ROOM!
A STARBUCKS!
59 STEPS FROM MY ROOM!
OK, OK, I know that y'all could care less, and that you would rather hear all about retreat shenanagins, but I'm here to tell you that (for me, anyway) The Inn At St Mary's was just a perfect place to host a retreat.
Technically, this was the Fall Meeting of the Great Lakes Region of EGA, but for me it was the perfect place to meet new friends, goof around with my old friends, and WALK 59 STEPS TO A FREAKING STARBUCKS to get my morning cups of damn good and my afternoon cups of cold brew.
I didn't accomplish any stitching to speak of, but I did manage to suck the oxygen out of the room and be an annoying toddler while simultaneously gawping like a fish over all of the absolutely gorgeous stitching. The variety was wonderful to see...everything from counted cross stitch to canvaswork to surface embroidery to beading.
Just.
Fantastic.
I am home now and completely wiped out, but in a very happy way. I am so glad and ridiculously grateful that I was able to attend.
My God. I love this thing of ours.
(And a very special thank you to all of the organizers and participants, and to everybody that assured me that I am not at all as weird or neurotic or nuts in person as I am on this here blog.)
(Hi, Jana! 🤗)
