Welcome back JH 9-11

I decided to bring out JH 9-11, so I can finish the section across.  I had to go back to the original silk conversion for the yellow used in the cross and other places.  JH calls for DMC 833 (brass) to be used, but I have used Viki's HDF coversion for it instead of the goldish color from my original Gumnuts Silks.  The goldish yellow just didn't show well at all.  I am very pleased how HDF worked out. 

 

I just got the silks and fabric for my "Monticello" sampler, but that is further down the road,  I chose Lakeside Linens Vintage Luna 40ct.  I'm getting use to Lakeside Linen, my Ricamo days are gone. 

I'm almost finished with "The Kings Speech", I have been really bad lately only listening to about hr or hr and half.  I have back watching old movies again.  TCM has had two premiers lately and so TV is being viewed more than stitching.    We also watch PBS.  Mainly Season 2 of Downton Abbey, which is alright, but has been a real disappointment.  There doesn't seem to be much meat on it.   Things are sort of glossed over, new characters are introduced without much depth or dimension, unless they are just a nasty piece of work like "Mrs Bates".  As with the first one, the one that stands out is "Dame Maggie Smith".  The other problem is they have chopped it up too much, since we  are only getting it in hour intervals except the first episode and the last.  It concerns me that PBS is not managed well, that they have decided to just spend oodles in these dramas in hopes to get members, yet they still crying foul if congress threatens to cut their money.  Even here in DC, we get 3 local PBS stations they are all crying for money, all the money.  I get emails, mail and so on constantly.  Oh one more thing about programing, they always show repeats, no new American Experience the one thing that really interests me on PBS.   How are you stations doing? do you get bombarded as well?  perhaps I'm to picky.  But I like I'm sure some of you remember when PBS started, and how things have changed. 

If your interested in Classic Movies, TCM will be starting its 31 days of Oscars.  This year they grouping things by places, Europe, England, Spain and US, Midwest and so forth.  So it looks interesting. 

I leave with Sasha and Lucy, the sisters that either like each other one minute or are killing each other the next....

Back to some normal.

We had nice visit with Daniel, it is always so strange when he leaves.  However the cats like it when he's gone.  Max just growled at him every time he saw him, Rhory lived in the closet, but he came out to eat (since he can get to the laundry room without going through main family rooms).  But all has returned to normal. 

Here's No 1 son Sunday before his dad took him to National Airport.  You can't see it  but we had a little snow Friday nite to Saturday, so he took some pictures to show the kids.  What the snow did was usher in was the damp cold.  We went out Saturday, Dan and I went to Fredericksburg so he could pick some things up and then we went over to the other side of Fredericksburg (the commercial side) to a place called "Central Park".  Its has all the box and chained stores, and more recently and Expo Center.  Paul went to the Expo Center to a "Train Show".  So we met up with him and then went to lunch at Crackle Barrel.  So a fun day but a cold day. 

However after either being out in the cold or around Paul, my cold came back again on Sunday and Monday I was miserable.  The nose running, the malaise, the cough and still so short of breath.   Well Tuesday was doctor appt day for me.  I had made an appt for my knee and to look at the other knee (which is now affected), when we thought Paul would be off recouping from the surgery that didn't happen.  I also made an appt on line with my PCP when I first was affected with the nasal cold, to be seen after the Ortho appt.  So Paul was off and we went.  The news on the knees aren't good.  She had new xray's taken.  The osteoarthritis is worth in the right knee.  The left not so bad.  (I have had no cartledge in my knees since I was 12), My ortho at that time said this would happen and he wanted to surgery then, but my mother did not want to scar my knee. So I gave up all PE Classes, continuing my summer internships at Julliard, and other activities. But perhaps it will happen now, since she recommended that have a knee replacement surgery done.  But so much is involved in hospitalization and post care, not to mention that it would be done more than an hour away from where we live.  My ortho says I can continue with cortisone shots and some pain control, but if the shot is only lasting 2 months and she can only give it to me every 4 months then she wants me to consider it for movement and less pain in the right knee.  So I'm researching and I will make appt to talk to ortho surgeon to see if we can manage the logistics of this, and if it is something I want to do. 

But on too more pleasant things. Last night and believe it or not while Dan was here I did some stitching, here's the update on "Happy Christmas"

The green's are actually different, one is darker than the other but I don't think it's coming up well.  An can you believe it I actually ironed it.

I'm up to Chapter 11, on the listening to the "King's Speech".  When finished with this one, I plan on listening to "The Help".  While Dan was here, I had him watch it, he loved it.  We both hope that the three nominated "Jessica Chastin, Olivia Spencer, and Viola Davis", win!


I leave you with Max, who is just hanging around...

Time away

Paul's surgery got cancelled, he has bronchitis.  This wonderful cold that two weeks ago that he gave to me, laid me away for one weekend, then got better last Tuesday has come back to bite him.  He started sounding congested by last Wednesday and by Friday, when he had his pre op it was decided not to go ahead with the surgery (we pretty much had reached that decision before he went).  But what to do about Daniel.  Well Daniel decided to come up, rather than waste the plane ticket.  So I have spent the better part of this week getting ready for his visit.  I had some surprises for him, such as the "Prohibition, by Ken Burns" and some others that I did.  We have a DVR, so I usually record the American Experience and other things for him.  Also I got one late Christmas present for him "The War" by Ken Burns, the book.   Also, I have been getting some genealogy things lined up for him to go over and pictures.  I have been working on our two lines and cataloging some pictures.

But even with all this, I have gotten some stitching done, just don't have the time to iron it and take a picture  But I promise I will once "the prince" has left and has gone back to Florida.   

Its nice to have him here, tomorrow we are planning to do the genealogy work and he will take me shopping and to lunch.  Saturday there is a train show here in Fredericksburg, so Paul is glad that he can go now (if he had had the surgery he wouldn't of been able too) but now he can, and Dan and I are going to do our own looking around down in Fredericksburg and will meet him for lunch.  Sunday breakfast and Dan leaves to go back to Florida, sad.  He brought me some pictures of Gabriel which was a nice surprise. 

Oh and on the surgery front, Daniel's business slows a bit end of March and April when the snowbirds leave to go back North. So that's the time frame we are working on. So we get to see him again, in the not so distant future.

The Start of a New Years Start!

Well we are 10 days into the New Year and I have done a litle work on "Happy Christmas", as you can see here.  I have changed the threads to my favorite Gumnuts, and I'm using Lakeside Linen "Vintage Luna"

It seems like I haven't done very much in 10 days, but unfortunately I have been out of commission with a horrendous cold thanks to my husband.  He's doing much better, which is important since he getting surgery in another week.  But I can't seem shake this thing, it got me down and in bed for 3 days, but I'm finally getting up and around.  I know I should go back to Houtman's 9-11 but I can't seem to put this down the few hours a day that I get to stitch. 

While stitching, I have been listening to "The Kings Speech" and rewatching the 1979 version of  John LeCarre's "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.  I really don't know how they can improve on this version, but we'll see.  I do like the actors they have chosen for the 2011 version. 

I will leave you now with "Lucy" who likes to help with the wash....

Good bye Michelle, you fought the good fight!

I didn't agree with her politics, but I she is one strong little lady!  She had alot guts and enormous strength of conviction.  She is an example to any woman who wants to run or take center stage in politics, she ran like a lady and remember that, unlike some who take on man characteristics... Here's to you Michele!