so how did you spend your friday evening?
I wasted mine behind the ‘puter. LOL. Actually, I was trolling through Marktplaats, the Dutch answer to eBay, for unusual cross stitch designs. And I scored a lovely Merrily Beams pattern and a kit from Beardie Designs. Woohoo! Both for under 25 euros. 
I had a fairly weird experience yesterday. While I was waiting to pick the kids up on the school ground, a fellow parent kept calling Arden by the wrong name … but not just any wrong name – the name we’d chosen for his twin. It was a Twilight Zone sort of experience.
Today I’m off to the acupuncturist again. With the drop in temperatures, I’m really glad I’m getting this taken care of now. I hope your weekend involves something that makes you feel better!
small packages
Big presents come in small packages, as the saying goes, and this is no exception. Please meet our new nephew, Daan Tomas. I can’t wait to meet him in person! Congratulations to the very happy parents.
It’s not nearly as momentous, but here’s another small start – my attempt to get back to stitching. This is a very small design by Handwork from their Sampler Ornaments 8 leaflet.
And to encourage me even more to get stitching, I experimented with a piece of 35 ct white HDF linen and my Chinese herb dregs, coming up with this. Isn’t it fabulous? I only wish I’d done a large piece….
There are, of course, other small packages that figure importantly in my life. Like small, quiet girls on rainy November afternoons.
And small boys who are happily missing both their front teeth.
And other little boys who are finally feeling good again. (In a sweater knit by his great grandma!)
This is a rather big package, but what funny wrapping it has! 
And finally, some furry packages that will soon be underway to America. 
warming up
Arden and I ventured over to the acupuncturist yesterday, trusting that the rain would let up just when we needed it to – and it did! My brother and I both have Raynaud’s – a pesky disorder that causes you to lose blood flow to your fingers and toes, brought on by exposure to cold, stress, and other possible factors – and with our upcoming move to Maine, it was time to deal with it again. A few years ago, I went through a lot of acupuncture for various issues, including this one, and it worked amazingly well. The acupuncture is supported by the use of Chinese herbs, so get a load of my cup of tea. LOL. It does warm a body up, although the smell is something I could gladly live without.
Warming up also applies to my stitching. Since I can’t seem to get into the one & only obligation I still have left for 2009’s stitching, I decided to print off a bunch of designs I liked from TGOSM (and a few other sources) and just stitch what appealed to me and not worry about its ultimate destination. I have nearly a whole month before the exchange is due, so it’s stupid to get all bent up about it now.
Arden continues to improve, though he’s got the awful cough now that Rowen had about a month ago. Poor thing. He’s a jolly character, though, so I guess he’s feeling better.
the christmas stitching that wouldn’t happen
Argh. I started a new Christmas exchange piece because I was unhappy with the 2-over-2 coverage I was getting with the first project. Cute design, great fabric, awful result. The replacement project looked fun when I started it, but I’ve sort of run out of steam. Lately, I’m just too tired to stitch at night. And my hands are a wreck, making the silk that I didn’t pack nearly impossible to work with. Before this house-cleaning craze began, I did my stitching in the evening to unwind. Now, I stare at the TV blankly for an hour or so and then clamber up to the attic and gratefully pass in unconsciousness. LOL. Maybe the block-buster Christmas ornament issue by The Gift of Stitching will inspire me with a project I can stick to?
and the cooking that did happen
Yesterday’s showing went well, the realtor reported. These people seemed more interested in a practical way – the first couple were interested in how they could transform our 40 year old home into a modern showcase, whereas this couple were interested in the location, the electrical wiring, the age of the exterior paint, etc. The things that are really important to know if you’re serious. Fingers crossed.
Anyway, following a day of intense cleaning, I indulged myself in several enjoyable hours in the kitchen after the showing was over. Outside, the wild November winds blew and the rain pelted down while the last leaves swirled past the windows. Inside, pots bubbled, children chattered, and I felt that life was once again in the correct balance. I would never aspire to be a Domestic Goddess, but I am very happy when puttering in a kitchen to feed the people I love best.
My labors of love led to lots of peanut butter cookies (topped with homemade vanilla sugar!)
and a big, bubbling pot of pumpkin & paprika stew. (Hmm. The pan really was clean before I started cooking in it!)
the smiling snot monkey
Arden isn’t fully recovered, but he’s a cheerier fellow than he was even a day ago. I’m looking forward to being able to sleep through the night in another day or two.
(Even though he got up too close to the camera and isn’t centered, I just love this picture!)
Wishing you a wonderful week full of tasty goodness and the warmth of loved ones.
cruisin’
As I’m away from the ‘puter today due to the scheduled showing of the house, I’ve arranged for what will hopefully be a fun tour around town with Arden while we were doing errands the day before he came down ill. (He is improving, though slowly. Poor little snot monkey.) I snapped a bunch of pictures on our route, thinking it would be fun to see the ‘real’ Gouda, rather than just the pretty postcard views, once we’re settled in Maine. (Don’t worry, my driver really is safer than he might look!)
you say it’s your birthday?
A big happy-day shout out to Annemarie, who’s turning a page in her personal calender today. I hope your day is filled with laughter and blessed with good health!
There has been stitching done, really. I’ve started a new project for my Christmas exhange partner. Although I doubt she’s a regular reader I’ll forego posting a picture just in case. I also realized that I forgot to complete the outline around one of Karen V’s ‘pages’ – I’m sorry Karen! And for those who asked what colors and silks she used, I’d suggest you contact her directly. I sent her how-to sheet home with the project and didn’t make notes. She has amazing taste, doesn’t she? I’m still in awe of the MM&I NRR she created.
Tomorrow brings another showing of the house. Two in 8 days isn’t bad in this economy, but honestly, I’d just like someone to make us a reasonable offer. LOL.
when goblins go prowling
Ever have the feeling you’re being watched?
As Halloween isn’t really celebrated here and the kids can’t go trick-or-treating, I made a ghoulish meal for my little band of creatures. We had witches’ fingers (strips of French toast with green food dye added to the batter), fried bats & spiders (pancakes with food dye to make them blackish-purple), zombie eyeballs (devilled eggs with mini-tomato slices in the eye socket), and a brain filled with rotting guts (hollowed-out cauliflower filled with lettuce and quartered mini tomatoes). For the brave, there was pus to dip the veggies in and vampire blood and powdered cobwebs to cover the pancakes with. Thanks to Tanya’s prim stitching group for some of the wonderful ideas – this will certainly become an annual tradition at Chateau Chaos!
As you can see, we have one sick little fellow – Arden came down with a cold that very suddenly turned nasty on him. We’re keeping the fluids going and keeping an eye on things. It’s scary with all the H1N1 fear in the air, but we’re hoping he’ll soon be back to his usual cheery, healthy self.
Hoping everyone’s Halloween was fun and safe!
zoning out
A feeble attempt at total relaxation was needed to deal with the unexpected stress from work, so I’ve been out to eat, watched the BBC version of The Tenant of Windfell Hall, finished Karen V’s Quaker RR and stitched the Rose Basket by Niky’s Creations since I last visited with you here.
The dining out was actually due to it being the 9th anniversary of our first date. The dinner was fine, but the company was much better! My, how much we’ve packed into nine years!!
Here’s Karen’s stunning version of the Ackworth Friendship Book for our round robin. I just love this group of stitchers, and I hope we’ll do something together again in the future. Karen, your RR was posted today and will hopefully arrive quickly.
And while watching The Tenant at Windfell Hall on my laptop because it would not play with sound in the DVD player (I don’t even pretend to understand this stuff), I stitched the Rose Basket, a wee kit I bought from Niky’s Creations. I’ve stitched it with one thread over two, using the supplies that came with the kit. If (or when, more likely) I stitch it again, I’ll leave the date off I think. Interestingly enough, it took exactly the length of the film to stitch this. Useless factoids ….
(LOL!! Look, I forgot the handle on one side! Oops!)
As for the blow dealt by our employer, Niek went back in yesterday and talked to them again and feels cautiously optimistic that we’ll regain at least some of the lost ground. We’re supposed to have everything in writing (again) by early next week. Arden, as you can see, is ready to go now.
Wishing you a wonderful week!
why don’t people just do what they say they’ll do?
Feeling pretty darn low here at Chateau Chaos at the moment. Niek finally had the (many-times-delayed) meeting at work in which they provided everything regarding our move to Maine in writing. Only the writing they provided was a totally different story than the promises they’ve made the past several months. We’re talking differences here that emcompass thousands of dollars a month, so I’m not whining over peanuts. Niek’s worked for this company for over 8 years – unpaid overtime, work through the holidays, international travel, you name it. He’s been Mr. Reliable every minute of all those years. I’ve been there for over 6 years and honestly my role is miniscule in comparison, but I’ve always done my work to everyone’s satisfaction, and usually faster and cheaper than anyone else can do. And now this …. Why? Because they know we’ve gone too far to simply stop the process? Because they know how much it means to us to relocate? Because, simply, they can get away with it? If that’s the case, you know, no wonder no one gives a crap about company loyalty and doing the right thing. Sorry to be so negative, but I’m just so disappointed. 
coming clean, and other silliness
Thanks for all the well-wishes regarding today’s showing. The realtor was enthusiastic about it, and complimented us on how well the place showed. Hooray for insane cleaning! The lookers are at home, discussing the house, while we sit here with crossed fingers.
It was a very hectic day, which isn’t particularly pleasant, but things got a lot nicer when I found out I’d won Beth’s giveaway via her FB group. Yay! And thanks, Beth! I love her designs and now I get to pick one of my choice!
And speaking of great designs, I took the plunge and ordered a couple of Niky’s designs. I’ve long admired her blog, though I’m a lurker. She sent them incredibly fast. I really love how she packages her charts – aren’t they adorable? I’m a little less enthusiastic about the layout of the charts, however, because there’s no stitch count and no center point marked. I’m lazy, I’ll admit it – I want someone else to do the work for me. But these are super-sweet designs that I look forward to stitching up once my obligations are done.
Gilbert seems to think he needs his own Daylight lamp. When he was having some free time yesterday, he let me know that I’ve got the angle all wrong. LOL!
And to close on a very silly note, here are my three younger kids acting up in the tub. Nick and Rowen are into Halloween this year and were trying to pull their most dreadful poses. With some help from Picnik, I made Nick into a proper ghoul.
