WHO KNEW A BLUE JACKET COULD BE SO MYSTERIOUS?

Oh my goodness, Dearies! I had no idea that Rich getting fitted for a blue jacket would cause such a ruckus! First of all, thank you for your interest...I forget that there are actually real live Dearies out there who read my drivel...and cheers to you for being curious about our silly happy quiet crazy little life here in Hoosierville!

Rich is an usher over at Notre Dame occasionally, and they have special outfits for different occasions. He started doing this last March as a way to get out and meet people and to have something to do besides sit here and watch me stitch all day, and he loves it.  He has ushered sporting events, graduations, meetings, masses, and cultural things, and I think it takes him back to his days as an usher at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. 

As for me...I am still fighting something mysterious of my own and am waiting to get some tests scheduled. It started with what I thought was food poisoning or a medication issue, or the flu, but now we're thinking pancreatitis?  I don't know what it is, but I'm ready for it to be g.o.n.e.

Stitching of the Wee Santa continues, and as soon as I get a few chores completed and a nice hot scrubby shower, I'm going to get right back to it!

I'm really enjoying this little guy, but I wish I had an idea of what to do with him once he's finished. I suppose he'll go live in the Christmas Fuppy box with all of the other finished/unfinished projects, or I'll get brave enough to sit down one of these days and have a finishing marathon!

Happy Thursday, Dearies! I hope this finds you all well and happy and doing something wonderfully fun! Come tell me all about it!

Does anybody else like roasted chestnuts as much as my JB does? I finally made them for him last night!

TUESDAY SHENANAGINS

Yesterday was errand day...starting with a trip to campus so Rich could get fitted for his official blue blazer, then to breakfast at my favorite downtown South Bend restaurant called Early Bird Eatery, a quick stop for my afternoon cold brew, and then a nice Thanksgiving Shepherd's Pie for dinner.

How was your day?
 

MONDAY STITCHING

 

IN WHICH WE ASSEMBLE OUR CHRISTMAS STITCHING BASKETS

These are the projects that I selected for my "on deck" basket that sits right next to my chair, and holds things that are kitted up and ready to go....on stretcher bars or q-snaps and bagged with needles, scissors, bling, etc.

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?
 

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, DEARIES.

 

JUST ANOTHER QUIET TUESDAY NIGHT

 

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. 

TOO MUCH?

 

 

IN WHICH JULIA CHILD GOES TO ITALY

I'm freshly showered, have just put dinner in the oven, and have made the executive decision to do absolutely nothing else today except stitch.

(Actually, my poor old body made the decision for me, since I am unable to lift either arms or legs without issuing forth with profanity.)

Rich and I love watching cooking videos on the YouTube, and today's dinner is courtesy of Jim from Sip and Feast. The official name of the dish is Spezzatino di Manzo, but it's basically an Italian version of boeuf bourguignon. I chopped and diced and sautéed and braised, and now my big red pot from the Targets is doing its thing in the oven until it's time to eat.  

So now it's time for me to pick up my needle and thread and shut down all electronics for the remainder of the day. I hope your Sunday is swell, that your own needles are flying, and that something delicious is in your future!

WooHoo!

WELL...IT'S A START

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?

 

WHO'S WITH ME?

 

METHINKS I NEED A DO-OVER

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.

IN WHICH THE SPINSTER IS HAVING A BIG PLAID PHOOEY MOMENT

 I have some sort of stupid stomach flu that has me quite green about the gills, but I'm still enjoying all things plaid.

As I was pondering my own plaid, I received this in an email:

Cool, huh? It turns out that this particular plaid is registered as the Notre Dame Marching Tartan. I'm going to do some more research as soon as I'm feeling better, and will head to the Farmers' Market to get my ornament!

Cheers, Dearies! 

MAD FOR PLAID

Today was Hoosier Heartland...our local chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild...and the program was learning how to create a plaid. We started by learning how to do a symmetrical/Chottie's plaid, and I have to tell you...this is addictive!

As soon as I got the makeup off and pajamas on when I got home, I started playing with threads and am going to see what I can come up with while watching tonight's hockey game.

It was a beautiful Saturday, Dearies! Great stitchy time, great lunch with my Guild ladies, and now some great TeeVee time with my Irish! 

How was your day?  Come tell me all about it!

 

WOO HOO!

 

HOCKEY NIGHT

Go Irish! Beat the Buckeyes! ☘️

 

SPINSTER STITCHER TUESDAY BLISS

BellyBean got a good report and labwork numbers are the best they've been since transplant!

Pretty self explanatory, I think.

Decided to paint the meathooks deep dark red.

Lots of stitchy time while bingeing the Yellowstone.

This one is for Miss Vonna's daughter, Ellie, who drinks her beverages in fancy glasses. Sprite Zero in a stemless wine glass? Why yes, thank you, I think I will!

LOOK! UP IN THE SKY! IT'S A BIRD...IT'S A PLANE...IT'S A NAMETAG!

 I'd love to tell you that I made my name tag well in advance of the weekend's meeting, but the truth of the matter is that I read the brochure at the last minute on Thursday night and went into a full-blown panic attack because I didn't have one and figured I'd be bounced right back out of the room full of admonishments and recriminations.

(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!

IN WHICH WE RETURN FROM RETREAT...TIRED BUT VERY VERY HAPPY INDEED

 Can you see it? 

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! 🤗)