Happy March!

Wow...things have been busy busy busy at our house.

My running took a huge hit when I strained my right hamstring.  I was on rest for over a month.  I'm just not starting to ease back into my running.  In fact, I started a new challenge for March.  I am running at least one mile every day in March.  Today I did 5 very easy, very slow miles and felt pretty good.  I'm hoping I'm on the mend.

I have been taking a Learn To Draw class.  It's been going pretty good.  Here are a few things I've done.  First is a cabin drawn with charcoal.

 

Then we did a rose.  I did this using oil pastels.

 



Currently I'm working on a face using charcoals.  I'm almost done with it and I think it looks pretty good.

I have also been doing a lot of cross stitching lately.  I did more towels for my sister-in-law.  I have been working on a set of holiday towels that were for her bridal shower, but they have taken me a little bit longer.  I still have one more to do.

I'm also working on a big poster for my nephew.  It's going to be the Star Wars poster.  Here are the first two pages of the pattern completed.  I'm almost done with the third page.

My goals for the new year were altered a bit.  I have been making little homemade items for my friends and family to brighten their day.  I have mailed out several already.  There have been little cross stitch ornaments, soap, and magnets so far.  I have enjoyed making these things and James has helped as well. 

I'm hoping to be able to keep up with the blogging as well.  I think I have everything settled and organized.  Things have slowed down and I'm ready to roll.

Here's to a great March!

I'm not ready for this cold

I got up yesterday morning to go to practice and it was 47 degrees out.  This morning I got up 3 hours later than yesterday and it was 41 degrees out.  Right now my computer says its 37.  We went from hot and sweltering to here comes winter.  Where was my nice transition?  Where was my free energy?  You almost need the heat on.  Almost...I refuse to turn it on this early though.

I did get up and run this morning.  It's one of my fastest paces so far, but I felt like lead.  My legs just never seemed to loosen up and every time I picked my feet up they felt like bricks.  I don't know if its because I let myselft sleep until 7 instead of getting up at 6:15 or if yesterday just really drained me.  I know I don't like running at 7:30.  Too many people and too many cars.  I like the nice quiet early mornings.  I like watching the rabbits and being alone with myself.  I don't like dodging cars and people.

Tomorrow I'll get up at my normal time and head out again.  I want to try to run longer tomorrow.  Today was just one of those run and get it marked off your list days.  Tomorrow will be better.

Yesterday I picked up the framed Star Wars sampler.  It looks amazing!!!!!!  The frame makes it look even better.  I got the Care Bear framed the other day as well.  It looks really good too.  It's amazing how a frame can really make something just pop.  For the purple Care Bear I did I got a shiney pink frame and it really looks good with the purple.

 With the rose Care Bear I found a shiney green frame that looks really cool.

Finally the Star Wars sampler framed.

I'm still waiting on the Aida cloth for the next Star Wars and the last Care Bear.  In the meantime I'm working on some tea towels.  They are quick and keep me busy.  I'm really itching to get the next Star Wars started though.

Off to get the rest of my day started!  Tomorrow a longer run and up at the right time.

Back in the swing of things

Last week was crazy!  School started for James.  Swimming started for me.  Time just slipped away from me.

I didn't get any runs in last week and I could tell.  I was grumpy and sluggish the whole week.  I got up today and ran.  It felt good.  With each step I could feel my mood getting better.  I ran with the radio on and it seemed like I wasn't running at all.  I love the morning talk shows.  I need to get my iTunes moved to this computer so I can download some podcasts to listen to.  I'm thinking I need to download the Sports Junkies since I miss them so much.  The talking makes me feel like I'm having a conversation and it makes the time go faster.  Music is okay, but I have found I run better with talking.

Swimming is back in full swing.  Last week was good.  Getting them back in the routine.  I have a wide range, but it will be fun.  It's a good group and I enjoy them.

James loves school.  His first week went great.  He loves his teacher and his classmates.  He told Aunt Kristie that he only learned a tiny bit though.  He's so funny about that.  This coming weekend we are going to a Renaissance Faire at a local park on Saturday.  I think he'll enjoy that.  On Sunday we are doing the Terry Fox run with the swim team and then going apple picking. Birtch Farms is where we do our picking and they are having their apple festival this weekend.  It's a great place.  They have lots of stuff to do for the kids and a corn maze.  This will be our 3rd year going here and we love it.

Yesterdy I finished Sylvie's Care Bear.  It looks really cute.  I have to get it framed yet and I'm doing that on Thursday since I don't have swimming that day.  Here is the finished product.

I am starting on another Star Wars project as soon as the black cloth I ordered comes in.  I have 2 more to stitch and then my neices and nephews are done.  Right now I'm working on some holiday tea towels to kill time.  I can't even do James' betta fish as the pattern has come in yet.  That's all right.  I'll get a start on these towels.

Mike is in Pennsylvania again this week.  He's spending more time in the States then I am.  This flight was fairly uneventful he said.  I'm glad because the last time he was there it was quite the adventure.

Everything is clicking right along.  Tomorrow is my long day and then I have Thursday off.  Gearing up for a busy weekend and then another really busy week.  At least it keeps me off the streets!

Happy Long Weekend!!!!!

Well, the last weekend of summer vacation is here.  James is excited to start school on Tuesday and I'm excited to get back to swimming as well.  I have some work to do this weekend that I've been putting off, but that will have to happen tomorrow and Monday.

We decided on a name for our new betta.  Her name is Simona.  She loves her new home and is often found zipping around her tank.   She loves the blood worm treats that Simon didn't care for and she will come up to the tank to talk to you when you are looking at her.  James loves his new friend.

I am trying a new running schedule.  I have 21 days until the zoo run and I need some major training.  I got up and went for short run today.  Tomorrow I will push myself doing some interval running.  Monday it's an off day for running, but will go for a long walk.  Tuesday I'm out for a long run of at least 40 minutes.  Wednesday is a rest day.  I have to look to see beyond that.  I'm really trying to get myself back on a schedule.  I want to run outside this winter as well.  I've already signed up for the Resolution Run on January 1st.  I don't know that I can get lucky 2 years in a row with warm weather.  I also registered for the Slainte St. Patrick's Day 5k.  This is the race that the last 2k are straight downhill.

Last night I finished the Star Wars sampler for my nephew Chi.  It turned out really well.  I have to get a frame for it today, but it looks so cool!  I'm thinking of getting the villian samler so I can maybe make stitch an afghan with the Star Wars characters on it.  That would be really cool!

Here is a picture of the finished sampler.

I'm now working on another Care Bear for my neice Sylvie.  I have another Star Wars one to stitch and it will be cool!

Well, off to enjoy the weekend!  I hope you all have a safe and restful holiday!

Cross Stitching: I Forgot How Fun It Was

I have been working on getting Christmas presents cross stitched.  I finished one Care Bear picture with two more to go.

I'm currently working on a Heroes of Star Wars Sampler.  It's coming along and looking really good. 

I have 4 more characters to stitch and then the backstitching between them.  I have one more Star Wars picture to stitch after I'm done with this.

I used to cross stitch a lot when I was in high school and college.  After college I kind of let it go.  This spring I started doing it again and have been going to town with it.  For our craft sale, I made simple little ornaments. 

Then I did these dolphins for James.



Then I made a picture for my nephew Sawyer that was a teddy bear and had his name and birthday on it.  That's when I decided to make the Christmas presents for my neices and nephews.  I had the Care Bear patterns and James said that Sienna and Sylvie would like that.  I knew that Gabe and Chi would love Star Wars so I went in search of some patterns.  I found them too!  Ebay can be wonderful for finding things like that.  Then James said the Sawyer will need a Care Bear too.  So he picked out a blue one for him.  I'm alternating between Care Bears and Star Wars right now. 

I did take a brief side trip after the first Care Bear to make a present for my parent's 40th anniversary.

I hope to have the Star Wars Sampler done by the end of the week and will start on the Care Bear this weekend.  I may have to go to Micheal's to get the two Star Wars and the one Care Bear framed, but I've been saving my coupons to save the money.

I have really enjoy seeing how a mess of colors and symbols turn into a wonderful picture when stitched.

Now I haven't been sleeping so this has been helping.  Tonight I will be taking a Unisom to help me get back on schedule as well as getting a run in later on today.  Then I can enjoy my stitching without messing up my sleep.  I can't wait to figure out what else I can stitch when these are all done!

That felt good!

After taking last week off and just giving myself a mental and physical break I got up and went for a run today.  It felt so good!  I was keeping a good pace and didn't even realize how long I'd been running.  It was nice.  I'm going out again tomorrow morning and then on Friday morning.  I have a plan for the next two weeks and that will get me to my race on the 28th.  Then I'll make a plan for my next race.  I'm just going to take it two weeks at a time and enjoy what I'm doing.

I used today's run to process some things.  Yesterday I found out that a friend passed away from cancer on Sunday night.  He had been battling it for awhile.  This friend really helped both Mike and I before we had even really met.  He was a kind and giving soul.  He will be missed, but his life will never be forgotten.  I was able to just really think about everything while I was running and that is one of the reasons I started running again.  It gives me time to process things and work through them both emotionally and physically.  If you can spare a prayer for Ron and his family it would be appreciated.

I finished Sienna's Christmas present on Saturday.  It turned out really nice.  I found a great frame for it and it really made look even better.  Here is what I made her.

I was supposed to be working on a Star Wars one, but I cut the cloth too small and I was missing one of the floss colors.  I like to have everything there and ready to go when I start.  I will be starting the Star Wars sampler tonight or tomorrow afternoon.  I can't wait!!!!!!

Today I'm heading out to the market for the first time in awhile.  I'm going to make some jam today.  I will probably go again on Thursday to get more fruit.  I love making jam and Mike and James love eating it.  I just wish I liked jam.  Oh well, I guess I have to make thumbprint cookies so I can enjoy the jam.  Darn it...the sacrafices I make.

I can't believe that its Wednesday already

Where did the week go??????  I am thinking that because we had friends over Saturday, a holiday Monday and the start of swim camp yesterday that it just made everything go by quickly.

Last night I finished up the dolphins I was stitching for James.  It turned out pretty good.

Today I got up and ran.  I have to get on a schedule for that.  It seems like I just can't get it together.  I took 4 days off and today was not pretty.  I love doing it, but I have a day like today, get discouraged and make an excuse to take a day off.  I have to get in a better frame of mind.  I just can't seem to get it together.  I think I'm going to have to just write it down everyday and make myself do it.  My plan for the rest of the week is to run tomorrow and Friday, rest Saturday, and race Sunday.  Next week we are in Sudbury so I want to run at least on the treadmill in the hotel Tuesday and Wednesday.  I hate treadmills, but I want to get 2 runs in next week while we're gone.  If I don't get to it I won't reach my goal.

More swim camp today.  Yesterday went well, but I was so tired.  I hate feeling that way.  I'm a bit tired today, but my run usually helps me feel good the rest of the day.  Hopefully that holds true today.

Well, I made it to Wednesday so it's all downhill from here!