Probably...

I don't have a lot to say about this one, but I thought it was cute.  Patten is by BananyaStand on Etsy.

It WILL be fine once I can jump into this...

It's still a little cool for swimming, but this is my parents' pool.  They have had a pool (This one is newer, because you have to replace above-grounds every few years) for the past 9 years or so, and it's always so nice to float in there with them, chat, and have a couple of drinks.  I can't wait for pool days this year!  It's one of the things I was really looking forward to when we figured out we were moving here temporarily.  My dad built the deck around it and so there are places to sit and my mom likes to lay out in the sun so she has some lounge chairs she's going to put there.  She's also gonna put an umbrella up so there is more shade.  They really know how to elevate the above-ground pool.  

That's all for now!

True Crime Junkie

 After my Stay Joyful pattern, I was at a loss at which pattern to start next.  I started one and decided I didn't wanna, so I'm not gonna for now.  So I put it aside and looked through the hoard I have and found this one by LevelThreaded on Etsy.  I am a True Crime junkie.  I call it "Murder Porn", which probably isn't the best way to refer to it, but oh well.  

I have always been interested in true crime, even before it became huge with the ID channel and podcasts.  I read true crime books like crazy an amassed quite a collection of anthologies about true crime.  I do not have the library I used to have (the ex kept it, and it was worth it to get rid of him), but I can now watch it whenever I want to on streaming platforms and I have a few podcasts I love to listen to, but my favorite thing is to watch it while cross stitching.  So this was perfect!  I actually finished it on my lunch break today.

Here for a Meh Time for sure...

Well, painting is done!   I've been busy busy!  

Last Thursday, I left work early and headed to Hutto.  I stopped for some Tex-Mex in New Waverly (it was alright, not the BEST but not horrible), and got to Hutto around 8:15 or so.  I listened to They Might Be Giants almost the whole way.  I have not listened to them in almost 20 years, and I don't know why!!  They are so amazing.  I made a playlist so I can listen to them more often. 

When I got to Hutto, I went into the house and moved stuff out of the way of the painters and then just chilled in the hotel room afterwards.  

Friday, I got up and let the painters in to the house, and then I went to Kohl's, then Target where I found a cute black and white striped sweater. It's almost too hot to wear right now, but I'll need it in CO!  Did some craft shopping and then went to the Outlet mall because I need some more walking shoes.  I found a great pair!  I am proud that I was good and didn't spend a ton of money!  Wanting to save for moving and not wanting to have to pack a ton of crap to move also helps with me not buying crap.  I did find a Shaun of the Dead Funko Pop and YOINK!  He is mine!  I bought a book called Obitchuary that's about funny death facts.  Can't wait to start it! I came back to the room, took a nap, and finished this piece by The Gloomy Gremlin! 

I went back out to the house after and locked up after the painters left.  They did an amazing job.   I love our home so much.  I cried like a baby.  It's so beautiful and hard to say goodbye.  I went out into the back  yard, to see my beautiful lavender bushes that are thriving, and to sit on my patio furniture.  My dad and Allen built this patio for us almost 3 years ago and now I have to say goodbye.  They worked so hard on it... it makes me so sad.  I put so much love and magic into that home, and now I have to leave.  It's gutting.  I'm about to start crying so I'd better move on...

After marveling at how amazing the house looks, I went back to the hotel and watched a bunch of TV, ate some pizza and was a fat slob in the bed all night.  I had to let the painters in again Saturday to finish up.  I went up to Lakeline Mall and they were having some big market thing.  I got a Picard Funko for Allen.  I went up to Leander for a bit to visit friends, then went back to the house to lock up after the painters.  They finished up and it looked beautiful.  I will REALLY miss this place. 

On the way home, I met my friend Anja in Taylor to go over some wedding stuff, since I'm officiating her wedding.  Then I went went home!  I got home around 8 and then on Sunday, I spent some time with my parents.  My mom LOVED the "Here for a Meh Time", cross stitch and wanted to know if I could do one for her in the same colors.  So I'm gonna frame this one up for her and she can have it!  I was just gonna put it in a portfolio anyway.  It really meant a lot to me that she liked it so much.

That's about all for now, I think!  

Stay Fucking Joyful

Things in our country are rough.  There is so much arguing and hate being slung around.  I have been really good about ignoring it and not watching the news, despite one of my friends who is constantly sending me links and inundating my messages with YouTube videos of people spouting opinions like they're facts and news.  "They're canceling elections!"  shit like that... makes it hard to protect one's peace and find the joy in everyday life.  

Julie Jackson over there at Subversive Cross Stitch releases patterns sometimes that feel like they are directed straight at me.  I know that's not the case- we don't know each other!  But I saw this one and found lots of joy stitching it up!

It can be hard to stay joyful, but we have to try.  xo

 

The Witchy Stitcher Cryptid Stitch-Along: The Kraken

 I finished another one from The Witchy Stitcher's Cryptid Stitch-along.  These little guys stitch up so fast!

I think most are familiar with The Kraken. My favorite rum is named after The Kraken…it is a colossal legendary sea monster said to dwell off the coasts of Norway and Greenland.  Sightings date back to the 12^th century.  Thought to be the scariest, most feared sea beast ever to inhabit our planet’s waters, the Kraken was said to be more than 100 feet long and weighed 4000 lbs. Tales of these creatures describe them as being giant cephalopods (like octopi) having giant tentacles that would envelope and capsize ships.  As the ships would sink to their demise, the beast was said to eat those on board or let them drown in the ship’s wake.  Studies by various sources deem it possible that the Kraken could have been early sightings of a colossal squid. - The Witchy Stitcher, Cryptid Wiki, The Conversation

How cute is this guy??

Love Potion

I have had this pattern for a while.  It's by Haunted Frames.  I don't know why I was so intimidated by it, and then I started stitching it up and it's not really hard... I just kept messing it up.  I think the outline for some reason was tripping me up and I still think I may have messed it up.  The lighter pink thread that I have must be old or just not a very good quality (although it is DMC and I never have issues with their thread), because it kept snagging and fraying.  I finally finished this one, though.  It's on glittery aida, but I don't think it really picked up the sparkle in the picture.  

I bought this blue aida years ago and have barely used it.  I love the color but didn't really know what I wanted to use it for.  Then I was inspired.  I love this color combo.  The pattern is by CryBabyCrossStitch on Etsy.  I LOVE LOVE her patterns and have several in my dragon hoard of cross stitch patterns.

Right now, I don't have anywhere to put my finished pieces.  I thought about framing them all and putting them in some boxes.  I also thought about photographing them all.  Then I thought... I have all of these unfinished pieces I need to do something with and many of them will not fit into a frame.  Then it dawned on me... I need to get an art portfolio and that way I can put these in and they will be safe until I can frame them!  I just need to find one I like... 

Poop and Painting

Well, it's March.  This year has gone by kind of fast in spite of the horrors!  

I have been pretty good about keeping up on my Stitch-A-Day project.  I did something to my wrist and it hurt to stitch for about a week and so I had to to some mad catching up.  

I made one of these long ago for the bathroom at our house in Hutto, but I really like this simpler design, so I stitched it up for the bathroom here in Coldspring.  When I leave, it shall be my gift to the house!  This pattern is from EmbroideryByZeze on Etsy.

We are finally all moved out and we cleaned the house and painted the first coat on the walls.  It looks HORRIBLE... so we thought maybe another coat of primer and then paint.  Allen put some more primer on, and then we went to paint over that... it still looks like shit.  UGH.  Frustrated, we decided to get an estimate on house painters and we are going forward with that.  One of us will have to be there to let them in, but that's okay.  I feel like we have already sunk so much money into this move, and we wasted time and paint and money but... what else are we gonna do??  So that really lifted some stress off of me and Allen.

So, next week, I'm taking some time off and I'll go to Hutto, spend some time with friends, and then let the painters in and lock up after they're gone.  Then I can do some other stuff out there that needs to be done and come home Saturday.  I'm looking forward to hotel time and time with friends!!

We Will Serve The Lord of the Rings

 Monday Monday...

I started working on this a couple of weeks ago, I think, but my wrist started hurting randomly and it hurt to cross stitch anything so I had to take a break and let me tell you how I was Jonesin' for doing something crafty... so I did diamond painting for a little while.  It didn't bother my wrist as much.  

But I got back on it and finished this lovely this past weekend!  I can't wait to frame this and put it in our new house when we get one!  Pattern is from TinyCatPatterns on Etsy.