What the.....

Geez has it ever been a week AND it's not even over yet. I went from winter break hanging out to having to jump into everything which would have been fine but the snow and freezing weather really made it a challenge. Then Alan Rickman died - I am pretty sad about that - I didn't know him or anything but I always enjoyed his performance in movies. Of course we all loved him as Snape - sad, just sad. I'll start with Ryder - we went with him to Georgia. As I have mentioned before - he is now going to SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design)

What a wonderful and amazing school. Scott and I are so excited for Ryder - and jealous. The school really is amazing. The student dorms suck - I mean really bad. They took an old hotel and converted it into dorms - no carpet - three beds to a tiny room with the smallest bathroom I have ever seen. They are supposed to renovate them but not soon enough. Atlanta is beautiful and has great things to see and do but driving there is AWFUL!! They have packed 4 lanes into a 3 lane spot and the amount of cars.....I need a Valium just thinking about it. Luckily the craptastic dorms are across the street from the school so he doesn't have to drive - and the school proves transportation to all the other buildings until something like 2 am. It was sad to leave him there  but we have grand dreams for his future!! We did manage to hit some Diners Drive Ins and Dives, so that was fun. We got home Thursday night and I had orientation Friday. Of course it started with the snowing and got colder than a pocket full of penguins. So I'm trying to get used to my new schedule and getting back into going to the gym - not going well. Gym door was frozen shut one morning - shoveling one morning - got there late so only worked out 20 minutes - honestly. Garage door stopped working correctly - ugh School is going well - already got checked off on two skills (don't be too impressed it's hand washing and taking off protective gear)  I found out that my summer is going to be hard - 6 classes to do in 10 weeks. Tomorrow I have CPR class. I can do this.... I. CAN. DO. THIS.  The car I drive was a lease - we thought that was a great idea and then we went way over on the mileage. So we have to do the whole end of lease thing. I have to say that I hate hate hate dealerships. You could stop in to drop off cookies and still walk out feeling like you've been screwed. They have such shady ways of dealing with you. We have bought two vehicles from Enterprise car rental - and my mom bought one there too. I think we will just buy from them from now on - the cars are in good shape - low mileage - the cost is printed there and they don't try to haggle or try any shady tactics. This place had us sitting there for 2 hours - they wanted me to buy a new car, I said fine but it has to be the same as what we are paying because I'm in school and can't afford higher payments. Two hours later Tweedledum (and he really looked like Tweedledum - even tha the bow tie) came up with much higher figures. So I am keeping the one I have - which is fine - I just don't like the jerking you around aspect. We have to go back because Tweedledum was soooooo busy he was having a hard time getting our paperwork done - hard to believe since we were the ONLY ones in the place. While typing this it is taking a TON of self-control not to pepper that whole explanation with terrible language - bastards. So I have a finish - I  mentioned that I started Merry Two but needed to order three skeins - when they got here I realized I missed on AHHHH. So I had to substitute Barn Grey - geez.

I started Tiramisu by Glendon Place while I waited for the thread - usually stitching large blocks of color is annoying but I am enjoying this one. The thread is soo silky oooooohhh

I have a few pictures for you and I am outta here - I hope you are all having a better January than I am - 2016 better shape up or I am going to have to write a sternly worded letter to it.

give me all your yogurt and nobody gets hurt

Happy 2016

Hope it is going great so far.... on New Year's Eve I finished another picture - that makes 33 for 2015. Not bad.

2005 Prairie Schooler

Merry One by Plum Street Sampler

I changed Merry One a little I took of the date and the word Merry. I used Gentle Arts Mulberry for Santa's coat and Weeks Dye Works Mocha for the reindeer. As usual it wasn't because I didn't like her colors but I didn't have the suggested colors so I used what I had. I am in love with this fabric - 36 ct Vintage Country Mocha Edinburgh. On New Year's Day I started Merry Two - same fabric. This time I was missing three skeins but I didn't feel up to choosing new so I just ordered them. I am stitching the two colors I have and then will start One Starry Christmas Eve by With Thy Needle and Thread while I wait for my threads to come in the mail. I really want to start Tiramisu from Glendon Place but I am waiting for the floss pack. Ebay had it for $41.56  with $3.13 shipping which is cheaper than the stores!! I found it on etsy for $31 but she wanted $16 for shipping - NOPE. I still need to pick a fabric for Tiramisu but I want to see the threads first - I might like the Vintage Country Mocha - but we shall see.
I have started using Instagram and I really like it. I used my first hashtag - #stitchersofinstagram it adds my picture to that group - I like to look at all the stuff other stitchers put on that group too. I am following a few stitchers. It's fun - if you are on Instagram I am Cricketbug33.
Yesterday we took down all the Christmas stuff - feels like we just got it up. It's funny how you can spot any ornament on the tree when you are gazing at it but when you are holding the box it goes in - you can't find it ANYWHERE!! I even told Scott at one point that Ryder must have hung his on a tree at another house because I couldn't find any!! I managed to find them all. We moved some furniture around - I was using this one chair and ottoman as my stitching chair. It was pretty uncomfortable but I liked the big ottoman for the cat and I could set my stitching there when I had to get up. Usually I don't have much time for stitching but on this break from school I got a few days in and that chair was making me so sore. Scott brought my old stitching chair back into the living room - wow it is so comfortable!! . It's smaller so the cat and I are kinda crammed on it but it is so comfy.

bum buster

smaller comfy chair!

  Ryder leaves Monday for Georgia. I start school on Friday - it's a nursing boot camp - real classes start Monday. I hope to get some more stitching in before then. I hope you are all getting some quality stitching in already this year. Thanks for stopping by!!