jane's jots

2009-01-19T12:41:00.002-05:00

Well, things are definitely better around here. I have heard from Jeni and they are settled in their new home and everyone is fine. Momma is doing okay, I have a great lady who is staying with her while I am at school and that is going very well. She and Momma like each other very much, so that is good.

Today I am determined to do some stitching. For Christmas I was making an afghan with a Gamecock on it for my son. It pretty much fell by the wayside when Momma got hurt. I have finished knitting it but I still have to put the Gamecock on it. The truth is I still have to chart the Gamecock, and THEN put it on the afghan.
I have started a baby afghan for a friend who is pregnant. I'll definitely post a picture. It is a design I have done before, but I am using smaller needles and I love the look, very lacy.

And I am itching to x-stitch. So these are all good signs that I am perking up.

I have enjoyed watching the inauguration festivities on TV and especially enjoyed the concert yesterday. What a wonderful variety of music and musicians and readings.

I have a friend who was there and called me during the program while one of the choirs was singing. That was pretty cool.

So, hope everyone is having a good holiday today. I am hoping for snow so we can stay home again tomorrow.
Jane

Happy New Year!

2009-01-12T19:49:00.003-05:00

2009 - it's hard to believe isn't it - I will be 59 on my birthday! WOW!

So, my DD and her family left the country Saturday and will be gone for at least four years. I cannot describe how difficult it was to say goodbye to that baby knowing that it will be so long before I see her again. And, of course, Jeni.
Hopefully I will be able to fly to where she vacations in the summer of 2010. Anyway, that is my plan.

My 91 yr old mother fell on Dec 3 and broke her hip. She had surgery, of course, and was in the hospital and then a rehab center for all of Dec. She is home now, but during all of the testing etc. they discovered a malignancy. [Apparently this has been there for a while.] Because of her age, and the results of the tests, they are not going to do further testing. The doctor said the goal would be to keep her comfortable 'for the next few months'.

I got that news on Friday and Jeni left on Saturday. NOT a good weekend.
I'm pretty okay...I have lots of friends, a strong support group. Please keep us in your prayers. I especially ask for prayers that Momma will not suffer and that I will be strong.

Jane

Thanksgiving Week...amazing!

2008-11-30T22:12:00.002-05:00

Hope everyone has had a restful and happy holiday.

I have had a perfectly marvelous week!
Monday I had dinner with a former student, who graduated in '97, and she informed me that she was taking me to see Mannheim Steamroller for my Christmas present. How cool is that!! [I LOVE Mannheim Steamroller, second only to Barry Manilow]

Then Tuesday, another former student ['94] came to school and brought lunch and visited for a while.

Wednesday I stayed in my PJ's ALL DAY!

Thursday, Thanksgiving, Momma and I went to a friend's for dinner. The food was great and the best thing about it was that it was all cooked by someone else!

Friday I had lunch with another former student ['95]. He now lives in LA and is a TV producer. It was exciting to see him and hear about all of his experiences.

Saturday was Mannheim Steamroller and today was the Boston Pops Concert. The director of the Boston Pops, Keith Lockhart, graduated from Furman University here in Greenville. This is the second time he has started their holiday tour at Furman.
It was wonderful!

So, even though I didn't get to see either of my children, or my precious grand baby, for Thanksgiving - my week was filled with lots of other people that I love and some wonderful music.

DD has been great about posting pics of EB on her blog and a couple of videos. That has helped but I can't wait to see her. Since I have seen her she is sitting up and crawling and pulling up and walking along the couch and eating some regular food. She is growing up so fast. I just hope she still knows me.

DS is coming home for Christmas and I haven't seen him since last Christmas. It's the longest I've ever gone without seeing him. I miss him so much. We talk on the phone about every other day, he is so sweet to call because he knows how much I miss him.

I have discovered Face Book. It is amazing and I have gotten back in touch with people I haven't seen in years...from high school, and college, and former students. Someone started a group of EHS Concert Choir Alumni and there are over 300 in it. It has been fun seeing their children and learning about what they are doing and getting together with some of them. If you haven't tried it, you should, it's not just for kids anymore. There is even a group of EHS teachers, past and present.
It's so much fun, but can be as addicting as blogging and reading blogs.

The Winter Concert is a week from Monday. [You know, I am a high school Choral Director] So next week will be full of extra rehearsals, from 7 in the morning until late afternoon. I think it will be pretty good, lots of choreography...one guy is going to dress like Elvis and sing Blue Christmas and another guy is going to be a Disco Dancing Santa Claus...plus old favorites. I'm excited about it and I think the kids are too.

So, while I am singing and dancing the week away, and getting ready for the concert, I hope all of you have a wonderful week.

Hello Again

2008-11-26T19:32:00.002-05:00

I am amazed to see that it had been three months since I have blogged. I just haven't been on the computer very much adn I must admit that I have been on facebook.
Through facebook I am back in touch with students from 20 years ago, it's great!

I have been knitting an afghan for my son. He has said for years that he wanted me to make an afghan with a gamecock on it. I could never find a pattern, so I decided to just design it myself. I am knitting the main part in garnet, with a 3 inch black border done in a basketweave stitch. I found a picture of a gamecock on google and, using an overhead projector, drew it on paper on the wall. I still have to draw blocks on it and then I am going to put it on the afghan with an 'over stitch'. I don't know what it is called, and I have never done it, but I've seen others do it. I have been coming home every day and knitting madly, trying to finish it for Christmas.

Daughter and baby have been in Richmond since September. I will see them on Dec 16. I can't wait to see EB, she has learned to do lots of things since I saw her.

School is still wonderful. My classes are great, and Concert CHoir is amazing! We had our first concert Nov. 8. Our winter concert is Dec 8th. I am as happy this year as I was miserable last year.

Though I haven't been writing, I have been reading your blogs. No one probably even comes by here anymore. But I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

School is Good!

2008-08-20T20:35:00.002-04:00

Today was the second day of school. My classes are great! The guidance counselors worked really hard to get my kids into the chorus classes, so it turned out not to be so bad. I only lost four. Concert Choir has 31 girls and 30 guys. That is almost unheard of in high school choral music - I am so excited! They sound wonderful! And my Chorus I has 47! and 20 of them are guys!!
It looks like this year is going to be as good as last year was bad!

Back to School

2008-08-14T21:28:00.002-04:00

Well, today was my second day back at school and the day that all the kids came for their schedules and books and parking passes etc. etc. I have to say that I had a wonderful time because everyone I saw - parents, teachers, students, even boys - noticed how different I looked. The hair , the make-up, the skin, and most of all the 26 missing pounds. It was so encouraging and did wonders for my self-esteem.

The bad thing was that our new schedule is the most convoluted thing I have ever seen. In 21 years, I have never lost more than 3 students to schedule conflicts. This year I have lost over 30, THAT I KNOW OF. I have no idea of the number in concert choir and the balance. Oh well, I'll just have to live with it and make the best of it.

I am missing reading, which I did so much of this summer. I shall head to bed and read a little.

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Goodbye to One Great Summer

2008-08-09T17:38:00.004-04:00

I received the funniest e-mail today from one of my friends who reads my blog. She said she feels like she has to check it regularly during the day, because posts keep changing and even disappearing. She thought she was losing her mind. I laughed and laughed, because I really do that, but I didn't think anyone would even notice. So, let me reassure you, things really do disappear around here, it isn't your imagination.

I start back to work next Wednesday. Well, actually Monday, because I have an officers meeting on Monday to lay out plans for the year and decide who will be in charge of what. Also to get the room set up. They moved EVERYTHING to wax the floor, and just left it in a pile. I personally think that is inexcusable, but then no one asked me. I am fortunate to have students and former students that will come in and help me get it done.

I have had a really wonderful summer. "The Summer of Jane" The best part was that I got to spend a lot of time with Jeni and the baby. But I also have a really good start on finally losing weight. I am rested and actually ready to go back to school. I thought I had lost my passion for teaching chorus for good and was just waiting out the last four years until retirement. But I found it again! I've been choosing music and planning the Dinner Theatre and planning a fantastic trip to NYC to sing in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Those of you who "know me", know that last year was a difficult year in so many ways. The most wonderful miracle that happened last year was the birth of my precious EB. And the pictures below speak for themselves.

I can hear her thinking "Now there are some really beautiful feet!!"
What a miracle! God is so good!

I haven't been stitching much. Have been making new tops for some flip-flops I bought that have replaceable straps. They are ribbon and with big cool buttons on them. And probably the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. It's about as close to going barefooted as you can get.

I am also making hair bows for EB and smocking. I had bought a new sewing machine, and hadn't even opened the box. I was a little intimidated by all of the computerized stuff but I am conquering it, step by step.

Still working on the baby blanket. The baby is due in October, so I am going to wait a little while to pull it back out.

So there you have it, I haven't blogged much[and actually left it on] for a while. But I have had one great summer and have enjoyed reading your blogs.

Happy Stitching - or whatever!
Jane

A Vision in White

2008-08-09T09:16:00.004-04:00

2008-07-31T22:08:00.004-04:00

Today I went to the Bernina store to buy smocking plates and patterns for clothes for EB. Of course I want to make every single one I see. [Kind of like choosing cross-stitch patterns and knitting yarns ] When Jeni was little, I smocked and appliqued clothes for her. I still have all of the dresses and EB will be able to wear them. However, I didn't start smocking until Jeni was three, so all of her little dresses, and all of my patterns, are sizes 3 thru 6. We bought several plates and a couple of patterns. The first thing I am going to make is a design of pumpkins that she can wear all fall and then I found a beautiful Christmas pattern for a dress.

I am making a quilt for EB from the left over materials from the dresses and clothes I made for Jeni when she was little. I have already cut the appliqued outfits into blocks for the quilt. I also traced her hand when she was four and embroidered it and had her write her name and embroidered that. I need to get busy on it - they could hang it on her wall or actually use it on the bed.

Happy Stitching!

Gift from Rachel

2008-07-26T17:07:00.008-04:00

I came home from Louisville to find a package from Rachel waiting for me.
I was so touched to find inside the gift pictured below. What a thoughtful gift - because I really have talked about my precious grand baby pretty much non-stop since she was born. So, nothing could have pleased me more! And the card she enclosed is also beautiful. I have never seen a card that was embroidered like that. I asked if she had made the card, but haven't heard back yet.

I struggled with the photos, I just couldn't seem to get a pic that did them justice. Too much light, or a reflection of the flash and I have no idea how to turn off the flash on the camera. At any rate, I will treasure both, and the sweet words she wrote inside.

Last week I went rather suddenly to Louisville.. I was out and about and talking to Jeni on my cellphone and she said "Why don't you come today?" That's all it took, I went home, threw together some things and headed out. [I actually didn't throw together quite enough things, because I wound up having to go buy a few tops since the three I brought with me were either soaked with drool or had a little spit-up on them. :) No complaints though, she can drool and spit-up on me all day long if she wants to!]
I helped Jeni with some packing and sorting in preparation for a yard sale, and also got to spend some wonderful time with EB. Her newest thing is sticking both legs straight up in the air, sometimes holding her feet, sometimes just looking at them.

Last weekend I went to Charlotte with my friend and her daughter to do some shopping. While her daughter shopped, Carol and I did our own shopping and I went to Sephora to see about getting some good face care products. They were having some kind of 'event' and had make-up artists there. I would up with a girl from NY who has done some Broadway shows, which was cool. She helped me with skin care products and a skin care regimen, which I have never really done. I guess at 58, it's time to start. Then she talked me into doing make-up too and I apparently have been using the wrong colors. Anyway, I didn't purchase all of the make-up but can add it gradually.

Jeni and baby are coming here Monday because Jeni's Dad is having knee surgery. So I will get to keep EB while Jeni is helping her Dad. School begins soon and I am just so blessed to have been able to spend so much time with Jeni and EB this summer.
I have to get my programs planned and music ordered before school starts, so I'll have to start going to school week after next.

So, as the Summer of Jane is winding down, I have to say this has been one of my best summers ever!

Jane

Bubbles and Wrinkles

2008-07-12T16:35:00.003-04:00

Here is a pic of Baby Blaine blowing bubbles! Isn't she a doll!

I don't have the gadget Jeni has to take away my wrinkles. [See profile pic]
So there they are in all of their glory. [I have actually named the one going up from my left eye - after the kid who drove me crazy all year!]

The Summer of Jane

2008-07-11T18:46:00.005-04:00

So....I am feeling so great! I have been eating right and have lost 21 pounds! I joined the local Bariatric Clinic and am determined to lose this weight. I won't tell you how much I want to lose, but I will tell you that my goal weight is 135.

And I went today to a real hairstylist [as opposed to cutting it myself] and got a real haircut with an actual current style. I love it!

I got new make-up and am actually taking the time to put it on.
And I am using skin products, yes skin products, and I can already see a difference around my eyes. [I have always had pretty good skin and have never done anything like moisturize or exfoliate.]

So, the summer of Jane.....I am actually going to start taking care of myself. Better late than never I guess.

AND...I cross-stitched today! It was wonderful!

What a day!
Jane

2008-07-06T22:21:00.001-04:00

Vacation

2008-07-06T17:33:00.002-04:00

I am back from five wonderful days on the Isle of Palms and Charleston, SC.
A former student of mine is a youth minister at a church on the Isle of Palms.
She was house/dog sitting in a gorgeous home in Wild Dunes and invited Jeni, EB, and me to come and stay with her. It was great being with her, and with Jeni and EB, and being in Charleston. I love Charleston! We ate some great seafood and shopped in the open-air market and saw some of the sites.

Since the only pictures I took were of Lauren the baby and Jeni, I have imported some pictures from the Internet to show you where we went. This is a view of the Isle of Palms.

We like to eat at restaurants where the locals go, rather than always the big tourist attractions. Lauren knew all the best places. We ate at this place called The Wreck of Richard and Charlene. It was well named! When we first drove up, I thought maybe we were in the wrong place and was hesitant about going in, but there were many cars there and other people going in. It actually looks better in this pic than it did in person. It is more grown-up all around it now. It was screened-in and not air conditioned, but the food was wonderful!

We ate at another place where they had buckets in the middle of the tables for oyster shells. Since we didn't have oysters, we put EB in the bucket. We did a lot of shopping. At Chico's, where they were having an amazing sale, I actually ran into two friends from Spartanburg.

We went to the open-air market at the old slave market. I got some great jewelry. Jeni was on a search for pralines and finally found some.

This is a pic of Jeni and EB at the Wreck of Richard and Charlene

This is Lauren and EB - also at the wreck.

And finally, I LOVE this pic. Jeni took away my wrinkles and I look so young!

So, a wonderful time was had by all! Amazingly enough, I didn't even touch my needlework. I had taken knitting and cross-stitch, but spent every moment I could playing with EB. I have to say, she absolutely takes precedence over any of my hobbies and pastimes. You grandmothers out there understand!!

So, my current interests are making hair bows for EB and making new ribbon straps for the flip flops I bought in Charleston. [They are made from ribbon and are attached with Velcro. I bought a ton of ribbon and shall have an entire wardrobe of flip flops. Every woman's dream! Woo hoo! ]

So.. off to make some ribbons!

Happy Stitching!
Jane .

I've Been Tagged

2008-07-05T14:27:00.004-04:00

YAY! I've been tagged by Crazy Lyda.

Rules: You must answer the questions using only one word. Then tag four others.

1. Where is your cell phone? Couch
2. Your significant other? Non-existant
3. Your hair? Dyed
4. Your mother? 90
5. Your father? Missed
6. Your favorite thing? Laughing
7. Your dream last night? None
8 Your favorite drink? DietRite
9. Your dream/goal? Thinness
10. The room you’re in? Study
11. Your hobby? Needlework
12. Your fear? Darkness
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Elsewhere
14. What you’re not? Rich
15. Muffins? Mmmmm
16. One of your wish list items? TV
17. Where you grew up? Everywhere
18. The last thing you did? Read
19. What are you wearing? Comfies
20. Favorite gadget? Cellphone
21. Your pets? None
22. Your computer? Connection
23. Your mood? Positive
24. Missing someone? Always
25. Your car? Blue
26. Something you’re not wearing? Dress
27. Favorite store? Steinmart
28. Like someone? Everyone
29. Your favorite color? Red
30. When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday
31. Last time you cried? Forgotten

So now I tag Martha, Rachel, Mindi, and Marie.
Have fun!

2008-06-21T14:04:00.000-04:00

Grandmotherhood - There's Nothing Like It!

2008-06-18T20:31:00.004-04:00

I have spent the past three days with my DD and precious G-baby. It has been wonderful! She smiles and laughs out loud and is amazing!! Today we went to the mall for a few things. Every time I go to the mall I see tons of people I know....every time! Well, wouldn't you know it - today I saw NOT ONE SOUL I knew! I was so disgusted! I wanted to show people the baby!

I had some Simon cards from my choir and from a couple of students - so I went to the Brighton store at the mall. I got some gorgeous Brighton jewelry. I love Brighton, but would never be so extravagant as to spend that much money on jewelry for myself. So, even though I'm sure that I could find more practical things that I really should use the money for, I let myself buy Brighton jewelry when they give me the Simon cards. So, now I can always remember that the 2008 choir gave me this set and my two sweet students, whom I will always remember and love, gave me the gorgeous bracelet. The pictures aren't great because the flash would reflect on the jewelry, but anyway, you can kinda see.

Tomorrow I am going to teach Jeni how to sew. Friday, we are going to Gaffney, to meet some friends who haven't met EB yet. Sunday we head to the beach.
Fun times!!

I cannot pass up posting the picture of EB!!

Happy Summer!
Jane

Summer....ahhhhh

2008-06-12T20:45:00.004-04:00

Hello again! I have really neglected my blogging. Last Friday was the last day of school, and I have done very little ever since. I did go to the grocery store one day. I have read three books and knitted about three inches on the baby blanket.

I have decided that my summer project is going to be getting rid of everything I don't need or love. I've already thrown away three hefty bags full - hard to believe I had so much just plain junk. Anyway, it's very free-ing.

My DD and grand baby are coming Monday. We are going to the beach next Sunday for several days. One of my former students lives on the Isle of Palms, SC and has invited us to come. Imagine - almost two weeks with them.

So, though my life may make for some boring blogs this summer, don't give up on me. I will post some stitching and knitting pictures, I promise.

Happy Summer!
Jane

School Is Almost Out!!!

2008-06-01T19:18:00.004-04:00

Well, two more days of classes. I have three written exams to give and grade, graduation practice and then the graduation ceremony. I am losing 27 seniors this year. Losing some outstanding voices, but some great ones coming up, so I am excited about how next year's choirs will sound. The state [SC], as of this year's freshman class, is now requiring at least one fine arts credit for graduation. This has led to a LOT of people signing up for choir for next year. So, for the first time ever, I will have a men's ensemble. Excited about that!

I have done a bit of knitting this weekend. But mainly hung out with friends and also continued my organizing/purging of my house. I LOVE throwing things away. Everything is becoming more and more organized, which is very calming. I remember a friend years ago telling me that she had finally gotten her house to the point where she had gotten rid of everything she didn't need or use anymore, and [this is the best part] she knew exactly where every single thing was. That has been my goal for a long time and I plan to reach it by the end of this summer.

The baby blanket I am knitting is about halfway finished. It is so pretty and so soft. I am ready to start some x-stitching again, but am making myself wait until I finish the blanket. So, I shall go knit.

Have a great week everyone.
Happy Stitching!
JAne

Daughter and Granddaughter

2008-05-26T17:39:00.001-04:00

Really Great Pizza and a Yard Sale Bonanza!

2008-05-24T18:59:00.005-04:00

The closer it gets to the end of school - the happier I feel! This has been a very difficult year, for many reasons, and I will be glad to see it come to an end.
I have a long list of things that I want to do this summer - and I can't wait to get started on them.

I am still working on the baby blanket as often as I can. It's almost 20 inches now.

This morning a friend and I headed to Tryon, NC to have pizza at the Side Street Cafe. It is one of my favorite restaurants and I don't get over there very often, it's about 45 minutes. ON the way I saw a yard sale sign and pulled in...boy am I glad that I did. They were packing up, but pulled out the toys and baby clothes. I got a big box of baby toys for $3, there must have been well over $100 worth of toys in that box. And there were Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger and other name brand clothes. I spent $25 and got 15 outfits and`all those toys. Not a bad haul!

I'm trying to get all of my craft stash organized. At Hobby Lobby, I bought some really pretty fabric covered boxes in graduated sized. They only had two black and white toile boxes, which match my bedspread, and then I got a set of five navy and white. So I am putting stuff away and it is looking good! Are all crafters messy or is it just me?

Happy Memorial Day!
Jane

Knitting News

2008-05-13T10:59:00.002-04:00

I have been working deligently on the mint green baby blanket for Tara. I gave up on the pattern that added 40 stitches every fourth row - there has to be a misprint in that Grandma's Love Blanket pattern - or a very evil Grandma, sitting somewhere laughing wickedly each time another person downloads that pattern. Anyway, I went back to the pattern I used for Baby BLaine's first blanket. It is a beautiful lace pattern, an heirloom blanket, {hear that DD?}.
Anyway, I have done about 10 inches of it and it is looking very pretty.

Gotta go - class is here.
Happy Stitching
Jane

Knitting...ack!

2008-05-06T03:55:00.005-04:00

Okay, so I am officially giving up [and THROWING AWAY] this baby blanket pattern. There MUST be something wrong with it. I have started over SIX times and I KNOW I am following the directions. The pattern is K2tog 4X, YO, then K1 yo 7X. So it seems to me, that basically you are adding four stitches every time you do the pattern, which is adding 40 stitches every fourth row. Does this make sense to anyone out there?
Anyway, I am changing patterns, before I totally destroy this yarn by knitting and frogging over and over and over again.
Oh the frustration!!!!!
The DVDs of the Dinner Theatre arrived yesterday and we are all anxious to see it. During a performance, even though I am 'watching' it, I am really concentrating on the music and directing and keeping things going, so I don't really SEE it. The guy who films it also puts together a great collage of the rehearsal night. So, we are going to watch it in class today and tomorrow....and I will knit!!

Yaw'll all have a great day!
Jane

Knitting, Hair Bows, and New Pics

2008-05-04T09:29:00.007-04:00

First things first - new pic of Baby Blaine.

It seems that all I've been doing lately is starting things and then changing my mind. I've finally setttled on a project and it is driving me crazy. It's a baby blanket for a friend who is expecting. The basic pattern is SO simple.
One row of: K2tog 4X, YO, *K1,YO* 7X. Then purl a row, knit a row, purl a row, and start over.

I have started this thing over five times! I don't know what my problem is!
This time I am up to 4 inches. The pattern doesn't look like the picture yet but
I am going to keep on and trust the pattern. We'll see....

My latest project has been making hair bows for Blaine. AND as I seem to do with everything - go a little overboard - I bought ribbon in every color. People have asked me about selling them, but the truth is I don't actually enjoy making them, so one of each is my limit. DD just called and said this picture was up on her blog - isn't that hilarious! ALL of the bows at once!

I found a sewing machine! I settled on a Kenmore. It does everything I wanted, including monogram - not large letters, but about an inch. A good size to put on hairbows and onesies [sp?]. I've been sewing on a 1958 Singer, [my Mom bought it when I was 8] so all of these buttons and computerized things are challenging.

DD and SIL came down two weeks ago and we took some four generation pictures. My mother is 90 and could not make the trip to Louisville.

I think this is great one of her with the baby.

I haven't been writing or reading much lately, so I am going to close and read some of your blogs. Thanks for stopping by! When school is out, I'll be able to write and read more regularly.

Hugs to all,
Jane

Reading

2008-04-13T13:03:00.001-04:00

Reading The Yarn Harlot.
She makes me laugh.

Sewing Machine and Baby[can't help it]

2008-04-07T16:31:00.002-04:00

Well, I am going sewing machine shopping today. I am excited!
I also am stitching away on the birth announcement. I will post pics soon.
However, I MUST post this precious pic of the baby, I mean you just HAVE to see it!

Jane

Advice? New Sewing Machine

2008-04-05T22:56:00.003-04:00

So...I have decided to buy a new sewing machine. [The one I am using is a 1958 model.] I want one that will embroider and monogram and that will do quilting. I am asking for recommendations. I can't spend thousands. But surely I can find a good machine for less than that. [I figure that I will save enough on monogramming alone to buy my own machine. I've been getting EVERYTHING monogrammed for precious grand daughter.]

I have made this decision because I have decided to start sewing and smocking again -for my precious grand daughter. I have a smocking gathering-machine. I haven't smocked since my DD was 10 or so.

Also, I want to make quilts. I have been saving material and patterns for a while.
So I am ready - I just need a new machine. I thought I would go to the local Bernina store and start there. Singers are good, and Sears always has good quality products.

So ladies...what do you suggest?

Thanks for stopping by
Jane

A Wonderful Spring Break Week

2008-03-28T19:03:00.005-04:00

What a wonderful week! I got to spend three whole days with my precious grand- daughter. It was so difficult to leave her this morning.
I am going to post a picture but I am going to explain it first. Blaine was born with her feet turned inward and has been through three weeks with casts. They were so blessed to get in with the Shriners in Lexington, KY. This Monday when they went, the doctors put her in shoes that are bolted to a bar. She has adapted fairly well, as she did to the casts. The picture below is so funny - she looks like a wild snow boarder!

The next one is a pic from Easter. She is trying to get the bunny in her mouth, which she does with everything!

So... while in Louisville I looked up some stitching stores. I got to go to two of them One was all knitting - beautiful yarns. I didn't have much time so my plan was to go back this morning on my way home. But they weren't open yet, so I decided to drive through Shelbyville. I found a shop there that had cross-stitch and needlepoint. It was in a very old house and the owner was a former school teacher. [It was interesting to learn that she does very well, and says it is because she is so far from a Michael's. She also does a good business from traveling stitchers who look up shops in places they are going to be traveling near.] I wish I could have spent more time in Shelbyville. It is a quaint little town with Main Street separated by a block of stores and each part of the street is one way. There were lots of neat looking stores, antique shops and clothing stores and a second hand children's clothing store that I would have loved to explore. But with a six hour drive ahead of me, I only visited the needlework shop. I did buy one pattern for a needlepoint Christmas tree that is worked on red canvas. Interesting, I'll post a pic later.

So...my Spring Break has been wonderful! I feel refreshed [definitely not rested, but I'll do that tomorrow] and ready to go back to school and put that Dinner Theatre together.

I missed reading my usual blogs and am going to do that right now.
Happy Stitching!
Jane

Heading to Blaine-town

2008-03-24T19:14:00.003-04:00

Today was another great day! I visited with my friend Jan and her precious granddaughter this morning. Then I ran errands, came home and taught a piano lesson, and then began packing for my trip to Louisville tomorrow. [I think I am going to start calling it Blaine-town, because that's what it really is!] So I'll be gone until Friday. I hope everyone had a wonderful week!

Hugs to all, Jane

Spring Break - Day #2

2008-03-22T19:16:00.004-04:00

So...this morning I drove to Greenville's Westend. It is beautiful, and if you ever visit Greenville, SC you must spend some time downtown and in the Westend. Anyway, one of my former students has opened a hair salon in the upstairs of a refurbished building. It is sooo nice, elegant - with the original hardwood floors and the bare brick walls. Very fashionable. Anyway, he cut my hair. Well I had cut it, he fixed it and cut the parts I could not reach. Did a great job, and I appreciated the 'former teacher and friend' discount.

Then I came home and began to throw things away. Apparently [according to Lyda of Pollyanna fame]there is a holiday called Discardia and I was celebrating it without even knowing it. I just celebrated and celebrated and it was wonderful.

Then, and you will be so envious, one of my students came over and helped me - and now absolutely everything in the entire house is exactly where it is supposed to be. I cannot remember when it has been like this!! SO..on Monday, the lady who cleans my room at school is going to come and give my house a deep cleaning. I am so excited!

Then, I read for a while, both of my precious children called me, and next I worked on hair bows for Baby Blaine. Now I am going to go watch TV and x-stitch. Could life BE any better!

Have a Blessed Easter!
Hugs to all,
Jane

PS Couldn't resist giving you another look at Baby Blaine. this is her first taste of snow.

SCHOOL IS OUT!!!

2008-03-21T15:08:00.003-04:00

I have absolutely, thoroughly, completely, and totally enjoyed this first day out of school and it's only 3:09 - lots more day to go!!

First I took my mother over to Spartanburg to a store that was buying gold. She had some stuff to sell and she got A LOT of money. I had a few things and got $101, which is more than I had when they were sitting in my drawer, right? That'll more than pay for my gas to Louisville next week.

Then I watched the re-make of An Affair to Remember with Warren Beatty and Annette Benning. Not as good as the original, but it made me cry!

Then the highlight of the day - I got to listen to Baby Blaine breathe and suck on her passy over the phone. HEAVEN!!
Ah, the joys of grandmotherhood!

Next I am going to get my nails done and then.....and then....I am going to came home and make my most wonderful very favorite BANANA PUDDING! And people... this is only the FIRST DAY of Spring Break!!!

So, I have an hour and a half before I have to leave for my nail appointment...and I am going to KNIT!!! What a life!!

Hugs to all,
Jane

Spring Break...WooHoo!

2008-03-20T08:13:00.004-04:00

Good Morning All!

Well, today is the last day of school before the much anticipated Spring Break! The kids will most certainly be WILD and I don't even care - I'll probably just be wild with them!

I am knitting [yes! knitting!] a red pocketbook that I am going to felt. I worked on it a lot at All-State Chorus Weekend. Also making a baby announcement to match the baby's blanket.

I also found some large wooden letters, about 10" high. I got letters to spell BLAINE and I am painting each one like one of the designs in the blanket. They are so cute. I'm going to try to find some sheer green ribbon to tie on them to hang them.

Also making hair bows. You will all certainly understand when I tell that I went to buy supplies and bought every width and color and design of ribbon I could find. Never let it be said that I do ANYTHING in moderation! haha

Can't wait to see DD and SIL and that blessed baby next week..

Yaw'll have a great day!
Hugs,
Jane

Baby Blaine

2008-03-19T21:22:00.004-04:00

I just couldn't resist posting these pics. The bottom one is my absolute favorite. Though I love the one of DD holding Baby Blaine too!
I promise, I will stop soon.
Ugh, probably not......

My wonderful SIL is a great photographer and takes tons of pictures of EB. He is such a sweet and loving father. My DD is very blessed to have such a great husband.

I'm heading back up to Louisville next week, I am so excited! I am looking forward to seeing the parents as well as the little girl. I will have new photos, but I am disciplining my-grandmother-self and I will post knitting and stitching pics before I let me post more baby pics.

Hug to everyone from this very happy grandmother!
Jane

Knitting, piercing, and seeing old friends

2008-03-15T21:38:00.004-04:00

Hi
Well, this was a great weekend. It was the SC All-State Chorus Weekend. Over 2000 students from all over the state audition in November, and the chosen ones go to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC for a weekend in March. They have five or six selections to learn before they come,and then spend the weekend working with a world renowned director, and give a concert on Saturday afternoon. I only took three this year and they were very talented and fun girls. We laughed A LOT and had a really good time.

AND.....drum roll.....I had plenty of time to knit! Found some really cool buttons while in Louisville and decided to make a red pocketbook and felt it and put these buttons on it. So I began knitting the pocketbook. I love All-State weekend because I get to see friends that I have known for years and only see at this weekend and in September when we have a state wide meeting. It's kind of weird that there are sooooo many young directors that I don't know. I think I was probably the second oldest director there, since most retire in their early fifties.

I also did something a little crazy for me - got a second piercing in my ears. I got REAL cubic zirconia earrings - they look like diamonds. 'Looking like' is about as close as I will come to real diamonds. haha

Well, one week of classes and then...DA DA DA DUM..Spring Break! I think I am going to Charleston to spend a few days with a friend who lives down there. And here at home I plan to throw away some more stuff - still working toward getting my entire house completely simplified and organized.

Tomorrow I will post some pictures of the knitting and the buttons!

Happy Stitching!
Jane

BLOGGERVERSARY

2008-03-07T18:16:00.008-05:00

So, a FEW more pics. I promise this isn't going to become a grand baby blog!

I love this one - she looks so content!

My favorite. She is wearing the dress and booties that her Mommy wore home from the hospital 29 years ago. You may recognize the blanket she is lying on...I made it. So, there ya' go...some knitting!

Looks like she is wondering "will they EVER stop flashing that light in my face?"

I just realized that I totally missed my Bloggerversary. I don't know, maybe because they had to put my precious grand baby in the hospital because she had lost almost three pounds. Ya think?
I was slightly pre-occupied. But all is well, and she is gaining now.

My plan is to rest this weekend and do some major stitching and other crafting for Baby Blaine. I will definitely post pics!
Yaw'll have a great weekend!
Jane

Grandmama Love is the BEST!

2008-02-29T18:09:00.003-05:00

Well, here are some pictures of my precious grand baby! Isn't she beautiful!! I am home now, and it was SO hard to leave her. My DD is doing well, tired but so happy! I miss her too. I wish they lived close enough to see them more often.

I took my stitching with me and managed to make ONE cross-stitch, honestly!
I am going to do some sewing now - curtains for the nursery among other things.

Now I am going to catch up on reading your blogs. I have been away from the computer for over a week!

Happy Stitching!
Jane

finally a GRANDMOTHER

2008-02-24T12:16:00.002-05:00

Well, I am finally a grandmother. Elizabeth Blaine was born by c-section on Thursday, Feb. 24th at 3:42pm. I was on the road from Greer, flying when I could. About 40 miles from Louisville I came into an ice storm, but that did not deter me, no sir! I got here after she was born and before DD came out of surgery.

As you can see for yourself in the video above, she is so beautiful. Her Daddy made the video when she was hours old.

Hair

2008-02-20T16:37:00.001-05:00

So the hair isn't so bad - my students didn't even notice, and they generally notice everything. I am definitely a blonde - and so far, I have not had more fun. We'll see.

My Continuing Hair Saga

2008-02-19T22:11:00.004-05:00

Well, me and my hair! My daughter keeps telling me that I should have it cut etc. by professionals. But, no, I keep right on doing it myself. Well, I actually like the haircut...but I don't know what's going to happen with the color. Clever person that I am, when mixing the color, I mxed the conditioner with the stuff in the bottle instead of the color. Well, after 30 minutes, NOTHING had changed and then I realized my mistake. So I put the color stuff in what was left of the conditioner and other stuff mixture and put THAT on my hair. The color is changing, but I don't know what it is going to look like. I HAVE to go to school tomorrow because we have our annual choral festival. So...instead of just having my kids see it, I'll be on stage in front of about 800 people, looking who-knows-how. At least my back will be toward the audience. [Funny thing - we are singing the title song from the musical 'HAIR'.] SO, as long as it doesn't turn some strange color or fall out, I guess I'll be okay. I'll let you know.

Valentine's, Dancing, and Waiting for Baby

2008-02-15T08:50:00.005-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day - this is my Valentine present from my secret pal at school. And, YES!, that is Barry Manilow peeking through the balloon - a signed photo no less! I am definitely a major MANILOW FANILOW!! A student made the plate for me about 7 years ago, because I am, in fact, the QUEEN!

The following pictures are of what I did this weekend, instead of stitch!
It was the BIG Choreography Weekend, where we learned all of the choreography for the Dinner Theatre. I hire a choreographer who comes in and works the entire weekend with the kids. Each choir is here for 6 hours, spaced out from Friday afternoon, all day Saturday, and Sunday afternoon. We were dancing maniacs!

It kinda looks like all we did was point, which is not the case.
The theme this year is On Broadway. We are all really excited about the music. We are opening with the song On Broadway [Drifters] and closing with You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray. And, this year we are having a pasta buffet, which will be different, haven't done that before.

So... I have ordered a really neat birth announcement. The baby bedding set they have is a patchwork design and the birth announcement is also a patchwork design, only all in pinks. So I am thinking I can make it match the patches in the blanket - won't that be neat? I can't remember the designer, but I'll tell you when it comes.

BABY UPDATE ::
DD is 36 weeks and the baby already weighs 9 lb 4 oz. She is hoping they will take it next Friday. I'm guessing we will be using 3-6 month clothes instead of 0-3. I am So EXCITED!!

I Need Your Help!

2008-02-04T08:43:00.000-05:00

Okay all you stitchers out there in stitching-land....I want to x-stitch a beautiful, unusual and amazing birth announcement for my little g-baby, who will be here pretty soon. I have seen some that yaw'll have done and posted on your blogs but I can't remember whose and when. Or maybe you just know of one. Can you help me out with this?

I actually stitched this weekend. I FINALLY undecorated my tree and started packing up my Santas. I went to bed at 8:45 Sunday night and awoke at 1:10 with a headache.
So, I took 3 extra strength Exedrins[forgetting about the caffeine]. Man was I wired!
I cleaned out every drawer in my bedroom and then moved to the kitchen, cleaned out the fridge, and then on to the den where I cleaned out and organized all of my knitting and stitching bags and baskets. THEN I stitched and watched TVLand.
When my alarm went off, I got ready for school and took off! You'd think I would have gotten here early - oh no, all traffic was re-routed because of a house fire and I had a time finding my way to the school. This must be the cul-de-sac center of the world. When I did find a road that went through, I was back at the road block
But here I am, ready to face a day of teenagers.

Today is the day for auditions for solos for the Dinner Theatre - so by the end of the day I'll have a lot of people mad at me. Oh well, yaw'll still love me - right?

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Building Dedication :) No stitching :(

2008-01-30T13:49:00.000-05:00

Hello all.....I am at school and my drama class is in the library working on Power Point Presentations, so I have some time to work at a computer also.
Last night we had our new building Dedication Service. Our new auditorium is amazing and the acoustics were especially amazing. My girl group sang the Star Spangled Banner and then the entire choral department was placed throughout the auditorium and sang the Alma Mater. It was exciting for me to hear the 'new sound'. We now have state-of-the-art lighting and sound...I can't wait to have a concert in there.

OK.....stitching blog.....no stitching to report. Maybe tonight?

Happy Stitching..
Jane

Quilting Question

2008-01-26T16:02:00.000-05:00

Here's the question - for all of you experienced quilters:
DD wants me to make a quilt out of the bridesmaid dresses she has worn. All of them are satin. We will also be using crushed velvet. My vision was to tie it. But she wants it quilted. Can you quilt satin and velvet? I suppose I could do it in squares and then sew them together. I really don't know. And what thread would I use for the quilting, with the materials being black, silver, periwinkle, 2 different shades of burgundy, and an off-white. Can you even wash these fabrics? I'm thinking it would have to be dry cleaned. Tell me your thoughts please?

I am in Louisville visiting DD and SIL. I came up yesterday, took a wrong turn in Knoxville and made an already 6 hour drive into an 8 hour drive. She is soooooo pregnant. Bless her heart, she is so ready to have this baby. It is fun seeing all the baby stuff.

I am loving my new Rodeo. It was great driving here. I have not had a CD player and that was great. [You remember that the car I was hanging on to was a '97.] I also like being up higher. So I rode along and Barry [Manilow] and I sang our hearts out all the way here. [I did give the Beatles some time.]

Incidentally, remember the post about trying to make baby booties and it turning out huge, like for a 5 year old. Well, the title says " something, something,and a HUGE bootie." I have gotten sooooo many hits on that post, isn't that funny. I had never thought about what that would sound like.

Have a great weekend and I hope yaw'll get some stitching [or quilting] done. I am driving instead of stitching, but it's worth it to see my kids.

When talking to them about coming up later, I said "when I come back up here to get the baby..." It was funny, talk about a Freudian slip!! I think I may have given my plan away - Bwa-ha-ha she laughed with an evil gleam in her eye!

Jane

School, A Good Book, and Lingering Christmas Decorations

2008-01-22T22:21:00.000-05:00

Back to school today - they said we were going to have freezing rain and sleet - we didn't. Neither did we get the 2 to 4 inches of snow we were supposed to get on Saturday. Oh well... I did pretty much nothing this weekend. I did knit and stitch some. I ran across a book - The Friday Night Knitting Club - I read the entire book in a day. It was really good, it's currently on the Bestseller list - I highly recommend it.

I managed to get through the entire long weekend without taking down my Christmas decorations. When I was little, I would always beg my mother to leave the tree up until my birthday - now I think I understand why she always said no. Anyway, this Saturday I will definitely go vote and then take down the decorations...maybe.

School was good today. We are working on our Dinner Theatre - which is all Broadway music this year - and all of the music is such fun. The kids like it, too, so they are working pretty hard. It's fun when they work.

A friend took me out for dinner for my birthday. That was nice.
So, all in all, a good weekend and a good day at school.

I hope all of yaw'll are doing as well.

Happy stitching!
Jane

SNOW !!!!!

2008-01-17T14:55:00.000-05:00

I absolutely LOVE SNOW !!!! And we got some! ON MY BIRTHDAY !!!!
Anyone who knows me at all, knows that I am crazy in love with snow!
I don't even care if we have to make up the school day. Snow days are a gift of a free day - you don't get to carry out your plans, and you can't get out [well, in SC you can't get out] and so it's a totally free day with no responsibilities or obligations. I don't believe in cleaning [or really doing any kind of work at all] on snow days, because if you were working you wouldn't be cleaning, so no guilt there. A happy, relaxing, lazy day .....I JUST LOVE SNOW DAYS!!!
I'm just hoping it freezes overnight and we can't have school tomorrow either!

I should get a lot done on my VoHRH this weekend. I may even catch up with my SAL friends!

Well, I can't seem to think, or write, about anything but the snow - so I'll go sit by a window and stitch!

Jane

I've Been Tagged

2008-01-13T14:20:00.000-05:00

So, I have been tagged. And I am supposed to list five random facts about myself.

Well my first thought was to call one of my children and ask for suggestions, but then I decided to call my dear friend Tara. Tara and DD became best friends in high school and have been close ever since. They were in each other's weddings etc.
Tara was also in my choir at school - for four years - and we have gotten to be good friends. I love her like a daughter. We get together two or three times a month and go out for dinner and I figure she knows me about as well as my own children do, actually better in some ways. So when I asked for unusual things about me, she began laughing and listing things faster than I could write. [Not quite sure how to take that.] Anyway,here goes:

1. When I sneeze,I sound like a small dog barking, and I never do less than a series of four at a time. [My classes start counting as soon as I start sneezing. My record is 21!]
2. I have watched the first Godfather movie so many times that I can say the entire script along with the movie.
3. The first time I took an Ambien I fell head first into the bathtub in the middle of the night.
4. When my Daddy was trying to teach me to drive [1965] , I nearly ran into a train station because I was looking at my knees peeking out from beneath my new lavender skirt and thinking how pretty they looked. [He was pretty mad.]
5. I went to Landrum High School which was the first air-conditioned school in the state of South Carolina. [Incidentally, they kept their piano in the closet of the health room.]

So now I get to tag 5 people. I think I'll tag some of the members of my SAL group:
1. Mindi [What's Up With Wyora]
2. Marie [Creative Thread]
3. Katrina [The Needle's Promise]
4. Kathy [Purple Wildcat]
5. Wanda [WB Stitches]

Speaking of the SAL group - I actually stitched on my VOHRH today. Unlike everyone else I started in the middle and I don't really do a block at a time. I skip around a lot, I guess I am an ADD stitcher.

So, no kids at school tomorrow, it's a teacher workday. Kinda nice.

I've had a great weekend. Yesterday I took my mother [90 yr old] over to Landrum. We picked up a friend of ours and went to Tryon to my most favorite restaurant anywhere for lunch, and then I rode all around in Landrum for Momma. She lived there for twenty years and really enjoyed seeing the town. It has changed a lot, and she enjoyed seeing the house we used to live in and the little downtown and the church etc.

Well, it's off to stitch. AND guess what's on TV? Godfather III. Woo-hoo!

Happy Stitching!
Jane

FRIDAY!!!

2008-01-11T19:50:00.000-05:00

You know, coming back to school after Winter Break is just HARD! Two weeks at home really spoils you! But back to school it was and this week was exam week. I haven't stitched much. I started knitting up this extremely soft white yarn for g-baby, but this is the most difficult yarn I have ever tried to knit. SO, forget that!

I finally broke down and bought a new car, well, new to me. I have had my car for eleven years and really liked not having a car payment. SO,the brakes went and I still drove it, going slow and coasting to a stop. [I am neither stubborn nor stupid - really - I'm not -really!] Anyway, I am going to need to drive to Louisville when the baby comes, so I took the big step. It was going to cost more to fix what was wrong with it than the car was even worth. So--I got a Rodeo [I feel like I am driving a truck!] and it is our school color - Royal Blue. It is really pretty and my students thought it was pretty cool that I got that color. In fact, they want to paint yellow racing stripes on it.

I guess that's all my news.

OH _ WAIT _ I do have BIG NEWS!!!

I went to dinner Tuesday night with a friend. We went to the local Panera Bread. Lo and behold - there sat a group of KNITTERS!!!!
Being the shy and retiring person that I am, I went over and began talking to them and admiring their work etc. etc. Well, I was invited to join the group and I am going to start next Tuesday. Some of you may remember a while back when I was trying to find people to start a group with....well, I am excited. They start arriving about 4ish and stay until it closes. Fun stuff!

I hope everyone is having a good start to the year and has something fun to work on!
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stitching
Jane

A personality Quiz

2008-01-05T22:43:00.000-05:00

People Definitely Like You

You are very well liked, and many people admire you.

You are friendly, well mannered, and fun to be around.

Of course, you're not perfect... but that's okay.

Your friends are usually willing to accept you for who you are!

What People Don't Like About You:

People don't like that you forget them easily. No one wants to be friends with someone who doesn't remember their name!

What People Like About You:

People like that you give them complements. You make people feel good about themselves!

People like your self deprecating sense of humor and that you don't take yourself too seriously.

People like that you're interesting and intriguing. You always have something interesting to say.

Do People Like You?

Pictures - I hope!

2008-01-05T17:12:00.000-05:00

Well, I have to say for that, for the most part, I really love me. But, bless-my-heart, sometimes I am just not smart! After I spent - oh 45 minutes- trying to load the pictures onto my computer, I realized I had not turned on the camera. But, even then it took me forever to, first - FIND where the darn things were on the computer- And then put them on the blog. So - PLEASE - enjoy.
[And sorry it's so long, but I WAS away for a while.... :)

First of all these are some pics from the Winter Concert. [You may note that I actually loaded them in reverse order so they would come out in the order I wanted.]

The first is Grace Chu, who is an exchange student from Taiwan. She is incredibly talented. As well as being a wonderful soprano, she is an amazing accompanist - so I had her play a piece on the piano. [When I gave my beginning of the year 'pre-test' to concert choir to see where they were musically, she scored higher than ANYONE! Oh to teach in a system where the students have music training starting in pre-school and ALL THE WAY through school.]

The second is Ryan Fowler. He is a senior and a wonderful tenor. He is also a wonderful kicker and has a full ride to Vanderbilt to play football. He was chosen to play in our state North-South game and they started practice two days before the concert. His parents worked it out so that he could perform in the concert. They had to go get him, bring him to the concert, and take him right back. [He had to change out of his tux in the car on the way back.] I am so grateful for parents who take the performances so seriously. He was singing 'I'll Be Home for Christmas'.

The next one is Matt Henderson and Bennett Dixon singing... man, I can't remember.
Anyway, they are both talented and NOT seniors. YAY!

Next is Sweet Harmony. They wanted to wear 'winter clothes'. I was picturing Christmas colors - not what they wore. BUT they sounded heavenly.

And finally Those 8 Guys.[yes, you see 9] I don't know why in the world they decided to go behind the piano to sing. Teenagers....ya just never know what to expect

This is my Treble Ensemble - sophomore girls who are first year singers. Notice the trees in the background. The church was going to throw them away, so instead they are giving them to us to use for the Dinner Theatre.

And here is the entire choir. Aren't they beautiful! They look like angels all dressed up and standing up straight and not talking! I love them so much!
I had to take the pic in 4 sections, or go to the balcony, and they were not wanting to wait for me to do that. They were READY TO GO! We had the concert at the First Baptist Church in Taylors since our auditorium was still not finished. We always finish the concert with everyone on stage singing 'Let There Be Peace On Earth' and any graduates that are there come up and sing with us. Since we had the concert so early we didn't have as many alumni as usual, but there were some and I am always so glad to see them.

The gift and roses in picture , 3, were from the choir. The gift was one of those Visa Gift Cards that I am still deciding how to use. Woohoo!

**********************************************************************************

I thought I would share some of my Christmas decorations. And they are, by the way, still there because I just can't bring myself to take them down [which is one way of putting a positive spin on just being too lazy]

Now for - yes! - stitching. One of these is an old old pattern that I finally did and the other...well actually it's pretty old too. I took the picture almost the minute I finished, so it isn't even pressed.

So, thanks for stopping by. I guess this is a little long, and possibly a little boring.

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year.

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Happy New Year!

2008-01-03T20:12:00.000-05:00

Well, it was back to school today, and I must say I was pretty glad to get back. I think I am finally back to my old self. I am excited about preparing for our dinner theatre - I ordered the music today and I'm meeting with the choreographer tomorrow. This year I am doing a Broadway theme, and there was sooo much music to choose from. Fun stuff!
We are having a building dedication the end of this month for our new school building. We are singing for it - so we also have to learn something for that. AND we are doing four churches, so we have to polish up our church repertoire.
I just thought - this must be sooooo boring to non-music people.

So...stitching. I finally finished The Prairie Christmas that I started back in - yes - 1999. I will now finally begin really working on the VOHRH. [My little SAL group is way ahead of me, I'm sure - but I'll catch up!]

So, thanks for continuing to stop by while I was in my funk.
I'll post some pics this weekend.

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Happy Holidays

2007-12-28T16:54:00.001-05:00

I haven't been here in a while. I hope all of you have had a wonderful Christmas! Both of my children were home and it was so great! I had missed them both soooo much! DS flew in on the 19th and DD and SIL got here the next day. DD is VERY pregnant. It was fun to watch her tummy move around and I must admit we spent a very large amount of time doing just that. She is struggling with carpel tunnel syndrome and has to wear a wrist brace on both wrists. She gave me a beautiful mother/daughter necklace that was so special. It has two charms on it, one is mother of pearl and has Chinese symbols for mother and daughter and the other is silver and has it written in English. I love it and it meant so much for her to give it to me. DS gave me a docking station for the ipod he had given me for Mother's day. It was just what I wanted! The best thing of all was the time we got to spend together. It was so hard to see them off. DS was flying to Minneapolis and had to sit in the plane for half an hour waiting for them to clear the snow so they could get to the gate. [Here it was in the 50's and 60's.]

I have done absolutely NO stitching! I have been reading like crazy though. I plan to spend time tonight on my VOHRH - finally. I hope my SAL group hasn't kicked me out! I promise to catch up!

I am going to go now an catch up on reading all of your blogs and find out about your holidays! Happy Holidays!

Five Finger Prayer

2007-12-13T08:34:00.000-05:00

I had never heard this before. This is beautiful - and it is surely worth making the 5 finger prayer a part of our lives.

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

2007-11-22T12:43:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
I'll be back soon.
Jane

Quick Post

2007-11-04T17:41:00.000-05:00

Auditions went well. I wound up taking 12 to audition. I started with 16, I saw that I had written 164 in my last post and just laughed. That'll be the day!
Anyway, when we got there, one guy just backed out. But all of the others passed the first step of the audition, which pleased me. We will hear next week about the results.
I have to type the program for tomorrow night, so no time to read or write.
JAne

Busy, Crazy Times

2007-10-28T19:38:00.000-04:00

I decided Friday that I was going to come home and hibernate for the weekend, and that's exactly what I did. Last week was our school's Spirit Week - each year we choose a charity and spend the entire week raising money for the charity. Wade Hampton High School, a rival school also chooses a charity and the two schools compete to raise the most money in that one week.

For the past several years our charity has been Cystinosis[sp?]. It is a little known disease that receives very little money for research. As I understand it, this illness causes the organs of the body to crystallize. There is no cure,only medication that has to be taken every four hours just to stay alive.

There is a little girl named Laura that lives in SC who has been the center of our school's project. We've watched her grow from four years old to eight. It is so amazing to see these high school kids love that little girl and cheer for her and treat her like a little princess.

Each year she and her mom come to school everyday the week of Wade Hampton Week
and the school basically goes completely crazy doing all sorts of activities to raise money. From early morning until late at night there are activities constantly, as well as during lunch.[we DO have classes] This year we raised - are you ready? - $106,000.00! IN one week, can you believe it? And the most exciting thing is that Laura's mom found a foundation, somewhere - and I don't know the name of it, that is going to match our money, dollar for dollar! So, $212,000.00 - Amazing! It would have been great if we could have counted the foundation's money too, then we would have won, but the fact that all that money will go to cystinosis research is wonderful. That money will fund two researchers for three years to study and search for a cure.

Wade Hampton raised $130,000.00. So, in ONE WEEK, two schools just a few miles apart, basically in the same community, raised $236,000.00. It's just amazing. All of the students get involved and excited and open their hearts to this little girl and empty their pockets.

There is a video on U Tube of our principal dancing at the pep rally, well, attempting to dance. There is this dance called Soldier Boy [?] that all the kids are doing, and he said he would dance is they could raise $100 right there in the pep rally, and they did.

Oh, and I forgot to mention - back in September my students had sold $11,000.00 worth of cookie dough, frozen pizza and frozen cheesecakes - which the company decided to deliver this Thursday? Right in the middle of Wade Hampton Week. So I had parents and kids sorting and checking out orders for our choral fundraiser until after 5:00 in the afternoon.

So, I was exhausted, because basically the kids were WILD all week. I did nothing except sleep, read, and stitch this weekend, mostly sleep. It was great. I can't say that I feel rested, but better than I did on Friday.

This week we have SC All-State Chorus Auditions. I am taking 164 to audition but will have another try-out Tuesday to weed out any who still don't know their part. If one person messes up, it can throw off the entire quintet. They have to learn Pergolesi's Allelia in 5 parts and perform it in quintets, one to a part, for five judges. If they pass that portion of the audition, they then go one at a time into another room and sight-read eight measures for another judge. The auditions are Thursday in Columbia - we will have to leave at 7:30 AM to be there for our assigned time.

Then Thursday afternoon we have a rehearsal for our concert on Monday night. Each year, we sponsor the East Greenville Invitational Choral Festival. WE invite 6 other choirs to perform two songs each, and then we do a combined number at the end of the concert. My concert choir meets in two periods, so we are practicing together after school. Combined there are 93 in the choir. I am so excited about the choir this year, they are working so hard and are already sounding wonderful. I wish ya'll could hear them! The concert is next Monday night, Nov. 5 at Taylors First Baptist Church in Taylors.

So, next week is actually going to be crazy for me too - I hadn't realized it until I wrote all of this. ACK!!

Well, this hasn't been about stitching or knitting, but it is my life right now, so... The good news is, that I will get to stitch [or knit] all the way to and from auditions on Thursday.

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Pictures!

2007-10-24T19:20:00.000-04:00

The first picture is some fabric I found at the Ben Franklin in Louisville. Aren't the colors great. I told you in my last post about the pumpkin I am going to make, but the other project is for a PIF so it must remain a secret for now.

And..I found a Halloween box. I don't like it as well as the ones Becky had, but I was excited to find one.

Umm..have I mentioned that I L-O-V-E Halloween?

I am going to read some blogs and then go stitch a while.

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Home Again, Home Again...

2007-10-22T21:00:00.000-04:00

Hello All,

I really missed this while I was away. The first thing I did when I got home was come in and check everyone's blog.

I had a great weekend with DD and SIL. They took me out for pizza the first night I was there, to a really great pizza place. Saturday we went 'yard sailing' and found some great baby stuff. I bought 21 Little Golden Books for $5. And DD and SIL found a great baker's rack for a great price. He sanded it and painted it and it looks great in their kitchen.

I went to the Louisville Ben Franklin Store, which I love! I found some great fall materials, which I will post a picture of when I locate my cord for connecting the camera and the computer. I have a picture of a pumpkin from about 15 years ago that I found in a Country Living Mag that I have been saving. The pumpkin in the picture is made from vintage men's ties, oranges and blacks etc. and has a witches hat. I have never been able to find any appropriate ties, so I am settling for material that looks sort of 'vintage tie-y'.

I also found a Halloween Box. Becky had posted pictures of some that I loved. And lo and behold - there were some at Ben's. There was only one design, but I at least have it.

I went to church with them Sunday morning, to the church where my SIL is Youth Minister. The youth were having a lunch after church and we went to that too. Lots of nice polite young people.

I did get to stitch some. Finished the three Halloween faces with the button eyes and started the Celtic Pumpkin. The drive to Louisville is about 7 hours. Just think of all the stitching I could have done if I figure out a way to drive and stitch at the same time. Sigh! I'll post some pics tomorrow.

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Weekend Plans!

2007-10-17T20:02:00.000-04:00

So, to continue the haircut saga, it looked even worse this morning than yesterday. I colored it tonight, covering the gray, which it totally was since she cut off all of the color. At least tomorrow I will look younger. Several people said they liked the haircut, it's the ones who don't say anything - when you know they HAD to notice - that convince you that you are right. Anyway - enuff, it will grow.

Today we found out that one of our teachers has had 'allegations' made against him. It was all over the news tonight. He didn't turn himself in at 4 and as of 6 they were 'looking for him'. It makes me so sad, I don't want to believe it's true - he is a friend and I have taught both of his daughters and know his wife well. The thing is, even if he is found innocent, people will still talk. I choose not to believe that it's true. He is such a nice man and he is my friend.

I am going to Louisville this weekend to see my SIL and DD and her baby tummy. I am excited about seeing her. We are planning to go yard sailing looking for baby stuff -fun.

I hope everyone has a good weekend and gets to stitch. I probably won't be back until Monday night. [Sorry Lyda]

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Halloween Scarf and a Bad Haircut

2007-10-16T22:37:00.000-04:00

Isn't this the coolest scarf? I bought this yarn when I was visiting my son in Minneapolis this summer. It stripes as you knit. I took a closer view, but now I can't find it on the computer. I am such a computer klutz!! Anyway, I see myself wearing this with black pants and a black turtle neck. I am making it
v-e-r-y long.
YAY HALLOWEEN!

Well, today I decided to get my hair cut by an actual real hair-cutting professional - you know, someone who has actually had training in hair cutting - better known to many as a cosmetologist. I generally cut my own hair in my bathroom with sewing scissors. [Which is probably why Jeni cut her own hair at age 3 with her little rounded scissors, because she kept seeing her mommy cutting hers. She had so little hair that I didn't even realize she had cut it until I found hair in the crayon box. But, as Lyda says - I digress.] So, I went to a salon that Jeni had been to before and was a 'walk-in'. This was a young girl, with a pretty funky haircut of her own and several piercings in interesting places. Didn't stop me! I let her cut my hair, and you should see me. [Well, no you shouldn't.] She kept saying things like, "We are going to give you a 'current' hair style", and "we're going to 'update' your look". May I just say that I look like I stuck my finger in an electrical socket! It sticks out every-which-a-way - no kidding. She showed me how to fix it without using a comb or brush (?) and put wax on it to make it stick out and fluff up. So, I guess we'll see how all of this looks in the morning. Sigh! [I wonder if you can stay out of school until your hair grows out and call it sick days - I'm pretty sick about it.]

Woo-hoo!

2007-10-12T13:23:00.000-04:00

It's a girl!!!!!!

I am so excited. They had one of those 3-D ultrasounds this morning. They said she kept her hands over her face so they couldn't really see her face. And DD said that when they showed the area that would tell it was a girl, she just saw a blur. Anyway, they are 99% sure that it's a girl, so I can start sewing and quilting and knitting and x-stitching for real! With a design in mind - I am thinking Honey Bees!I am going to Louisville next week for a long weekend and I am looking forward to yard sailing and shopping with the 'mommy'.

I stayed home today - still kind of in a funk and not sure why - but I thought a 'mental health' day might help. I always feel better when things around me are clean and straightened, but instead of cleaning and straightening I have been on the computer writing and reading and looking up cute pictures of honey bees. Go figure!

Hope you all have a great weekend.
Happy Stitching!
Jane

Stitching Retreat

2007-10-08T18:51:00.000-04:00

Well, this weekend was my stitching retreat and it was great! There were 16 of us there and we got so many great things. I have uploaded the pictures but they are only showing up as a jumble of letters, so I will just write. We got three projects for the weekend.
1. was the pumpkin that I have seen on some of your blogs. She also painted and gold-leafed a box for us to mount it on
2. was a book with three patterns that can be done on plastic canvas. She also gave us a basket to mount it on and silk leaves to put on the basket also.
3. was my favorite. These three crazy faces..and you use these spiral buttons for their eyes that are just so much fun!
Friday night was a covered dish meal - and they brought so much good stuff! People who actually COOK usually go all out for these things! Not being one of those people types, I bought a tray of iced cookies from Bilo, which were a hit, so that was good.
One woman brought this corn dip that was the best thing I have had in a long time. When I get the recipe I'll post it, because everyone in the world should taste this dip! Saturday morning they had donuts etc. adn ordered pizza for lunch.
I really liked all of the women - they were mostly in their 30s 40s and 50s but there was one that was 25 and two in their 60s. They were all a lot of fun, and I intend to go to their stitching club this coming Friday night.

The first two pictures are of two things I bought that I want to do. The pumpkins are great, but my favorite is the one that says "Things haven't been the same since that house fell on my sister!" I think that is hilarious!!

I apparently have no control over the layout of this post. So...oh well!

School has improved greatly! We have been working hard on the All-State Audition piece, which is a buger, and they have finally gotten it. They are so proud of themselves! Also we have a Choral Festival on Nov. 5 that we sponsor. We invite middle school and elementary choirs that feed into our high school, so that hopefully they will want to stay in choir all the way throuch school. Each choir sings two songs and then we sing one number as a mass choir. It is amazing to hear 750+ kids singing together.

Thanks for all of the encouraging comments about my really bad days. Things are much better.

Happy Stitching!
Jane

"So you had a bad day...."

2007-10-01T20:33:00.001-04:00

Well, all I can say about today is that it was horrible from beginning to end. 'Nuff said! I'm going to READ blogs tonight instead of write. However I do have a question - I notice that someone from Six Mile, SC reads my blog. Who are you, pray tell?
Jane

'Nother Picture

2007-09-30T11:36:00.000-04:00

This is a picture of my favorite pumpkin. My choir gave it to me one year.
It is carved all the way around, but for some reason I cannot post the other pics. I am not computer super-savvy, but I don't think this problem is me. I keep getting the error messages. Oh well, Have a great day!!

Picture Problems

2007-09-30T11:16:00.000-04:00

Well, again I see only crazy letters and symbols instead of pictures. Does this happen to any of y'awl? Anyway, the picture of the four crazy pumpkins is finished except for two crosses.
I am having trouble taking pictures. I tried to get a picture of one of my "pumpkin patches" but could not get the lighting necessary.
Just checked and the only picture that worked was the one I just mentioned.
Oh well, today I am planning to finish organizing my room and that includes all of my stitching stuff. Won't it be nice to know where everything is ?!?!

Happy Stitching!
Jane

When I posted the carved pumpkin, I discovered that the other pics had worked! This is all tooooo crazy. The color is really bad though, obviously there should be a lot more orange.

2007-09-29T18:11:00.000-04:00

Well, I am attempting to post some pictures and what I see it lots of crazy letters and symbols. This has never happened before. So when I post, I don't know if we will have pictures or not.
Anyway, the Santa: I bought the pattern in Myrtle Beach when I was expecting my son, who is now 30. I finished it this past summer.
The pumpkin: a little disappointed in it. You can probably see down the middle of the pumpkin [or not if it is only letters and symbols] that when I came together in the middle, it did not work out. I was not about to frog the whole pumpkin, so sometimes I would stitch over three threads to try to make it work.
The Halloween pictures - almost finished.
And finally, or first maybe, who knows, is what I have done on the Village.

SO I am going to post to see what happens.....

Well, amazingly it posted pictures. Anyway, I have missed reading all of your blogs and that it what I am going to do now.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. I have been cleaning and organizing all day. I don't enjoy doing it, but I sure do love the results. I put out my pumpkin collection and my Halloween decorations. I love Halloween!

So, thanks for stopping by and not giving up on me.

Next weekend is my stitching retreat - I can't wait!
Jane

HELP Big Ole' Stitching Dilemma

2007-09-23T10:33:00.000-04:00

I need advice....I am doing the Village of Hawk Run Hollow. It is such a huge piece of material. I have tried those white snap-on holders, but it hurts my hands to hold them. I have tried rolling up the material and using safety pins to hold it, but that is awkward and I worry about the pins making bad places on the fabric. What do yawl use to manage all of the fabric?

This makes me think of Kermit!

2007-09-19T02:50:00.000-04:00

I am a sucker for little tests - try this one.

You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There's no one even close to being like you.Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible.While you are a bit offbeat, you don't scare people away with your quirks.Your warm personality nicely counteracts and strange habits you may have.

href=">What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorgreenareyouquiz/">What Color Green Are You?

Back in the Saddle, Sort-Of

2007-09-18T19:26:00.000-04:00

Hi - I didn't realize it had been so long since I had posted. I just haven't been able to shake the fatigue or the bronchitis. I have been going to school and then just coming home and going to bed. I slept all weekend. I have actually felt pretty good today, so maybe I am on the upswing. I have done a little stitching, but mainly I have just stretched out on the couch and watched TV. [The truth is I put 'stretched out' because I could not remember the correct conjugation of lie. I know you lie on a couch, and you lay an egg, but there my memory stoppeth. Lie, lay, laid, have lain?? I just don't remember, but I used to know. ] Anyway, I have re-discovered Designing Women. I LOVE that show. And I especially love Suzanne.
So, I'll go and read some blogs and catch up on all of you!
Jane

I Can't Think of a Title Worthy of This Picture

2007-09-11T20:15:00.000-04:00

Thought you might enjoy this picture of me.

My kids at school tell me "It is so you!"

I'm afraid they are probably right!

I will write and post pictures of my pumpkins tomorrow!

2007-09-10T18:50:00.000-04:00

Short post - I've been really sick. I did go to school today - l-o-n-g day! I'll be back!

No title

2007-09-04T21:05:00.000-04:00

Sorry I haven't written in several days. The weekend was busy - and I am starting out the week feeling tired already. I did get some stitching done and finished my pumpkin. I'll post a pic when I get it into a frame.
Today was good - several girls stayed after school until 6:00 and helped me try to organize all the stuff in my room. We actually made a visible dent. I took them out for pizza afterwards - in the hopes that they will stay and help again.
If you teach, you know that there is a lot of 'beginning the school year' stuff that has to be done. If you don't, take my word for it. So...I may not be writing as much until I get caught up. Don't desert me - I'll be around!

Finished Blanket

2007-08-31T18:40:00.000-04:00

Pictures of the baby blanket.

This morning Jeni and hubby and I surprised Momma at the center for her birthday. She was so surprised, she cried and hugged and hugged Jeni. It was great!

Then Jeni and I went shopping for maternity clothes. Fun, fun, fun! She is so cute pregnant! She did get a little tired of my patting her tummy though. :)

I gave her the "I'm-finally-going-to-be-a-grandmother-baby-blanket". She and hubby loved it!! It is beautiful, even if I do say so myself!!

I appreciate all of the comments so much. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stitching!

Jane

News News

2007-08-29T20:45:00.000-04:00

I found a stitching group AND I signed up for a stitching retreat!
There is a shop in Mauldin named Panda's Crossing. They have a stitching group the second Friday of every month and a UFO group every fourth Friday. AND they are having a Harvest/Halloween Retreat October 5-6. So I am signed up and excited! It's about a 30 minute drive, but so what!!

I've been working some on my pumpkin, but most evenings this week I have been to tired to do anything! Having my room and office at school SOOO unorganized is driving me crazy. So next Tuesday afternoon, a bunch of my girls are staying and we are going to really tackle getting everything done! I'm going to get material this weekend to cover some benches and chairs - really bright print with bright red, green, blue, and yellow. Red paint to paint the benches' wooden parts and a filing cabinet and gross desk. Some of them will work on filing the music that is sitting around in 125 boxes. I told them I would order pizza and we would just make a party of it. So, that should be fun - bonding and working!

The drum class meets RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME during my planning period, last hour of the day. OH MY GOODNESS!!! I can't even use the telephone. So, I went in there today and very sweetly asked them - after telling them how great they sounded- if it was possible to play softer when practicing. I told them I would bring them cookies or brownies every week if they would just do that for me. They were all about getting cookies and brownies and I could barely hear them after that. It will be so worth it to take them treats!!

Jeni and her hubby are coming in tomorrow. Momma thinks they are coming late Friday, but we are going to surprise her Friday morning at the Senior Citizens Center where she plays the piano everyday. I can't wait to see Jeni pregnant!

School today was...well I guess stressful covers it! But I am trying some new methods that I learned this summer to teach them to read music and even the kids are excited about it. So that is fun.

I think I shall go stitch!
Happy Stitching!
Jane

Misc. Ramblings

2007-08-27T20:03:00.001-04:00

So, things seemed fine at school today. All the leaks were plugged. More boxes of mine arrived, but we're still missing some equipment. I found my missing table, they had put it down on the ground in the mud so they could walk across it. Go figure!

I went yesterday to hear a dear friend preach at a nearby church. He went through my choral program, has finished Southern Baptist Seminary, and is now working on his PhD. He was an amazing student, played Danny in Grease when we did it, and the tin man in Wizard of Oz. We've stayed close all of these years. I was so proud of him yesterday. It is so cool to watch students grow up and realize their dreams.

I spent the rest of the day working on my pumpkin. And couldn't wait to get home after school to work on it some more. Had meetings first, but I have accomplished a lot. I don't really enjoy working on this linen, it's really slow going for me and difficult to see. But, I shall persevere! In fact it should be finished soon.

Boy, working is really cutting into my fun time! I wish I could just x-stitch, knit, and read and just have a paycheck magically arrive in my bank account once a month! If any of you figure out how to make that happen, be sure to let me know.

Happy Stitching!
Jane

2007-08-25T16:35:00.001-04:00

I haven't posted all week - I just came home and collapsed. It's always difficult to get back into the new schedule. School is good, classes are good - still don't have all of my stuff...lost in 'moving land' I guess. Boxes keep straggling in from other teachers who got chorus stuff delivered to them. And my grand piano is STILL in the old building in the library.

Wed. they delivered 40 boxes of copy paper to me and stacked them right outside my door, with me inside. Fortunately I can get out through the band room! Okay - that much paper would last me 20 years! literally! When the movers aren't sure where something goes, they just pick a place and put stuff there.

Yesterday we had a terrible storm, the hardest rain I have EVER seen, hail, wind, the works. It started about ten minutes before school dismissal. And the school was leaking all over the place. Can you believe it? I guess it's good that it happened now, so those things can be fixed, but what a mess! My room was okay - however I did have a leak in my office Thursday from the sprinkler system.

So, I haven't touched my stitching all week. My plan is to work on my pumpkin this evening. I finished the baby blanket and I will get to give it to DD this weekend, since she is coming for my Mom's 90th birthday. DS can't make it in from Minneapolis, I miss him so much. I am planning a surprise party for her.

This is kind of a dull post -but I am feeling kind of dull right now. Thanks for stopping by my blog and I appreciate all the comments!

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Why are my posts not showing?

2007-08-20T19:36:00.001-04:00

Post so the Post will Post

2007-08-20T18:03:00.001-04:00

Here is my little post to get my last post to show up!

First Day in the New School

2007-08-20T17:17:00.000-04:00

So today was the first day of school for the kids. All of my classes were good - good sizes, well-behaved, nice kids. My stupid car, which has been fine all summer wouldn't start at all this morning. ACK! How revolting. So a friend picked me up and someone came for the car and I am praying that it can be fixed CHEAPLY!!!!!
I am going to work on my pumpkin tonight. Tomorrow my lesson plan is "Setting Up a Choral Music Library" which will entail each student getting a box and unpacking it. heh heh. I mean, what else can I do, did you SEE those boxes??

This is the chorus room. The riser system they sent is not the one we ordered. We are working on that.

This is one view of my office. As you can see, everything is still in boxes and nothing is organized yet.

ANother view of the office. Not sure why they put in kitchen cabinets....

This is one of three practice rooms.

Another view of my office.

Another view of the chorus room.

The ceiling of the chorus room, which I think is really neat looking. The choir sounded really good, those acoustical tiles are doing their job!

One view of the enormous storage room.

Storage room - obviously not organized yet.

Storage room.

Library

Library

Commons area - cafeteria

Oops - storage room again.

Library

So, someone needs to tell me how to delete pictures!
Have a great evening!
Happy Stitching!
Jane

Someone did, actually several someones and I deleted all the repeat pics! Thanks Guys!

Posting Dilemma

2007-08-18T20:42:00.000-04:00

Okay, here is an interesting dilemma. When I write a new post, it doesn't post until I do another one after it.

Really bad pictures of new stash

2007-08-18T20:03:00.000-04:00

I have some new 'stash'! I was in the only LNS that I know of around here [they keep closing]. I saw two models that I immediately fell in love with - both pumpkins. I had the owner order the two patterns for me and went to pick them up Tuesday.

One was in a book - A Fine Collection by Barb Adams and Alma Allen; Blackbird Designs. If I had known the price of the book, I would not have ordered it, but I didn't, so I did, and I am working on the pumpkin. The picture in the book is done with the variegated yarn, but the model I saw was done with a solid orange and I liked it better. It is on tie-dyed brown faric.

The other pumpkin was Celtic Pumpkin from The Sunflower Seed. The model was done using beige instead of yellow, as shown in the picture. I also liked that better and will do mine the same way.

As I was checking out, I noticed another model, Christmas Tree by M Designs. The model was done all in gold and had small gold beads sewn around on the tree. If you look closely, which is difficult with the picture I took, it says Christmas from bottom to top and is mirrored on the other side of the tree. My PLAN is to make if for my DD for Christmas, but I have learned never to count on my PLAN where handmade gifts are concerned.

This picture is terrible but I can't seem to delete it. In the picture it is done in silver and had multi-colored beads. You can barely see that it says Christmas in cursive writing on the bottom side of the tree.

I am having trouble with lighting with the pictures. The light or the flash on the camera reflects on the pattern. Oh well, maybe you can tell a little about the patterns.

I have done nothing today except sleep. I was exhausted after working all day yesterday moving boxes and books and furniture. I awoke this morning at 10:59, lay down to take a nap at 12:12 and awoke at 5:32. Isn't it funny how, now that we have digital clocks, we say time to the minute. Of, course, some of you may have been born AFTER the advent of digital clocks, but those of you that are nearer my age, know what I'm talking about.

And now, since I think my brain is actually still taking a nap, I will just go back to bed.

So much to do,so little time, let's just cross-stitch!

2007-08-16T19:15:00.000-04:00

Today they delivered most of my stuff. There are 125 boxes stacked in my room, 2 pianos, 80 new chairs, 75 old chairs, 6 benches (?), a huge riser system that is NOT the one we ordered-nor is it assembled correctly, and 15 filing cabinets. There is neither a desk nor a table. The band director THINKS he is going to use one of the practice rooms as a storage room. Ah...NO!
The strings teacher and I plan to handle that situation tomorrow morning.

The new telephone system is amazingly complicated. We have to go through a 25 minute training session before they will give us our phone. Somehow they are hooked into the computer system and we can get our voice mail messages on our computers. Yesterday one of the women in the office accidentally forwarded the school phone calls to some mom's cellphone. She called about 11:00 am and said she was getting all of these school calls on her cellphone, people were yelling at her about schedules and buses - it was too funny! [Needless to say, they made the receptionist go through the telephone training again!]

SO, I am going to go snuggle down on my wonderfully comfortable couch and cross stitch on my new pumpkin pattern and pretend that I am NOT a chorus/drama teacher who has students starting class on Monday and has no music, folders, textbooks, handouts, or lesson plans!

Ah...stitching!
Jane

2007-08-14T20:49:00.000-04:00

The post below doesn't show on the blog. There are huge spaces for some reason. Oh well.

Life is Good!

2007-08-14T20:14:00.000-04:00

So...second day....still no books, music, or filing cabinets. BUT the big riser seating system arrived and they were still working on setting up when I finally left at 5:00pm. I will definitely take pictures tomorrow.

However, the day ended on a very high note! I bought.....drum roll......OFFICE SUPPLIES!!!!!!

I love love love love office supplies!! So here is a picture of my new office supply 'stash'!

Check out the cool colors! Post its, magnets, pens, pencils, glue sticks, round magnets [to be notes on the board!!]

These are paper clips.

But......

The PIECE DE RESISTANCE....

[I have no idea how to spell that]

STRIPED PAPER CLIPS!

Can you stand it????

If you will look closely, in the middle of the 'stash' there is a little wooden pumpkin. It was sitting on the cash register and I said "what a cute pumpkin." And he said, "Take it, it's been there for a year." So I did....because I also love pumpkins!

So, no air conditioning, books, music, filing cabinets, or pianos.
But boy do I have office supply stash!
Life is good!

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Missing Music, Prisoners, and a HUGE Bootie

2007-08-13T22:03:00.000-04:00

So...I went to the school. Oh my goodness, it is SO not ready! There is no furniture in my room or office. All of the boxes of music etc. are who-knows-where? And they are still painting and wiring. They had prisoners there unloading the moving trucks, with their guards standing around patroling them. Weird. Oh and the air conditioning didn't work and the parking lots aren't ready. So...after this wonderful, peaceful, calming summer, one hour there and all the stress was back. I just wanted to come home and knit, which I did, and I finished my baby blanket. It is so beautiful. I tried a bootie - it would have fit a five yr. old, so I frogged it and tried a bib. It was just ugly! Frogged it too. So I decided I would BUY bibs and booties and maybe try a sweater! [Tomorrow - just call me Scarlett!]

Thanks to that crazyhaberdasher!

2007-08-13T09:11:00.000-04:00

I am going to the school today. I hear that it isn't quite ready, which makes me a little concerned, but I'll soon see. I DO know that the new chorus room is amazing and I will take pictures and post them. BTW, thanks to everyone who sent me instructions on how to post pictures. We'll see if I get it!!

That crazyhaberdasher nominated me for the Nice Matters Award. I am so honored. She has commented regularly on my blog, in fact I think she was my first comment. I enjoy her blog, you should visit, it is always soooo interesting. Thanks Maz!

Okay, I'm going to take more pictures to post!
Happy Stitching.
Jane

Pictures....I hope.

2007-08-12T17:27:00.000-04:00

Hello

Everything is in upside down order. ACK!

So now I will try to post pictures of two things I am going to to do. One is yet another pumpkin pattern and the other is a kit that I saw on someone's blog and fell in love with and ordered.

I just realized that they will come in above this.

I first uploaded them in backwards order so they would be in the order I wanted. Those pictures are floating around out in blogland space.

Today has been an arthritis day. I have done nothing but cross stitch. I am trying to post some stuff. It never goes where I think it will go..... Okay they keep disappearing.

SO, this is probably as confusing to read as it was to post. I'm going back to cross-stitching.

BTW, thanks for stopping by my blog and for commenting and e-mailing. I do so wish that some of you lived closer!

Are any of you going to the convention in M yrtle Beach in October? I'm really thinking about doing that!!

Happy Stitching!
Jane

PS I don't know why all these big spaces are here.

Village of Hawk Run Hollow SAL?

2007-08-11T14:44:00.000-04:00

I am going to take Beatrice's suggestion and try to start an SAL. I know there are a few people out there who are working on the Village of Hawk Run Hollow. If there already IS a "Village" SAL, then may I please join it?

Well, I was trying to find people in my area to form a stitching group. I was so excited that I found two people from my area and proceeded to write them. Well, I have since realized that they aren't stitching blogs at all. They appear to be more family and children oriented. They haven't responded, but they probably think I am a crazy, so I may not ever hear from them! Sigh!

School is starting back anyway so I won't have as much time to stitch. We can go tomorrow and see the new building inside. Then we can start moving in Monday. Tuesday is the first official day for teachers, and the kids come the 20th. I am kind of excited about going back, I took a great class this summer and I can't wait to try out the new methods I learned. I am not, however, looking forward to the overwhelming task of unpacking 18 years of music, equipment, and props etc. In fact, I should probably go right now and rest up!

Jane

Picture of my Darling Daughter and her hubby!

2007-08-09T14:10:00.001-04:00

Okay, Jeni has seen her first ultrasound and there is only one baby! I must say I am glad.

The due date is March 8 - one day after her own birthday. Woo-hoo!

I thought I would post a picture of her and her sweet hubby, leaving their wedding reception back in December of 2005 during a huge ice storm. That way you can know what she looks like when I talk about her - which I am occasionally inclined to do! . This is my favorite picture!

Sweetest thing I have ever seen!

2007-08-09T12:50:00.000-04:00

You must take two minutes and go watch this little video. It will make your day!

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9e7c4b40cf5a13cea6ca

Jeni is having her ultrasound as I am writing this...I will let ya'll know what we find out!
I am so excited!!

Jane

Is there anyone out there who wants to start a stitching group?

2007-08-08T22:00:00.000-04:00

So, I have mentioned before, maybe in comments, that I would love to have a stitching group - cross-stitch, knit, crochet or whatever. I live in Greer, SC. I tried searching the blog sites but only found two people in this area. They may think I'm some crazy and not even answer me, but it's worth a try. Martha inspired me to give it a try. :)
So - Come on - Greer/Greenville/ Spartanburg Stitchers unite! [I make a really amazing banana pudding. In fact it's the ONLY thing I make, so you know it must be good!]
Jane Hardin
crazyj49@charter.net

Trying the PIF again

2007-08-08T20:52:00.000-04:00

Okay, Lyda, I'm posting this again. I don't know why you couldn't post to the first PIF post, but here it is again. Maybe others tried also....I can always hope!

I have signed up with Rachel for her Pay it Forward offer.

Here's how it works:I will send a stitched handmade item to the first 5 people who leave a comment on my blog under this post. You will receive it within 365 days; you have my word. The only thing you have to do in return is Pay It Forward by making the same promise on your blog! Once you sign up, I will be emailing you for mailing address information and will keep an eye out on YOUR blog to see what designs, colors, designers you like.

Please do sign up; this will be my first time to participate in ANYTHING in the blogger world and I am so excited!I hope five people actually see this!!Jane

Saying good-bye to a r-e-a-l-l-y old dishwasher

2007-08-08T15:20:00.000-04:00

Today has been pretty uneventful. My dishwasher arrived v-e-r-y e-a-r-l-y. The man who brought it and installed it said "Ma'am, I've been installing dishwashers a right long time and in all my years I ain't never seen one this old. Did it still work?"

Me- "Yes, it worked, but water poured out of the holes in the door. "

Man- "Well Ma'am, if they gave a prize to the woman who got the most out of their dishwasher I believe the prize would have to go to you. heh heh heh."

I suggested that, as my prize, he could just not charge me for the installation.

His response was, "heh, heh, heh."

I cleaned the kitchen today - cabinets [inside and out], and fridge, and stove, - everything. I hated every minute of it, but my kitchen is nice and clean now. And since I don't cook, it should stay that way. ;)

I worked a little on my Halloween project. [Say, I'll do a picture. Okay that took me 45 minutes. After clicking absolutely everywhere, I discovered the little picture on the posting box. Good Job Jane!] Anyhow, I noticed this pattern among some new stash on Wendy's blog. I do love Halloween.

I am going out to dinner with a friend - can't mess up the kitchen you know - so I shall sign off and go get ready.

Happy Stitching!

Jane

Dishwashers, Duct tape, & Twins?

2007-08-06T20:48:00.000-04:00

So, today was an interesting day. I finally broke down and bought a new dishwasher. The one I have came with the house, it has to be at LEAST 30 years old. Well, it developed these two rust holes on either side of the bottom of the door, I mean you could see the floor through the holes.
I just ignored them, until the water started pouring out of the holes onto the floor. So, being a firm believer in the miraculous properties of duct tape, I tried mending the holes with duct tape. Well, duct tape may hold cars together (not mine, but I've seen more than one!) and it may remove warts, but it most definitely does NOT work on dishwasher holes. It peels right off when it heats up, which is what my dear son-in-law tried to tell me, but I tend to do things the hard way and find out for myself. Why not just admit it...I usually assume that I am right, which I usually am. So....long story short [too late!] I broke down and bought a dishwasher. It will be delivered and installed in the next several days.

I still say, "When all else fails, try duct tape before you give up!"

My daughter and her husband are thinking that she might be carrying twins. They DO run in my family as well as his, so it could happen. She is either further along than she thinks, or there just might be two of them in there. I can't wait to see her pregnant, which I will get to do in a few weeks. They go to the doctor Thursday, so I guess we will soon know what is in store for us!

I did knit a little on the baby blanket, maybe 2 inches. I am going to watch Mystery Woman and knit some more. If you haven't seen that show, you should try to catch it. I say 'try to catch it' because, though it is always on Hallmark Channel, it is on different days and times.

Happy Stitching!
Jane

No Comments! :(

2007-08-05T19:24:00.000-04:00

Well, apparently my blog is not allowing comments. Could this, perhaps, be why people are not standing in line to join my PIF? Are they giving up, not knowing what to do, and crying and gnashing their teeth in frustration? Take heart, dear friends, I am working as we speak to correct this problem...well actually I am waiting for my son-in-law to get home from church and correct this problem for ME! Anyway, don't give up on me yet!!

Jane

To knit, or cross-stitch, or read...That is the question!

2007-08-04T22:33:00.000-04:00

Well, it has been a relaxing Saturday. I couldn't decide whether to read, cross-stitch, or knit - so I rotated.

My daughter and her hubby are coming home the end of August for my Mother's 90th birthday. She [my Mother] is amazing, takes one aspirin a day, and drives everyday to the local senior citizens center and plays the piano from 10:00 until 10:30 each morning. She considers herself one of the volunteers and talks about 'those little old people'. [She is probably much older that any of the other people who come there] She is so funny.
Anyway...I want to finish the "I'm-finally-going-to-be-a-grandmother-baby-blanket" before they come home so I can give it to her.

So, I knitted a while. Then I worked on my current Halloween project. And then I read. [If I could figure out a way to read, knit and cross-stitch at the same time I would be in heaven.]
Being able to drive and knit or cross-stitch would be pretty cool too. [I was a voice major in college and used to practice my pieces while driving home on the interstate. I shudder to think how dangerous that was. My parents would have freaked if they had known it!]

Anyway, my day was rather peaceful. School starts soon though and the peaceful days will end for a while. We are moving into a new building, so the start of school will be crazy! [The building still isn't ready. I have visions of teaching in an orange hard hat and handing them out to the students as they come in the building!]

I think I shall go knit some more and then head to bed.

Happy Stitching [or knitting!]
Jane

PIF

2007-08-03T11:33:00.000-04:00

I have signed up with Rachel for her Pay it Forward offer. Here's how it works:

I will send a stitched handmade item to the first 5 people who leave a comment on my blog under this post. You will receive it within 365 days; you have my word. The only thing you have to do in return is Pay It Forward by making the same promise on your blog! Once you sign up, I will be emailing you for mailing address information and will keep an eye out on YOUR blog to see what designs, colors, designers you like. Please do sign up; this will be my first time to participate in ANYTHING in the blogger world and I am so excited!

I hope five people actually see this!!
Jane

Pray for the people in Minneapolis

2007-08-01T22:41:00.000-04:00

Well, my phone has been ringing off the hook since the news of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis has hit the TV. My son called me as soon as he heard about it to let me know he was alright and not on the bridge. I've been watching it on TV and it is so horrible... we went on that highway when I was visiting him in June. Pray for those people, and their families, and the rescue workers.

Jane

The "I am finally going to be a grandmother" baby blanket

2007-07-31T15:08:00.000-04:00

This is the baby blanket I am working on for "grandchild-on-the-way".

Pictures...YAY

2007-07-31T14:58:00.000-04:00

So, you really need to read the post after this before you look at these pictures. I am so excited to finally know how to do this.

Okay, so apparently they go on in the opposite order I was going for. Oh well.

I did it!!!!!

Okay, this is the picture of the sampler.

This is my sampler, still obviously a work in progress.

I'm back

2007-07-31T14:35:00.000-04:00

Well, I am back. I had decided to give up on this blog thing, and lo and behold Lyda has inspired me to keep at it. I have fooled around and not put any pictures on but I am determined to learn how to do this.

I am currently working on a several things. The first is cross-stitch : Museum Celle Sampler 1926. I bought the pattern so many years ago at the Counting House at Pawley's Island. [I've been told that they first introduced cross-stitch in America in the late 60's or early 70's.] It is all in one color, so I work on the first half-cross when I am at home and can concentrate on counting. Then I cross them when I am out and about. I got a lot done when I flew to Minneapolis to see my son. I'll try for a picture when I finish writing.

Secondly - I am knitting a baby blanket for none other than MY FIRST GRANDCHILD!!!!! YAY!!!! I went out and bought the yarn as soon as I hung up the phone from hearing that my Jeni was expecting. It's a pretty pattern that I got online. It looks sort of 'cable-y' but is sooo easy.

Thirdly - a Halloween pattern. The truth is, I am ALWAYS working on a Halloween pattern. [I L-O-V-E Halloween decorations.] This is a Prairie Schooler Pattern, Pumpkin Patch.
Okay, so I am going to work on the pictures and see what happens.
Thanks Lyda, I read your blog daily and yaw'll always make me smile.

Jane