HAVE YOU SEEN MY MINIONS?...AND HOW DID THAT MONKEY GET MY CHECKBOOK?

Whew, what a day I had yesterday!

Miss Charlene took me on a little field trip to House of Stitches, but the day started with a quick run into Erica's first.   I wasn't in the store five seconds before I saw this and just had to have it:

Isn't it totally swell?  I am in love with all things Peanuts and all things Jim Shore and all things snuggling with Stewey, so this seemed like it was just meant to be.

Then, because she is who she is and because I am a nutjob that gets totally obsessed with the strangest things, Miss Charlene gave me these:

They're magnetic bookmarks!  And I have been on a quest to find them ever since I got one by mistake when I bought planner stitckers last year at the Hobby Lobby!  I love love love the darn things and can't believe she found ones with colors and designs that are cool and blow my skirt up at the same time!

I tried to be good at HOS, I really did.  But I kept petting the pretty threads and oohing and aahing over stuff and eventually had to ask Miss Joy and Miss Nancy to just stop me from myself.  I managed to get most of the threads I needed for Poppers, some stretcher bars, tacks, and then just had to have this:

There were a few finished models of it on display...one was on 40 count gauze and one had been made into a little keeper.  Something about it made my heart sing...so into the basket it went along with all of the threads.

You would think all of that excitement would have been enough for one poor portly little spinster, but noooo.  We went to lunch and I had one of the best reubens I've ever had, fries, and cole slaw, and then, because I seemed to be on some kind of tear completely....we had cheesecake for dessert!

(It was National Cheesecake Day yesterday, after all).

(Thank you again for lunch, Miss Charlene! But you have to stop doing that because eventually your halo is not going to fit into your bicycle helmet!)

After a five hour nap I pulled on some clothes and decided to run to the Targets for Starbucks k-cups.  They were on sale and I had a coopun, so I figured one more little expenditure in the spirit of long term coffee savings would be totally justified.

Good grief...I ended up with all kinds of stuff in my cart and even managed to find a cell phone case in the dollar section that was exactly what I was looking for in the electronic section, but they were $39.99 and even I could not imagine spending more on a cell phone outfit than I do on one of mine, so the dollar bin it was.  I also got deoderant and hand cream and new stitchy glasses and all kinds of other crap and as I drove home I giggled about looking like a drunken monkey with a debit card.

After all of this crazypantsness, I am happy to report that my little pin money account is still intact, thankyouverymuch.  I am still a girl on a budget and am really being very careful with my expenditures, but boy...did that feel good!

We're tucked into the Happy Chair with stitching and Housewives today.  It's a little cloudy this morning, so I suspect we will snoozy for the duration:

The minions have apparently found the beach and have not managed to fininsh one single household task around here, but tomorrow is a new week and we've sent out a search party for them.  Who needs a spotless house when the Queen is at Balmoral and not likely to call?

Happy Sunday to one and all!  I hope that your heart sings with fun and happiness today!

OH NO...SHE DIDN'T

This is why I should never be allowed in the Targets alone and without a list.

I ran to the library and decided to treat myself to a new nail polish for August, and I had it in my head that I wanted a turquoise/aqua/teal kind of thing.

I ended up with more of a green grey and some stickers too.

And a darker peacock green for my toes:

I would put an accent on them too, but I don't think I can reach them without calling in the authorities.  

Stewey is just shaking his head at me right about now and is ready to launch into one of his little lectures about how I am just not cool enough to pull off these crazy colors in my old age.

(He's a classic red or subtle French kind of pup.)

The weekend is upon us!  Hope yours is full of all kinds of delights...cool and uncool!

FUTZINGDAY SPINSTER BLISS

Bosco on the left...Stewey on the right.  In about ten minutes, they will reverse and then do that over and over again until playtime.  

They must have a little timer hidden somewhere...

A little more progress on Bargello Challenge.  I ripped out that background section because I had turned my canvas upside down and the resulting stitches were different somehow and caused a bit of an annoying shadow...

My sleepy BabyDear...

And an awake Bosco (who doesn't care to have his photograph taken one little bit):

Puppy toes and a nose from last night's stitching...

Today will be comprised of some futzing and putzing and not much else.  After I get a chore or two finished I will contemplate grilling some chicken and then sitting down to finish a library book before stitching.  If I time everything correctly, I should be finished with the Bargello Challenge just in time for the opening ceremonies of Rio.  Wonder what will make it into my Olympic stitchy basket this year?  (Rumor has it that I am actually thinking about re-starting Patchwork of Peace!...stay tuned for a final decision on that one!)

Hope you have a lovely day...futz away!

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

I started the background sections of the Bargello Challenge and had several trial and errors before settling on 3-ply DMC floss in my lightest color.  So far, I'm pretty happy with the end result, so I think it will stay.

For now.

The deadline for the piece is October, so I have a few months to fret and tweak and rip and re-stitch anything that really bugs me, but I'm hoping I can resist the impulse to do so.  How about I make a public pledge on this here blog to just finish it and then leave well enough alone?  That way, if I feel the urge to do something stupid you will all hold me accountable and I won't have to come up with some crazypants explanation as to why I am turning in a jar full of thread fragments and a partially stitched canvas with tire tracks on it.

(Hmmmm.  Wonder if I'm on to something?  I could also publish my weekly to do list and menu plan, and when I fail to get out of bed or opt for a bowl of Cheetos for dinner instead of a chopped salad and salmon, you could shame me right back into submission.)

(Except then I would turn you all into task masters and hall monitors, and I have at least eleven or twelve of those in my brain already.)

Noooo, I think we'll just keep the status quo for now.  I'll bumble cluck my way through stuff and you'll get to have a few moments each day to think to yourself "Thank God I'm not that idiot spinster who can't find her way out of a wet paper bad with two hands, a flashlight, and an enormous pair of saftey scissors."

You're welcome, friends.  Anything I can do to help.

Happy Monday to one and all.  I'm off to get an Aranesp shot, a bit of gas in the car, some more DMC floss, and a few groceries for the week.  Hope your day is equally as exciting!

SCENES FROM A SPINSTER SUNDAY MORNING

BLECH...

And just like that...we fell back to Earth.

Stewey and I were happily enjoying our tea and toast this morning when Bosco came bounding into the dining room.

"Aunt CJ!  Cousin Stewey!  The new uniforms are here!  Can I get one?!  Can I? Can I?"

And with that, he bounded right back out of the dining room to resume his cartoon watching.

"What do you suppose that was all about, Mo-ther?" Stewey asked, as he peered over the Times.

A few minutes later and I was reminded why I have such a love/hate pathology with my semi-beloved alma mater.  I give you the 2016 Shamrock Series uniforms, as unveiled yesterday to horrified alumni and salivating pre-pubescent mouth breathers alike:

Once again, I am left to feel like the proverbial old lady hollering about the world going to hell in a handbasket and why oh why can't you damn kids just stay off the grass?  I get it...I'm not exactly what you'd call the target demographic for this stuff, but what nineteen year old really loves the color of...shower mold?  

Oh well, at least we won't have to worry about the dry cleaning bill if the damn things get dirty.  These dun-colored monstrocities should hide whatever messes the team decides to roll around in quite nicely, unlike the Stapuft Marshmallow Man get ups from a few years ago:

Oey...back to breakfast and the newspaper.  Maybe I can read a nice article about the Republican national convention or global warming to calm down...

OK...NOW THE UNIVERSE IS JUST SCREWING WITH ME

I've been thinking about that damn yellow butterfly all day.  Moments ago as I was getting ready to unplug for the night, I checked email and got a note from Miss Charlene.

Guess what she found on her bike ride tonight?

Holy crap on a cracker.  This has been a very interesting day!

And yes, in case you were wondering...that is the exact same butterfly that came to Stewey and me this morning and I'm pretty sure if you look closely enough at it you'll see that it's wearing a Notre Dame class ring, has a love of Oreo cookies, and knows that there is no way in the world his idiot daughter would ever be able to survive without a little help from her friends...

Tomorrow we're buying lottery tickets.

HOLY SYMBOLS, BATMAN!

Today is my dad's birthday.  He would have been 84 years old today.  I mention this beause I'm pretty sure that the universe is trying to tell me something and that it somehow relates to my dad or my mom or both, since I have been missing them like crazy lately.

(Or, I've finally lost my mind completely and it's time to go to the special facility that's been holding a room for me since sometime in the late 90's when I decided to live my life as though I was a normal person trapped in the body of a portly yet well-meaning spinster.)

I saw a yellow butterfly today.  

OK, so maybe it was more like I swatted and ran away from a yellow butterfly that was careening around the back yard like some kind of crazypants kamakazee spiritual symbol thingie...but nonetheless, I saw a yellow butterfly today.

Normally I would not have really given this too much thought, but for some reason this crazy butterfly decided to get my attention as it flitted between me, the patio umbrella, and then Stewey.  And it did this for about fifteen minutes before I started to get a little creeped out and came inside.

So we got on with our morning and decided to go out for our second constitutional of the day, and there it was again!  The exact same butterfly.  And, just like before, it hung out right there in the yard with Stewey as he hopped around inspecting each and every blade of grass and leaf before deciding to plop himself in the cool damp grass for a snooze in the sun.  

And the stupid butterfly stayed there. 

So now I'm back in the house wondering if I've had a heat stroke or if I have once and for all dropped my basket entirely. 

According to the Google, seeing a yellow butterfly is a good omen and means hope and guidance.

Hope.

And guidance.

I can't think of two things I could use more of right about now other than a full time housekeeper and a fistful of Target gift cards.  All this time I had been wishing on stars and lighting candles and chanting mantras to whoever would listen, when all I needed to do was find a stupid yellow butterfly.

So that's the report from Lunaticville today, kids.  Here's hoping that your neck of the woods is full of hope and guidance too.

And butterflies.

WEDNESDAY...WEDNESDAY

Progress continues on the Bargello Challenge:

I've really enjoyed this tremendously and think that I learned more than I bargained for in the process.  I learned that sometimes you can, in fact, have an idea in your head and actually execute it, but that it might take you a few tries and tweaks before you see it come to fruition.  In my case, it was the colors that went sideways on me before falling into place.  The design was there...I knew I wanted to do a "band sampler", but I really did think it was going to be a red, purple, and yellowish band sampler and not a rainbow sherbert band sampler.

Oh well...live and learn.  Live and learn.

Today is going to be a quiet day here at the homestead.  I have been feeling a bit punk and think I'm a quart or two low.  (My kidney disease causes me to have anemia, so when my hemoglobin drops it's similar to the car needing an oil change.)

(Too bad I don't have a little indicator light on my dashboard that would tell me when it's time to go juice up!)

Never fear, however...some labwork and a big fat shot ot Aranesp later and all will be put to rights once again.  In the meantime, I snooze and rest and think happy thoughts and encourage those little kidney beans inside me to keep hanging in there a little longer!

Stewey continues to play Patient to my Nurse Ratchett.  He seems to be quite happy to let me cuddle him whenever necessary, and each evening plays a gentle game of spaceship with me while I toss Bosco a ball to fetch.  (The spaceship is actually an interactive toy that I fill with food, and as Stewey noodges it about, pieces fall out and he eats a bit of dinner that way.  Otherwuse, I'm afraid it would be all cookies, all the time around here!)

The mowers and landscapers are mowing and landscaping, the sun is shining on the garden, and all is calm and bright today so far...hope it is the same in your neck of the woods!

A LITTLE STITCHING...A LITTLE PLANNING

My Bargello Challenge is still coming along.  I managed to almost fininsh another section yesterday while watching a little marathon of "The  Newsroom".  I have to say....I never would have imagined that I would like these colors together as much as I do.  Makes me think of a big bowl of sherbert!

With the Olympics just around the corner, I decided to start gathering projects that might be suitable.  I had originally thought these might work:

But, now I'm wondering if this one might be more fun done in reds, whites, and blues:

Or I might just break with tradition completely and stitch Poppers as is, since the colors kinda scream Rio in August to me for some reason.   Three weeks to decide...

Stewey and Bosco and I overdid it a bit yesterday.  It seemed like every time I turned around we were chasing pumpkins or eating cookies or running outside to look at the clouds.  I am so desperate not to miss one single minute with him that I think I'm driving us both 'round the bend a bit.  I need to calm the heck down and just...be.

SUNDAY...SUNDAY

Bit of an overcast morning, so the boys and I are enjoying an extra cup of French Roast with the paper.  We just can't seem to get moving today.  Would it be so wrong to have a pajama day and do nothing but stitch and watch movies?  Probably not...so looks like that's what it will be.

Yesterday was a simply lovely day with my EGA guild sisters.  We had a wonderful potluck picnic, learned how to make little beaded snowflake ornaments, and then heard a presentation about attending the Royal School of Needlework.  I was away from the house for much longer than I intended, but I think it was good for all of us to have a little break.  Stewey probably enjoyed snoozing in the sun without having me hover, Bosco was able to just be himself without me having to warn him to be careful of Stewey, and I really needed a moment to be something other than a fretting Mommie Dearest.

My Bargello Challenge piece is coming along nicely.  That's the thing about bargello...once you get the pattern established, the actual stitching of it goes pretty fast.  I'm still concerned about the thread coverage, and hope that the instructor won't deduct points for it, but I do like the color and texture that is resulting from using perle cotton, so I suppose that counts for something.

I hope that you are having a lovely, quiet, happy, and peaceful Sunday.  Do something wonderful and then cone tell us all about it!

STILL STITCHING...A LITTLE

QUIET THURSDAY

We're enjoying a lazy day so far.  Stewey is napping in his little bed and Bosco is snoring in the Happy Chair.  I'm going to grab a long scrubby shower and then head to the grocery for some quick provisions and then make it home in time for our afternoon nap.

Our appointment with Dr. Niemann was very helpful.  I was able to ask questions and wrap my head around what's to come.  The good news is that Stewey does not appear to be in any pain and is still doing very well on the meds.  

Thank you all for your prayers and support.  If it doesn't sound too hokey...both Stewey and I know that all of this good energy is what's keeping us going right now.  The love is...palpable and we're both wrapping ourselves in it like a blanket.

MONDAY...MONDAY

We had an oddly productive weekend here at Chez Hopeless.  I got it in my head that if Stewey was snoozing in the sun it would be OK for me to do a project or two to keep myself busy.

I cleaned the guest room, guest bath, laundry room, and my bathroom, did laundry, cleaned the office, cooked, made fruit salad, re-arranged my little dining room table cockpit and stitched.

Today, the cable guy came and upgraded all of my equipment, since apparently the hamsters that were powering my circa 1972 dvr thingies all decided to take a much needed retirement and after 27 years of being a loyal Comcast customer, they decided to give a girl a break and get her into the 18th century.

Tomorrow we will visit Dr. Niemann again, only this time I have my notebook ready with questions.  I don't know that the answers will be any better, but at least this time I'll know enough to ask them.

As soon as we're able, Stewey and I will find the words to thank you all for your notes and comments and support and love.  Nothing seems remotely adequate at this point.

For now...a little pic of my BabyDear hanging out under the table while I type.  Looks like it's time for a nap!

SUNDAY STEWEY BLISS

Mommie seems to like the cuddle bunny more that I do, but I'll humor her for a photo:

Only a little stitching, but we're trying to stay in our routines a bit:

Today I learned that it's OK to let Stewey have some peace and quiet in his little bed in front of the patio window while I get some things done. I've been afraid to let him out of my arms, but realized that he loves laying in his little bed and I don't want him to miss that.

I picked up a cuddle bunny at Target yesterday and laughed as I watched Stewey pounce on it and squeek the squeeker over and over.  It's floppy and soft and has a sweet face, and I think that it's more for my comfort than it is for his...but that's OK.

My biggest fear in all of this is that I'm missing something...something I should be doing or asking or demanding or trying.  I just don't want to make a bad decision because of me being stupid or selfish or ignorant.  We sat in front of that xray, the words "bone cancer" were spoken, and everything after that was a complete blur.  I've started reading about it online, but get more and more terrified and more and more devastated every time I do, so I just try to breathe instead.

Amputation and chemotherapy.  On my baby.  My heart.  My one true little love.  Would those two things cure him and allow him to live a long and happy life, or am I just buying a few very sad, very hard, very miserable months?  When I asked Dr. Nieman what he would do if Stewey were his, he told me to bring him home, love him, and keep him comfortable, and I nodded dumbly and drove home determined to do just that.  

But today I agonize if there isn't somebody or something out there who can tell me that there is an alternative.  A new medicine or therapy or idea or treatment.  Or maybe the diagnosis is off somehow and this is actually fixable....and then I realize that I'm just grasping at anything I can to avoid the reality of it all and I fall back into the nightmare.

Someday I will reveal all of my deep dark secrets that give this situation...context.  Needless to say, if this was the only thing that had fallen on my head lately I would be rather ashamed of my hysterics.  But the list of major "issues" on this spinster's shoulders is long and heavy, my friends, and Stewey and Stewey's companionship was the last piece of duct tape holding me together.  

I'm terrified.

Today I learned that it's OK to let Stewey have some peace and quiet in his little bed in front of the patio window while I get some things done. I've been afraid to let him out of my arms, but realized that he loves laying in his little bed and I don't want him to miss that.

I picked up a cuddle bunny at Target yesterday and laughed as I watched Stewey pounce on it and squeek the squeeker over and over.  It's floppy and soft and has a sweet face, and I think that it's more for my comfort than it is for his...but that's OK.

My biggest fear in all of this is that I'm missing something...something I should be doing or asking or demanding or trying.  I just don't want to make a bad decision because of me being stupid or selfish or ignorant.  We sat in front of that xray, the words "bone cancer" were spoken, and everything after that was a complete blur.  I've started reading about it online, but get more and more terrified and more and more devastated every time I do, so I just try to breathe instead.

Amputation and chemotherapy.  On my baby.  My heart.  My one true little love.  Would those two things cure him and allow him to live a long and happy life, or am I just buying a few very sad, very hard, very miserable months?  When I asked Dr. Nieman what he would do if Stewey were his, he told me to bring him home, love him, and keep him comfortable, and I nodded dumbly and drove home determined to do just that.  

But today I agonize if there isn't somebody or something out there who can tell me that there is an alternative.  A new medicine or therapy or idea or treatment.  Or maybe the diagnosis is off somehow and this is actually fixable....and then I realize that I'm just grasping at anything I can to avoid the reality of it all and I fall back into the nightmare.

Someday I will reveal all of my deep dark secrets that give this situation...context.  Needless to say, if this was the only thing that had fallen on my head lately I would be rather ashamed of my hysterics.  But the list of major "issues" on this spinster's shoulders is long and heavy, my friends, and Stewey and Stewey's companionship was the last piece of duct tape holding me together.  

I'm terrified.

When I asked Jesus to take the wheel, I had no idea he would be such a lousy driver.

DEAR FRIENDS...

When I started writing this blog, I never imagined the friends that I would make, both near and far, and how much one person could more possibly enjoy the feeling of finally making it to the cool kids' table.

But who am I kidding?  You continue to read this blog and, I suspect, continue to put up with me and my silly shenanigans because of one reason and one reason only.

Stewey.

Eleven years ago yesterday, I held that little three pound bundle of fur in my arms for the first time and can honestly tell you that I thought my heart would burst with the amount of love that was inside of it.

Today, I'm pretty sure that that very same heart is going to break into a million pieces.

Stewey has bone cancer.  And, despite the fact that I would give my own life to save his, there is absolutely nothing I can do but keep him comfortable and spend as much time with him as I can.  I know that I am in shock and I know that there is a very large part of me that wonders if I will actually survive this, but for now I am just trying to breathe in and out and not let him more than two inches away from me.

Yes, I realize that with all that is going on in the world, the impending loss of a pet seems positively trivial, but I make no apologies for my tears or admission that this little creature has been the absolute  love of my life and I have not one single clue how to navigate this.

So I will ask you to pray for us and to keep us in your happy thoughts.  I might not be here at the blog  as often as I have been, but I know you'll understand.

Stewey sends his love, too.  I am pretty sure that he knows and understands the diagnosis, because he laid very gently in my arms at the vet's office and when Dr. Nieman gave us the news he reached up and kissed my tears away before laying his little head on my shoulder.  We're in the big girl sleigh bed for a nap as I type this, and he is snuggled in close listening to the clickety clack of the keyboard.  

I think he is at peace.

WHY I DECIDED TO SIT ON THE LOVESEAT, BY THE SPINSTER STITCHER HER VERY SELF

For two little dogs that do not get along very well, these two sure spend a lot of time together.  That Happy Chair was Jack Russell Central last night, and despite my strongest arguments as to why I should be allowed to sit there, I was dispatched elsewhere.

Forthwith.

I suspect that this is all just part of the conspiracy.  When I returned home from appointments and errands yesterday afternoon to discover a present for me on the dining room rug, neither Bosco nor Stewey implicated the other.  (Normally, Stewey is only too happy to point out that HE wets the drapes like a civilized gentleman, as opposed to doing something else in a most undignified manner while squatting over an area rug.)

Today will occupied with more appointments (for Stewey this time), some stitching, reading, and hopefully afternoon nap taking.  It's been rather warm and humid here, and that just seems to zap what little energy I have right out of me.

This, however, is keeping me company when I am awake:

I'm so happy with how it's coming along and am thinking that now that I've got the colors and patterns sorted, I might focus on improving the thread coverage.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll switch it all to DMC floss instead of perle cotton, break out the laying tool, and try a v3.0!

(For those of you who've asked...I'm just laying the general pattern for each of my sections.  The open areas of canvas will be filled in with gradations of color, and the backgrounds that are too small for the pattern will be basketweave. )

That's the Thursday report, kids.  I hope that your Thursday is everything you want it to be!

MOMMIESTEWEYVERSARY

Eleven years ago today, a little furry creature became my BabyDear.

What a ride.

Yes...I made a scrapbook.  What can I say?  Spinster...pet.  (You do the math).

He was a good sleeper from the very beginning...

And still is...

Even as a baby he looked exasperated with Yours Truly...

And still does...

Thank you for changing my life, Stewey Angus McGrunty vonNudgie Piddlekins Little Skittles BabyDear Willowswamp.  I couldn't love you more if I had given birth to you myself.

Kissy kissy kissy,

Mommie Dearest Mo-ther Crazypants Idiot Spinster Head

CHELL-O, BARGEL-O!

I really did think that yesterday was going to be a housecleaning day.  (I mean, come on, I bought the equipment and all....you would think I would have used it!)

I did this instead:

When last we left our heroine, she was contemplating using her first attempt at the Bargello Challenge as an automobile floor mat.  I liked my design concept well enough...but those colors!  Oey!

So I gently and lovingly removed v1.0 from the stretcher bars, fished around in my stash a bit, and...voila!  Version 2.0.

You really can't tell from my craptastic photo, but the colors are hot hot pink and deep rich orange...two colors that I normally wouldn't have thought of as in my wheelhouse.  But there's something about this combination that is just really blowing my skirt up, so I'm going to stick with it and enjoy the ride.

The weekend turned out to be quite spinster blissful, actually.  I did all of the things that make me happy.  I slept, I read, I cooked, I stitched, I kissed my boys on their little wet noses, and I blogged.  What the heck else could I possibly have asked for?!

HAPPY 4TH!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN...

Meet my new best friend.

For some time now, I have contemplated buying an upholstery cleaner for the Happy Chair, the bedroom chair, areas of the bedroom carpet, and anyplace else that needs a periodic bath.  In the past, I've always called the people with the coupons to come do it for me, but it occured to me that for the cost of one of those cleanings I could have a machine of my very own.

So now I'm going to go read the directions and then send Stewey and Bosco to the movies for a few hours while I turn this place into a sparkling clean bastion of good smelling fabric nirvana.

What are you doing today?