Working, working, working...

So, if you check my journal blog linked on the right, you'll see I've updated it with some pics of little stitching that I've done over the past month. Sometimes it takes a little time for me to get pics up on Blogger, so my bragging is usually only in spurts. I have some pics that I can't share yet because they are for others.

You'll notice I've been on a Just Nan kick. Yep, I've been stitching through my JN charts like crazy. I've got a 3 more tin tops to stitch and 4 more accessories, and then I'll have to do the finishing on 4 tin tops and 4 accessories. The Halloween and Christmas squares in my finishing journal will be little ornaments when I get around to finishing those.

After I get through those, I've pulled some summer charts and I really would like to get stitching on my big WIPs again as those have sat untouched for awhile. This summer I would like to jump into Christmas with a big splash and actually make some ornaments this year. We'll see, though, as I also have a goal to set cross-stitch aside somewhat and get caught up on my scrapbooks so that I can have them finished and cross over into the digital era. I have, unfortunately acquired lots of scrapbooking stash that I will truly never use, so I want to use up what I need and sell or give away the rest. Then I'll really have space to organize my true love: cross-stitch.

I do have a little in progress picture. I'm stitching this Leaping Pony chart from the Sept. 2008 Cross-Stitch & Needlework issue for charity. I was stitching on a Tigger chart, but the vast number of half-stitches put me off a little so I needed to take a break from that.

I'm over halfway through stitching my Spring F&S square for Carolyn. I've actually stitched 5 of my 6 PIFs. I just need to choose and stitch the 6th and then I can finish them into something neat and get them mailed off.

On the school front, I only have 5 more weeks of classes and then I get 10 days off before it's back to the grind. I'm looking forward to the break even more than Spring Break because there's no homework to be done during the break.

Hopefully, our family will go somewhere during my break, but it's so hard to fork over the money to even just go up to Seattle for a few days in this economy. The boys and I went down to Eugene overnight this last weekend and went to a couple museums and an indoor wave pool which they thoroughly enjoyed. It was fun to get away, but even that one night was spendy. I don't know, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, right?

There! That what's happening with me lately. I've been slow to read blogs and I'm sorry that I'm not keeping up with all of you ladies who are so faithful to keep up with me and encourage me through school. I do appreciate the encouragement and the comments, though. Have a happy week with beautiful stitching and no froggy guests!

Spring Break! Yay!

Whew! It's so wonderful to have a whole week off from school! I haven't done much school work for the past four days and it has been fabulous! But, that can only last so long as there is a mad rush of papers and projects due in the next couple of weeks, so I will start working on some of them here and there this week. Other than all of the papers and projects, my exams so far have gone well...all A- or better grades. Having been a paramedic before really helps...though I'm having to learn to evaluate patients a little differently (emergency stabilization vs. hospitalization thru to discharge planning and beyond.)

I had high hopes of starting to get some yard work done this week. I have rose bushes that need pruning, weeds that need pulling, and a garden that needs to be ready for planting. But mother nature in her infinite wisdom has declared my needs to be a lesser priority than hers. So my neighbors will have to bear with us a little longer. I did, however, enjoy all the crocuses we planted last fall and I have one lone blooming daffodil and the promise of bunches more. Yay for Spring and the color she brings. Hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, irises...and whatever else I planted.

Stitching has been here and there. I have not touched any of my larger WIPs in a while. I'm on a Just Nan kick right now...trying to get all of these limited edition tins and other charts stitched up and maybe, just maybe finished. Here are a bunch of in progress pictures of those things. You'll see

--the top of the Jingle tin

--Making Friends (just need silver braid)

--Peter Cottontail (just need green braid)

Some other in progress pictures:

--Sweetheart Tree Cat Biscornu (just couldn't get it done in time for last month's biscornu)

--March Quaker by The Workbasket (for my March biscornu)

I also have a pic of the squares I sent to Heidi for the Winter F&S. I stitched Father Winter, a freebie by Teresa Wentzler. I changed it slightly to add in a little purple as Heidi likes purples and greens. I didn't notice till I saw it posted on her blog that I was a year behind and signed my square with 2008 instead of 2009. Ah well.

After posting this, I'm going to get down to some blog reading. I have a lot of catching up to do, but it will make for an enjoyable afternoon and it postpones that schoolwork.