TGOSM Ornament Exchange

I realized I never posted a photo of the wonderful ornament I received from Cindy D. in the TGOSM exchange.  Isn't it great?!  It's a Prairie Schooler design and I love the way she added sparklies for stars.

Happy Stitching!

Vicki in CO

Goodbye 2009 and Hello 2010!

FIRST FINISH FOR 2010!

I spent a lot of time the past couple days stitching on my quilt block for the SFAC Quilt, and it is my first fiinish for 2010!  My block is in memory of my grandfather who died from bladder cancer way back in 1976.  I'll be sending this off to Donna next week.

GOODBYE TO 2009

December was definitely a busy month at our house. 

Lots of snow--over 16" of the 39.1" we've had so far this winter. 

I had cataract surgery on December 3 and 10.  I'm now seeing 20/20 in my left eye and 20/25 in my right eye!  I have never seen better than 20/40 in my entire life, even with my coke-bottle thick trifocal glasses!  This had been quite a big change for me.  Now I just need the inexpensive readers available from most any store instead of the old $600+ glasses!

December 14th brought back surgery for me--a laminectomy of L-3 to remove bone spurs from my extensive arthritis and two cysts.  The surgery meant a couple days in the hospital and a couple weeks recovery at home.  It's been a challenge to get back to 'normal' activities, and I'm still struggling with  fatigue and lack of energy some days, but I'lll go back to work at least part-time on January 4th.  The good thing is the surgery seems to have resolved the intense pain I've been experiencing down both legs. 

Look at the absolutely gorgeous crocheted afghan one of my staff, Cece, made for me!  That's our year-old Golden Retriever, Murphy on the right.

Pieceable Friends, the local quilt guild I belong to, brought over a comfort quilt and sent me a nice Get Well card.

Because of my back surgery, we weren't able to go to our son's house (250 miles away) for Christmas.  This was the first Christmas since he was born that we haven't all been together on December 24 and 25.  DH and I spent a quiet day watching movies on TV.  Our wonderful next door neighbors brought us a wonderful Christmas dinner.

Our son WAS able to come home the next week for a couple days, so we actually celebrated Christmas with him on December 29th.  Gifts were very small and inexpensive this year, but that's okay, the important thing is, we were together. 

STITCHING UPDATE

I didn't feel up to stitching for quite a while after my surgery, so didn't finish the Elvis cross stitch I'm working on for DH.  But, here's my progress to date.

I'm trying to catch up on the various lists I'm on, and getting stitching organized for 2010, I'm signed up for several SAL's, as well as have a long list of items I want to stitch.  So, I hope I can be productive this year.

Wishing everyone a wonderful, happy and healthy New Year!

Happy Stitching!

Vicki in CO

Check Out This Great Blog Giveaway!

Jennifer is having a wonderful blog giveaway! 

WOW!  OH HOW I LOVE GIVEAWAYS!!!!

I just get all excited and wish and wish I could win!

I just love scissors.... there are way too many to drool over!

December 15th is the deadline to enter!

Happy Stitching!
 
Vicki in CO

ILCS Sock- It To Me Santa Exchange et al.

Birthday

Here I am on my birthday, in very cold Colorado...last I heard our current wind chill was -13.  Expected actual low tonight is to be -17.  Brrrrr!  You can bet I have the fireplace going!  DH called me at work today to ask where I wanted to go for dinner for my birthday.  I told him home to have leftover chili and cinnamon rolls!  Guess I'm getting old.

I received a great birthday gift from one of my staff, Darya.  It's a wonderful glass cutting board with the exact same kitty design as one of the notepads I received yesterday from Nancy.  Guess they know what I like. 

It's about 9" x 10".  I'm actually considering displaying it at work in one of my bookshelves on an easel.  Don't you think it is way too pretty to slice tomatoes or potatoes on? 

ILCS Sock It To Me Santa Exchange

Today's mail brought me a wonderful exchange from Rene la Frog.  Look at all the great goodies she sent!

I've had one pair of toe-socks before and loved them.  Can't wait to wear these---you can bet they will be on my feet tomorrow.  They will be perfect with my blue Christmas sweater with white stitched snowflakes!  

She also sent a tiny 'Doodles' kit that is complete with a snowman button, my favorite John James tapestry petites, a skein of Threadworx (I've never had any of this brand before), and a cute Stitch A Card kit.  She totally spoiled me!

However, the most exciting item in this exchange was the absolutely awesome snowman scissor fob Rene made for me.  I've actually never owned a fob before.  This genius fob deserves it's own photo.  If you look carefully, you can see that the beads and black in between each make little snowmen!  Is that cute or what?!  I put this on my very best pair of embroidery scissors...my  cloisonné Gingher's.

'Ring Around The Rosie' (one more time!)

I posted the framed 'Ring Around The Rosie' Hummel I'll be giving Nancy at her retirement luncheon tomorrow, but I think the post got lost in all of the updates I did.  So, here it is once again for your viewing pleasure....

This is 18" x 18" framed.  I'm extremely proud of it; it's one my largest completed cross stitches so far. 

Our next door neighbor works for a framd shop and I gave her the cross stitch and told her to 'do what she felt was right' to mat and frame it.  I think she did a wonderful job! Here's a close-up of the frame.

That's it for now.  Happy Stitching!

Vicki in Cold and Snowy Colorado

Birthday and Christmas

Tomorrow is my 57th birthday.  Yikes!  How did all those years go by so fast?  It seems incredible to me.  But, spending 38 of those years with my DH, one of the very best husbands in the entire world, have made those years very very special and wonderful, no matter the challenges and obstacles over the years.  And, I must also give credit for a wonderful life to our stupendous son, Carl, the joy of my life. 

Enough of the serious stuff, I want to show you the wonderful birthday gift Nancy gave me today:

The green fabric bag is a wonderful mix for 'Creamy White Chicken Chili Soup.'  It is from a local company called Warm Hugs.

My supervisor, Cindy, gave me my gift last week.  We work in different parts of campus, so don't actually see each other in person very often, but we keep in constant touch via e-mail.  She has called my 'Wonder Woman' for years, so what else but a Wonder Woman PEZ dispenser?!  Over the years, she's given me a Wonder woman address book, Wonder Woman shirt....it is an ongoing joke with us.

She also gave me a wonderful tin of pomegranate tea, but that is already residing in my 'food/beverage' cabinet in my office.  :)

This moring, my department had our annual gift exchange and holiday get-together.  Wonderful food and great conversation.  We draw names and exchange gifts.  This year, Connie got my name.  She really spoiled me with some wonderful edible goodies from Harry & David.

Don't you love the eyes on that reindeer cookie?!  Oh yes, the mini loaf at the bottom was a gift from Nancy.  Yum! 

One other gift found it's way to my desk this morning.  This one is from Liz.  I'm not going to open it until Christmas.  From the shape, I suspect it is a CD of some sort.  What do you think?  The snowman on the bow is a pin I can wear after I open it.  Doesn't she do a lovely wrapping job?  Almost too pretty to open. 

OK, that's all the updates for now.  The next update will probably be this weekend, after my second cataract surgery.  I'm excited for Thursday! 

Until then,

Happy Stitching and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

Vicki in CO

My New Office

Okay, today is the day for lots of blog updates for me.  At long last, here's a couple of photos taken of my new office.  As you can see, these were taken when I first moved in--before Thanksgiving (even though I already had a poinsettia on my desk.  The decor has now changed to a Christmas theme.  No, I don't have any new photos.  :) 

I absolutely adore my new office.  It is so nice to have space to hold meetings.  My concentration level has also greatly improved without the constant interruptions in my old space.  

Alas, I'm still not quite unpacked.  There are at least five boxes left to unpack, and I also need to organize my bookcases.  I try to work on one small area each day.

This is looking into my office from the lobby area.

This is looking from my desk back at the front door.  In the back left of the room, there is also a door from my office into the workroom/kitchen area.  That is very handy because there is a refrigerator and microwave in the next room

One last photo...this one is my new credenza.  I've been constantly rearranging things on it; I can't decide for sure exactly how I want to utilize it.  I think the 3-in-1 scanner/fax/printer on my 2-drawer file will be moving to the right side of the credenza because I'll be getting a new scanner for use with one of our internal systems soon.  I use the 3-in-1 as a copier for single copies and for scanning at the moment.  My printer is a new laser printer that sits on the counter across from my desk.

I already loved my job, but working in this new, spacious office makes going to work a joy!

Still more updates to come....

Vicki in CO

"Ring Around The Rosie" Framed and "Elvis" Update

Finally got some photos taken of the Hummel design for Nancy,  This is her retirement gift.  A group of us are supposed to go to lunch on Wednesday to celebrate her retirement.  Sure hope the snow doesn't cuase us to postpone to a later date! 

I'm really excited to give this to her!  She collects Hummel figurines and I think she is going to love it. 

I think the framing turned out wonderful.  Our next door neighbor works at a framing store and she chose the mats and frame.  The size of the frame is 18" x 18".  DH got a specially made box from a packaging store so I can wrap it properly. 

Here's a close-up of the stitching.

And here's a close-up of the frame.

I worked on Elvis just a little bit in the past week.  I can see him coming to life; sure hope I can get this finished up and framed for DH by Christmas!

Lots more updates on other subjects, but I'll save them for another post.

Happy Stitching!

Vicki in CO