W.I.P. Wednesday

What am I thinking? What am I thinking?

I do not need to start yet another project when I have 3 projects not yet finished and already have so many other projects in mind.  But yet, here I am, starting something new.  I told you before that I have C.A.D.D. (Crafting Attention Deficit Disorder).😄

Seriously though, it really isn't that I don't have the attention to finish my Works in Progress (WIP).  I do have the attention for it, but I just see something new and I want to get started on it so badly that I put the other project aside because I am so excited about the new one.

I haven't cross-stitched in YEARS -  (well, other than the small project I made for my niece and her family).  I used to love to cross-stitch, but as I have gotten older, so has my eye-sight and it makes cross-stitching a bit more difficult.

But almost 3 years ago, I found this pattern and wanted to pick up my needle, hoop and Aida cloth.  However, I didn't because I had other projects going on and didn't want to start something new and didn't know that I would be able to see well enough to do cross-stitch.    I can't believe it has been that long ago since I purchased this pattern!!  I decided that I would just take the plunge and start it (and yes, finish it)

I still have 1 knitting project and 2 crochet projects that I will work on.  I have decided on a system that will work for me so that I can work and finish all of them (before I start anything new - a promise to myself).

So...I am going to work on this cross-stitch project this week in the evenings.

Sunday, I will get back to my knit project and work on that next week (I will most likely finish it next week - I'm almost done with it)

The following week, back to the cross-stitch

The week after, one of the crochet projects (the one I am closest to finishing) - maybe I will finish it that week - if not, I will just continue to work on it until finished.

This will get me through the month of January then I will come up with a plan for February.  I have so many things I want to knit/crochet/etc. but I truly, truly want to finish my WIPs (which now includes this cross-stitch piece).

I started an afghan that I started back in 2010 - yes, almost 8 years ago...there is good reason this was placed on hold though because (a) it is a massive project and (b) I suffered loss of family members and I was in a car accident and had a 6 month recovery from that so I wasn't physically able to work on it for a long time - then after my accident, I just didn't have crafting mo-jo for a while.  But I know, I truly know that this is the year that it will be completed. 

This cross-stitch project is the largest cross-stitch that I have ever attempted - the pattern is  6 pages!!! There are 26 colors - all in shades of brown.  But this truly is a labor of love and a dedication to my sweet dear Thatcher, who I miss with all my heart.  I'm excited to start this project.

Most cross-stitch yorkies are the cutest ones with long, hair and bows - like the one below and that is just NOT my Thatcher - he didn't have pointed ears like most yorkies, he didn't wear bows and he wasn't teeny tiny pocket book size - he was almost 20 lbs, fluffy and floppy-eared. He wasn't like this one....(which most cross-stitch patterns are like)

So...wish me luck as I start this new adventure.  I don't have a photo of the project to post yet because I only started it this morning, before work and only have about 15 stitches done so far.  I will post a photo next week of my progress.

Happy New Year - 2018!

You know, sometimes I cannot believe it when I say Happy 2018!  Seriously, wasn't I just partying like it was 1999 and there was a lot of talk of Y2K - how was that 18 years ago?  Wow!  I guess the saying is true that as you get older, time really does seem to fly.

I won't lie and I don't want to be a "Debbie Downer" but I will admit, the holidays were not the best for me this year.  They were not bad, nothing horrible happened or anything like that, thank goodness but it was just a sad time for me.  It was harder this year than last for some reason.  Since my dad passed, I know the holidays will never be the same and for some reason, I was really, really, really missing my brother this year. 

Christmas 2013, I went to visit my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas, my mom went with me.  My niece, her husband and baby flew in from New Zealand.  It had been a long time since I had seen my niece and her husband and it was the very first time seeing their child (just turned 1 at the time) in person.  What a joy she was (and is).

My brother and sister-in-law was just over the moon at their grandchild.  My brother was so fun to watch, he missed out a lot when my niece was little because he was in the Navy and was gone for many months at a time.  He was so thrilled to have a grand-daughter in his life.

I took this photo of them playing together and you can just see the happiness in his eyes.

Little did I know, how could I have known, that this would be the last Christmas I would spend with him?  How in the world would I ever imagine that he wouldn't be there the next Christmas?  It still doesn't seem real sometimes and yet, sometimes it seems all too real.

Did I mention that my brother's birthday is January 1st - a New Year's baby - which is an even bigger reminder that he isn't here.  He would have been 58 today. 

I know life has to go on, but it is hard.  However, now that the holidays (and his birthday) has passed, I must move on to the next year. He would want that for me, he would NOT want me sulking.  He lived life to the fullest and would want all of us to do the same so I will do my best to continue to do that.

I don't really have any resolutions for 2018 except to complete some of the crafty projects I have started, to spend more time reading God's word and more time in prayer and quiet time with Him and to continue working on my healthy life changes (I've done a pretty good job doing that if I must say so myself ...patting myself on my own back). 

I have been doing Project Life (aka: Project 365) since 2009 and will continue again in 2018.  In conjunction with that, I'm taking an iPhone Photography class to improve my iPhone photo skills since it seems that lately, I use my iPhone more than my regular camera.

I don't usually post my Project Life layouts but I may start doing that (weekly? monthly?).  I did get behind a couple of times last year but I caught back up.  I just need to order my pages (I like to print them out and put them in a book, since I started using the app).  Before the app, I would just order the photos and put them in page protectors. 

I am hopeful for 2018.  I know it is a journey - there will be hills with some ups and some downs but I am hoping there are more highs than lows.  I expect there will be.  2017 was a pretty good year, all and all.  While there were people missing from life and a few others passed on, overall the year was a happy one and I know that since God is always with me, that no matter what lies ahead, He will be there!

I hope you had a good 2017 and that 2018 is fantastic!!

2017 Books Read

I read (or in some cases listened to) 19 books in 2017.  That is a new record for me.  I generally read 6 or less books in a year.  It amazes me because I know that some of my friends over at 2peasrefugees read WAY more (many are over 100) but I just have to assume that most of the ones that have read that many books in a year either (a) read very, very fast and/or (b) do not work 60-70 hours a week outside of the home like I do.  I simply do not have time to read that many books, work full time (plus), maintain a home and some sort of a social life.

Anyway...I am very pleased with myself (although the perfectionist in me is a tad upset that it wasn't an even 20 books - maybe next year!)

I do a reading challenge each year over on Goodreads and my challenge this year was 6 books (which as you can see, I surpassed) - for 2018, I am taking a bold step (for me) and challenging myself to 12 books - which is an average of 1 a month.

I may even take on some of the Pop Sugar Reading Challenges.  We shall see.

Anyway...I did some Project Life layouts of all the books I read this year and thought I would share here (click on photos to enlarge)

Favorites for the year: A Man Called Ove and Wish Me Home.
Second Place Contender: Here's to Us

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Christmas is Hard

Christmas is hard when someone is missing

I have been Christmas shopping and I pass by the Old Spice - I always got my dad an Old Spice set every year.  Now, each and every time I pass the gift sets in the store, it is just a reminder that I won't be buying a gift for him this year.

I pass by the golf novelties or something I think my brother would really like and again, I am reminded that I have another gift that I don't need to buy anymore.

Christmas is joyous because we celebrate the birth of Christ but it is also very, very hard when it is another year without someone you love - someone that should be here with you.

I don't want to put up a tree or set out decorations, it is just a reminder that they aren't here and we are never going to celebrate Christmas together with them again.  It is hard.

Gary Numan at The Masquerade

I love Gary Numan...I have since 1979 when I was given "The Pleasure Principle" album by my friend Susan.  Now most people will say "who?" and when I say he sings "Cars" - many people then know who I am talking about...but only my friend Susan and I know all his other songs.  His music is so electric and different than most artists.  While I like "Cars" - it is not my favorite song of his. 

My favorite is "I Die, You Die" followed by "Down in the Park"

Anyway...I never had a chance to see him back in the day.  I was thrilled when his new album "Savage" was released several months ago (it is fantastic!) and was even more excited when he announced he was coming to Atlanta!!  Finally, I would get to see him - LIVE!!

So, the day gets here and it is at The Masqerade which relocated to Underground Atlanta less than a month ago.  The Masquerade use to be 3 levels ... Hell (which was a dance floor), Purgatory (which was mostly a bar and sitting area and Heaven (which was where the musical acts performed).

Since the move, they are not 3 levels anymore but they still have 3 room with the same name and of course Gary Numan was performing in Heaven (I didn't get to see the other rooms since they are close to each other but all have separate entrances).

The new Heaven location is much bigger than the old one and they state it holds 1,000 people but I swear to you there were a lot more than 1,000 people at the show.

We arrived at 6:00 because the tickets said the show started at 7:30.  There was no mention of an opening act.  I thought that was early but I did what I was told.  Well..the doors opened at 7:30, and luckily Susan and I got right up at the stage (it is a Standing Room only venue - there are no seats anywhere, even at the bars).

After standing up for 3 hours, the opening act, "Me Not You" finally came on at 9:00 (trust me it is hard to stand in the same spot without moving for that long in a PACKED shoulder-to-shoulder venue...so we were more than ready for the show to get started.

We did not care for the opening act at all.  They were not what I would say "bad" but they were not "good' either.  Plus, at this point, no one cared anything about them, we were all getting tired, frustrated and hot and just wanted Gary to come on. 

Finally, he hits the stage at 10:00 pm (we have been there 4 hours by now and it was a Monday night) but it was worth the wait because as expected, he was incredible. 

I have no photos to show because there were just too many people and plus you were packed so tightly (when he came on, people pushed us even closer up and pushed in more on the sides) - that there was no way you could even get your camera/phone out of your pocket if you wanted to.  That is okay though - I didn't need photos - I just wanted to hear and see him.

I am so glad I finally got to see him!!

Here is what he sang......

Ghost Nation
Metal (loved, loved, loved hearing this live)
The Fall
Everything Comes Down to This
Bed of Thorns
Down in the Park (a favorite of mine)
Pray for the Pain You Serve
Here in the Black
Films
Mercy
Love Hurt Bleed
My Name Is Ruin
Cars
When the World Comes Apart
A Prayer for the Unborn

ENCORE 1
M.E.
Are Friends' Electric?

ENCORE 2
I Die: You Die

The two encores were my FAVORITES

I think Gary really enjoyed himself and the next day, he put this on Facebook..it is the first time I have seen him post something like this so I truly believe he was sincere.

Thank you Gary for coming to Atlanta !!!  I didn't like the venue but I loved you!

Brian Setzer Orchestra

 

I have had the pleasure of seeing the Brian Setzer Orchestra every December for the past several years.  We are so lucky that he comes to our town every year.

Last night, they performed at the Woodruff Art Center, which is the home of the Atlanta Symphony, so you know the sound was amazing.  Of course it was very nicely decorated for the holidays.

Brian Setzer is one of the most amazing entertainers.  He just gives it his ALL - as does the entire orchestra.  I just can only imagine the hours and hours and hours of planning and rehearsal that goes into this show to make it all seem so flawless.

This year, before the show, we got to see some of his guitars up close and personal -very cool!!

 They started out with the classic Glen Miller hit, Pennsylvania 6 - 5000.

 

He sang a great mixture of Christmas songs, Stray Cats songs and other Rock-a-Billy hits!

The orchestra always takes a small break (union rules I believe) and he is left on stage alone to play/sing "The Christmas Song" and then he was joined on stage by the infamous bass player Johnny Hatton and Bernie Dresel on drums.  While I love the entire orchestra, this is one of my favorite parts of the show...He sang "Fishnet Stockings" and sat on the bass, stood on the bass, stood on the drums - it is just an incredible performance!

The show just leave you feeling high and puts you right into the Christmas spirit.  This year was extra special because he did a tribute to Glen Campbell by singing "Witchita Lineman" and Tom Petty by singing "Running Down a Dream"

If you ever, ever, ever have a chance to see him, trust me - DO IT!!!

Here is the set list:

Pennsylvania 6-5000
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Hoodoo Voodoo Doll
Stray Cat Strut
Boogie Woogie Santa Claus (one of my FAVES)
Gene & Eddie
Angels We Have Heard on High
The Dirty Boogie
Jump, Jive an' Wail
Here Comes Santa Claus (complete with Santa Claus on stage, throwing out candy canes)
Wichita Lineman (Glen Campbell Tribute)
Runnin' Down a Dream (Tom Petty Tribute)
The Christmas Song
Fishnet Stockings (another Fave)
Rock This Town

Encore:
The Nutcracker Suite - major highlight of the show!
Jingle Bells

This video is not from last night's show but I just have to share because it is so wonderful






I think he must have really enjoyed the energy of the audience last night because he posted this on Facebook after the show.

 

Thank you Mr. Setzer for the amazing show - you are one of a kind!!

W.I.P. Wednesday

I have still be working away on my Virus Blanket - I recently went to the site where I received the pattern and I see the pattern is no longer free.  I am glad I got it when it was still free and I know I better hang on to it.  Although, I do believe that $4.25 (current price as of this blog post) is well worth the price for this.

I have completed 3 Caron Cakes and the size is now 48" x 48"  - I would like it to be about 60" x 60", which would be a nice size blanket.  But I only have 6 yarn cakes in this colorway (or maybe it is 7 - I can't recall but typically I purchase even numbers because I'm a little bit like Monk and like my numbers to come out even. 😃

So, however big I can make it with the number of yarn cakes I have will be the final size, which hopefully will be close to what I want.

Sorry for the wonky photo - the sides are even but the angle I took the photo doesn't make it seem that way.

Here is a little close up that shows the detail a little better.

 

Sadly, I think I am going to have to put it aside for a couple of weeks to finish up another project that I want to complete before Christmas (and that project needs blocking time because it is knitted) - I don't really want to set this aside but I think I will have to for now.