Yee Haw!

 Well, it's the last day before our Thanksgiving break and I am having a hard time concentrating at work.  I'm just ready for a nice 4 days off and to eat good food and to decorate!  I may start decorating my office today, at least put the little Yule tree up!  

I saw something about people in North Carolina running ICE agents into the woods because they are tired of the bully gestapo coming in and harassing and abusing American citizens due to the color of their skin.  It's wild this is happening in the US... anyway, someone said they couldn't think of anything more "Yee haw, fuck the law!" and I love that phrase, so I made a cross stitch pattern and stitched it up yesterday.  

I'm quite happy with it and I think it will definitely get a frame and be displayed somewhere!  I have those Command velcro strips I can use to hang things on the wall without damage, so I think I may use those to hang up some of my pieces in my office.  I don't want to cover the walls again, because the walls in here are so nice and it's a small room and I don't want it to feel cramped, but I'll put a few up anyway.  

I Survived- Again!

So apparently, there was another rapture that was supposed to happen last week.  They are always going on about "The Rapture" and then nothing happens. Not that I'm complaining, it's just funny.

I did this to commemorate the occasion and finished it last night.  Pattern by Subversive Cross Stitch.

Happy October!

Well Happy October!!  The move was... rough.  The movers were AMAZING, but there was just a lot of other bullshit to deal with.  If I get into it, this will be a mini-novel so...

But, we are here, and we are settled! We have done a ton of things around town, and found all the good food!  Also, we are not live-out-of-boxes people and we are not procrastinators, so we are mostly unpacked (well, the boxes we are going to unpack for now anyway) except a few personal boxes here and there.  The essentials are unpacked and settled.  I have a few boxes in my office and in my office closet, and we actually do have a ton in the basement but they are out of sight or on shelves until we can get to them,  and we will keep them there until we figure out what to do with the contents.  

One thing that's a bit of a bummer... most of the walls, you can't get a tack or even a nail into.  We had to get a concrete drill to drill holes for screws for hanging pictures, so I will not be able to put all of my stitches up like I had at the last house.  In a way.. I'm not too mad about it because we did have A LOT.  It was a much bigger house, too, almost twice as big as we have now, and I think maybe having the walls covered would make it look cluttered.  Right now, we have big art on the walls, and it looks great.  Nice and clean, and not overwhelming.  So I'm okay with it and one day, I may find a place I want to hang some of my pieces.  for now, they are in boxes or in my art portfolio (Which is just about full!).  I MAY be able to hang a bunch in the bathroom but it has the CUTEST crane wallpaper on one wall, and I don't want to cover it, and the rest of the walls have some sort of covering that makes it look like brick.  I tried to get a tack in... nope.  Oh well!

I finally sat down to do a cross stitch a couple of weeks ago and between still getting settled and having downtime, I worked on it.  It took a while, only because I was also distracted by other stuff.  But with all the shit going down in this country, it sums up how I feel right now.  The pattern is another collab between Subversive Cross Stitch and Very Cross Stitching.

Die Mad About It

 Moving day is quickly approaching!  We are scheduled to load up and leave on September 2nd, which is a week and from today.  This move happened a lot faster than I had planned, and I didn't have the time I'd like to visit everyone before we go.  I did have a couple of visits planned, one with the Belladonnas and one with Amber and Sherry, former coworkers and victims of Sears.  I didn't get to have a final brunch with the Brunch Bitches of Taylor, but we did actually have several in this year, so I don't feel so bad about that.  Everyone else.. well, the road works both ways, y'all.  People who made an effort to see me, got to see me.  Those who made zero effort and wanted me to do all the work... g'bye forever!  

Maybe not forever but.. this move has shown me who really cares and who wants it to be about them all the time.  As if I didn't know but still.. ANYWAY... that's not what this blog is about.  

I finished this one last Thursday and now I have all of my stitchy things packed except for stuff for my next two projects, in case I get to work on them in the hotel while we are traveling or if I need something to do before the movers get to the house, since it's gonna take them longer than it takes us.  I would say it's the last one I did in the house I grew up in but we all know I will do more cross stitching there when I visit.  So I'll say the last one I did when I LIVED in the house I grew up in.  Why do I chronicle these sort of sad things?  I don't know...

This one is by SonOfACrossStitch.  I did alter the patten a bit because some of the colors in the original pattern weren't going to show up on this sparkly aida.  Can you see the sparkles??  I love it when they show up in a photo!  I say this all the time so it was great to find a cool pattern that said it.  I now need to find one that say "Die in a fire", because that's another Jonesey-ism.

8-13-25

 For a busy packing time, I'm getting my stitches in!  I love this one so much by The Gloomy Gremlin!  

I have three of these cozy patterns by largodargento on Etsy.  The first was a teapot I did and posted last year around this time, I think.  There is this cute pumpkin one, and then there is a squirrel one I shall work on soon!  They are the cutest and stitch up pretty quickly!

We have scheduled movers and in THREE WEEKS (oh my God), we will be on the way to Colorado!  We will be loading up on September 2nd and then we are on our way!  It's coming up so fast!  I'm really excited and really nervous.  I will be making the drive by myself because, of course, Allen and I are driving separately.  I'm afraid I'm gonna be a wreck leaving my parents.  I don't know what to expect.  Damn this anxiety!

Everything is going to be okay.  

No Kings!

I got this pattern from Subversive Cross Stitch and was amazed at how fast I was able to stitch it up!  I did this on Saturday, June 14th, which was the date of the first No Kings rally.  They had a little one in Coldspring!  I drove through and honked at them in solidarity on my way to the store.  Allen had to go to Hutto to take care of some things on the house and we are sort of taking turns now because we are sick of driving back and forth almost every weekend.  So it was his turn! 

It makes me proud that 5 million Americans across the country protested the current regime, and let a certain someone know we are not standing for a leader who is trying to act like a king.  We haven't had a king since 1776 and we're not gonna have one now.  There are more planned for the rest of the year. 

Anyway, this is a collaboration of Subversive Cross Stitch and Very Cross Stitching.  There are some patterns by Very Cross Stitching in my 2018-2019 posts.  I love them :)  

Yesterday was Father's Day and we took Dad to Huntsville to a huge antique store.  He LOVED it.  Then we went to the CAT Cafe in Huntsville and had some drinks and a snack.  Mom drove us around a little because Dad wanted to see a few of his old haunts.  We went home and then went to El Burrito, but Allen stayed at home.  But it was wonderful to spend Father's Day with my Dad and to see him enjoying the antique mall, driving around, etc.  Happy happy days!  

A little catch-up- Cross-stitch is political

 It's been a few since I posted.  I've been busy with just... life stuff.  I've still found time, however, to do some great cross stitch pieces!  These are larger than the ones I  usually do so they took me longer.  I get easily bored and distracted so I usually stick to smaller pieces, and if I do a bigger one, I take time in between with smaller ones.

It's not that these were super stitch heavy or anything but a couple were like physically larger than what I usually do.  I had been eyeballing this for a while and I finally pulled the trigger, purchased it and completed it.  The pattern is by CeresAndSun on Etsy.  

Another one by CeresAndSun, and a bit smaller.  It's something I live by and I love a good blasphemous stitching project.

It's been nicer outside lately, and so I have been cross stitching on the patio as well.  I love cross stitching outside.  I love being outside when it's not stupid hot (it's almost always stupid hot in Texas).  I've been spending a lot of time on the patio and though I would bring my stitching along.  

And here is the finished project from that patio pic.  It's a quote by Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.  She should be our president but... oh well.  A Republican interrupted her during a meeting and made a disrespectful comment to her.  He continued to shout over her, and another one shouted at her, and over her, and asked her to yield, she responded "I will not yield to disrespectful men".  A role model for all women!  Pattern by WyldXStitch on Etsy.

Handfastings and Stitches

It's May!  Cinco de Mayo to be exact!  I officiated my first handfasting on May 1st which was really fun. I had some time off last week, of course, around that and got to see my friends who live in Taylor, Texas.  We had good food, lots of drinks, and lots of fun.  I got to love on some kitties and dogs.  Some last minute things for the handfasting were discovered that needed to be done, like very last minute, and when I say some, I mean a lot but... I remained so calm that I surprised myself!  I think of everyone, I was the least stressed, and I was officiating the wedding so I would have expected to be freaking out, but I just remembered, "Your job is to officiate.  That's all."  My parents came out for the ceremony too!  It was just amazing.  I hung out with them during the reception because I was just exhausted and they are not exhausting to be around lol.  

This is the lovely couple- my dear friend Anja and her soulmate John.  They are such couple goals!  The ceremony was at Old Taylor High- they turned the old high school out there into local shops and eateries, and there are a couple of cool bars too.  They decided to have it there because their first meeting was at one of the bars there.  They are the cutest and I was honored to be able to do the ceremony.    

All that preparation didn't really put me behind on my stitching, however!  I finally framed this up for my mom and it's hanging in her livingroom.  Pattern by The Gloomy Gremlin.

I also did this one by Black Waltz Stitching.  I love her patterns and I have hoarded many.  I really messed this one up in a couple of places.  I have learned to abide by the 3-feet rule- if it's hanging on the wall and people don't notice it from three feet away, leave the mistake.  It saves a lot of stress and frustration.  

Feeling Good AF!

Happy Thursday!  I finished my Subversive Cross Stitch piece, using the workstand I reviewed.  Right now, I AM feeling good af!  The weather is nice, and I'm finally out of that funk I got in during November of last year.  Things are looking hopeful for getting the house on the market soon, and that's a huge hurdle!  

I finished this cutie by WildOlive.  

My friend Rebecca runs a Victorian B&B in Golden, CO and has asked me to create a cross stitch piece that says "Do No Sit" because she has some antique furniture in there that is not supposed to be sat upon, but people keep sitting on it.  She's gonna add it to a pillow.   The B&B is called Pansy's Parlor and if you are ever in Golden and need a place to stay, THIS IS IT.  It's gorgeous and she is such a great host.  She makes the best breakfast and knows everything about Golden!

Enjoy the bad stuff you wished on others!

 I am not gonna get super political, but I am seeing a lot of people who voted a certain way, against their best interests because they thought bad things would happen to the people they don't like, but it's happening to them... and they sold us all out because they wanted bad things to happen to marginalized people, and didn't think it would ever happen to them... but it is.  And I take evil delicious joy in this. 

For them, I have one thing to say...

Pattern is by Happy Sloth Patterns on Etsy.

April Stitchin Fool

My cross stitch productivity has been pretty good so far this April!  

I fucked around and found out how cute this pattern is by  MisanthropicStitch.

I finished this one I've been wanting to do from SonOfACrossStitch on Etsy.  I love offensive Scottish phrases. 

I framed up my sweet little bathroom stitch, and will be hanging it up later today.  

This morning was nice and cool- 44 degrees!  I love cold weather and I cannot wait to be cold in Colorado!  I got an email about a new limited edition Pez dispensers.  It's ugly as hell, just a clear glitter egg but I still have to have it. ALSO Rebecca sent me a vintage fireman pez dispenser!  AMAZING!  I didn't have it and she was thrilled to finally find one I don't have.  

This weekend, we are returning to Hutto to do a few more things.  Ughhh when will it end?  I'm going to meet some friends for brunch- Amber and Sherry.  They are old coworkers from Sears and I love hanging out with them.  They want to go to this place I hate called Whiskey Cake.  Amber obsessed with that place for some reason.  It's way too expensive, there is hardly anything I can eat there... so I have no idea why she wants to go.  They do have avocado toast there, though, so I guess that's what I'll be having!  It will be great seeing them anyway.  

OH!  And it's Rex Manning Day!

I Must Stitch!

It's already April!  Time has really flown this  year.  I've been doing a little better mentally, and have actually been cleaning up the patio so I can spend more time out there now that it's warming up.  I love Springtime!  

This past weekend, I got to spend with my sister from another mister.  Her name is Adrianne but everyone calls her Anan.  I went to pick her up in Huntsville and we hung out with my parents all day on Saturday up into the night, just talking!  My dad built a fire and we sat around it for a few but it made me sleeeeeeepies so we went back home and Anan stayed the night at Mom and Dad's.  I took her back to Huntsville on Sunday and then we spent Sunday doing adulting- grocery shopping, laundry, etc.  It rained this weekend, which was nice.  I just love rainy weather and there isn't much like a nice spring rainstorm in the woods!  

I saw this pattern on Instagram, and knew I had to do it.  It's so cute, and so true- stitching makes the horrors go away temporarily.  The pattern is by Beetleandthreads on Etsy.

And just look at this herb harvest!!  They are so happy out here.  

Val Kilmer and my Uncle Leon died last night. My dad’s cousin Lori’s birthday was also yesterday so that means her dad died on her birthday which is terrible. :( I always loved Uncle Leon when I was a little kid. He was fun. As I got older, I didn’t see him as much but I always thought it was cool how much he and Grandad looked alike. I think Uncle Leon was just a little older than Grandad, maybe a year or two. Granny dated him before she got with Grandad. He was in pretty bad shape. :(  

When I went out to have coffee with Mom and Dad this morning, every single cow was out there, and they were ALL laying down. It was so weird, I have never, ever seen all the cows laying down. Some were just relaxing and others you could tell were OUT, because their heads were on the ground. The tiny baby one was snuggled up to his mommy. He is the cutest little guy and I wish I could go pet him and give him love. He is timid, though. They are not petting cows. Ah well...

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.  

TOmorrow, I'm supposed to go get Anan and then go to the Polk County Pagan Market.  One of those things will probably not happen... guess which one.  

That's all for now!

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

I started watching I Love the 90s, the VH1 series they made in the early 2000s. It’s okay. A lot of it is making fun of the 90s, or making jokes about stuff. They’re stupid jokes but also kind of funny. I really want to watch more of The Dark Side of the 90s, but that’s more for the weekends, I think, when we can binge a few episodes.

I’m kind of missing my Austin area peeps. It was nice to be able to hang out with witchy friends or just go to dinner with friends. Out here I don’t really have that. It’s not making me sad or anything, because I’m not a super social person, but it’s something I really do miss. When we have more Fridays free, I’ll probably go with my parents to Karaoke more often so that will let me get out more. There aren’t a lot of places for us to go that are vegan out here, so Allen and I don’t really go out much, and again, it’s okay, but I am missing having that to do now and then. Allen wants to dress up and go out soon but I don’t really know where we can go. Maybe we can do that on a Saturday night and find a place in Houston.  We shall see!

 

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!  

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, I'm taking some time off next week after we get the painters scheduled.  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!!

I am super proud of myself- I got all my health stuff scheduled today! Dentist later this month, mammogram in April on a day I already took off, and then doctor in June. I'm glad I got that all taken care of because I didn't want to keep putting it off and then eventually wait too late.

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.

The Rest of February's Stitches

I have been cross stitching like crazy, and also distracting myself with other things.  I've been hanging out with my parents a lot and then every damned weekend, we have been going back to Hutto (3 hours there and back driving) for something or another.  UGH.  I will be glad when we don't have to spend the weekends out there and can chill and have free weekends!

I love the show Ozark, and like most people, Ruthie Langmore is my favorite character.  She is so cute and fiesty and damn, the potty mouth on her... I love it because I also have a potty mouth.  I got this pattern on Etsy from Shirleysstitcheryco.  I like the weird designs on the top and bottom.  I stitched it on some horrible fabric that I will never buy again and I actually threw the rest away.  It's some aida from Amazon (probably a bad idea but in the middle of nowhere, there aren't a lot of options), and it's almost like a plastic canvas, but it's not.  It's horrible to stitch on. 

I memorialized my love for Judge Judy.  I have watched Judge Judy since she started in the 90s and now I watch her channel on Pluto all the time if I just need something in the background.  Judge Judy on demand... living on this timeline does have its teeny tiny privileges I guess.  Pattern partially by BusyNothingStitchery and by Me.  

I started a "Stitch a Day" project and I fully intend to do a tiny pattern every day.  We'll see how that goes.  This is my progress so far.  

So.. see ya in March!

Does anyone know...?

Living in the woods has been so nice so far. It's quiet.  I see my parents every day almost.  It smells lovely.  And it's absolutely BEAUTIFUL out here.  It's very conducive to crafting.  It's really cozy and being cozy is my goal in life.  

This is how I have been feeling since November 5th, 2024, but ESPECIALLY since January 21st, 2025.  Like.. .WHAT THE FUCK is going on???  Is this real life?  Are these things really happening?  Did people really say these terrible things?  Are they really trying to do other horrible things?  Are people actually believing what is being said?  Did Elon Musk really do a nazi salute at the inauguration (yes he did, I saw it unfolding on national TV) and people are defending it???  LIKE WHAT IN THE GODDAMNED ACTUAL FUCK????  I created this pattern myself  and I dyed the fabric as well :)  Well, kind of.  The flowers are from another pattern I have and the alphabet is one I purchased a while back and I don't remember who created either of them.  I just put them together.

And now, I have to....

This pattern is from Alexsitchinstuff on Etsy.  Aida dyed by me!

That's What She Said

 Well!  It's been a minute but we are moved in and somewhat settled.  I think that it'll take a little while to get everything situated how we want.  But we already moved our great big TV in, of course we have our offices set up, and I have my craft stuff out, so we are set!

It's finally feeling like winter in Texas, and it's been so cozy stitching in front of the TV.  Here  is the first piece I've finished out here!  The pattern is by Jennyslittleartshop on Etsy.  

I have a feeling I will be getting A LOT of cross stitching done out here in the middle of the woods...

Happy New Year!

 I'm back at work after my holiday break.  Happy New Year!  

This year, we didn't really do much for New Year's, because we are packing our final things to move to Coldspring.  This decision has been extremely difficult for me.  I am deeply connected to our home in Hutto.  I have put so much magic and energy into this space and I feel very attached.  I have cried almost daily having to say goodbye, and honestly, sometimes I doubt our decision to do this.  But on the other hand, we feel like a move to a state that isn't so.... REPUBLICAN... is a good move.  I think we will be happy.  And we will also have seasons!  I am sick to death of wearing shorts in December!

Anyway, here are my final stitches of 2024!

I found this pattern ages ago, I think on the now defunct Feeling Stitchy blog.  My dear friend Haylan has a book of people's art she's collected over the years.  I did a horrible self-portrait in it almost 20 years ago, and she asked me to do another page, so I stitched this up and added it!!  She absolutely loved it.

I am a huge Smiths fan and the end of last year was rough for me.  I stitched this one up in hopes of good times... for a change.  I got this pattern from Follow the White Bunny.

I am a huge fan of The Office, and I really need more cross stitch pieces from that show.  

I love this one by ShirleyStitcheryCo.

And finally, this one.  I had no plans for it, and my friend Cristina asked me how much I'd sell it for.  Well, I normally wouldn't sell it and I'd have just sent it, but since we're moving... I gave her a good price and this is her picture of it after she got it. 

Here's to a happy and prosperous 2025!