The New Year So Far

Here it is almost mid January. So far the New Year hasn't been the best. I ended the old year and started the New Year sick, sick, sick. I was hit by the nasty cold/flu bug that is making the rounds. Just before New Years Day my throat was so swollen that it felt like I had a bowling ball in my throat! Fever, chills, ear ache, swollen glands the whole nine yards. Of course being the holiday the doctor wasn't in so I waited it out until Monday and than went and got an antibiotic. Two days of the med and I was feeling so much better. I could swallow and eat! That is until later Tuesday morning. (see previous post.) I spent the next two days cleaning and crying and napping and trying to stitch. I finally went back to work on Thursday.

Friday the forecast called for more snow. The weather people are beginning to drive me bonkers! They keep calling for the "significant" snows. Two inches?? I think significant snow would be a foot or more. Not TWO inches! Hey, I live in New York. Not Alabama or Mississippi or Florida where they so rarely get snow that two inches IS significant for them. Oh well with all the panicky forecasts and the railroad (my means of transportation) threatening to stop service I headed home early. Of course the snow didn't start falling until about 7 PM. Big fat flakes. Oh my but it looked so pretty. And even prettier the next morning with every branch outlined in white.We will come back to more snowy news in a bit. But first I want to play catch up on my stitching.

I joined a couple of stitching blogs for 2011. One is the Totally Useless Stitch-a-long. I have been collecting my orts for a number of years. Don't ask me why. They just look so neat in the jar or, as I displayed some of my orts from 2010, in a glass ornament. So since I collect my orts anyway i figured why not join in the fun officially. Then I go and miss the first official day. I did take a photo on the correct day so here is my TUSAL for January. A little late.

To the left is my ort jar empty on January 1st.

When I emptied the jar I put my 2010 orts in this clear glass ornament.

My TUSAL for January 4th.

I also joined in the Flip 'n Crazy January Challenge. The one where you choose 15 older wips or ufos to work on. I have posted a list of the ones I hope to finish this year on my side bar. I am currently working on CCN's Christmas Carols. This is my newest wip. I started it in early December but didn't get very far by the new year. So I have made a bit of progress on it since.

Basket containing my 15 wips/ufos












CCn's Christmas Carols as of Jan 1st.



As of January 8th.

I have also been working on a gift and my upcoming exchanges so no photos of those yet.

I do have two giveaways to show you. One I am late in posting photos (sorry DSL Santa.). I won the Down Sunshine Lane blog Christmas giveaway. And the DSL Santa sent me some fabulous gifts. All wrapped up for Christmas morning. I just love everything! But especially the scissors and fob. I also won a lovely piece of linen from Sheri. I know just the piece I am going to use this for. Another gift for a dear friend.

Another giveaway was won but not by me. By Rory! Some of you may remember the silly photos I took of Rory for Thanksgiving.

Well, he won a photo contest with this photo! His prize arrived just after New Years. He adores the toys and especially one. The box also contained a book for me but Rory decided he would read it first. (I haven't read it yet but will soon.)

Now if you have stuck around and read everything so far I would like to leave you with something that should make you smile if not laugh out loud. While 2011 hasn't been all that great it is impossible to stay down for long. Especially when you have the silliest dog ever! I mentioned the little bit of snow we had this past weekend. Well, Friday evening the snow drifted gently with these huge snowflakes. Rory being Rory just had to stay out and play even though it was 7 pm, cold and pitch dark. After a little bit I looked out the window to check on him and saw the funniest thing. There is Rory on the deck jumping straight up and twisting and trying his darnedest to catch snowflakes! Yup snowflakes! I got my camera and spent the next half hour or so trying to get a good photo of his antics. These are a little dark but I hope you get the idea. I have seen children do this. Heck I have done it. But I have never seen a dog try it. Just too too funny.

Until next time..........

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too.

PS. I can never thank you all enough for the warm and caring comments. For the cyber hugs and sympathy. For your friendship and love. Know that each and every comment help ease my heartache and sorrow. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.