HMMMMMMM......

I'm having a love/hate relationship with my stitching efforts on the Rishfeld canvas.  There are moments when I look at the yellow flowers and think "Cool.  A little bit of dimension. With a lovely crystal in the center, these babies will really pop!"

Other times I wonder what in the h-e-double-toothpicks I was thinking.

So I've decided to finish those last two in the upper left and then move on to another mo-teef.  Then, when the whole kit and caboodle has been completed, I can decide if the yellow flower "let's just do a few random stem stitches" idea will stay or go.

How's things in YOUR neck of the woods?

OH, OKLAHOMA

We're adding our thoughts and prayers to those of the rest of the world for you, Oklahoma (and elsewhere if you've been hit by Mother Nature).    I'm so sorry for it all...the loss of life, of home, of community...all of it.  I pray that you can find one small moment of peace or comfort in the coming days.




Small progress on the Rishfield canvas...

AND THEN...

My baby dear turned eight years old today.  Seems like just yesterday he was but a wee little two-pound bundle of love peeing in his playpen.  Now he's a wee little nine-pound bundle of love peeing on the drapes.

Damnit, I love this dog!

Happy Birthday, bubbala.  Mommie loves you.  Truly.  I do.

THOUGHTS ON MO-THER'S DAY, BY MASTER STEWEY ANGUS WILLOWSWAMP, HIS VERY LITTLE SELF

My Mo-ther can't come to the blog right now.  She's snoring away in the big girl sleigh bed while I am left to my own devices with this computer and a few pesky squirrels at the bird feeders for company.  I realize that it has been quite a long while since last we spoke, so I hope that this finds you hale and hearty, my dear friends.

Happy Mother's Day to one and all on behalf of spoiled little pups like myself.  (Did I really just say that?  Could it be that I'm turning a new leaf and am realizing that I really do have a pretty good gig here with the old lady and all of her crazy notions of what it takes to raise a "uniquely interesting individual" such as myself?  Have I come to appreciate the fact that, while completely clueless, my stupid Mo-ther always comes from a place of love, even if the end result is usually something that makes me want to tear my little white fluffy hairs out?  Am I learning to be loving and grateful for the happy home that she's bumbleclucked her way into creating?)

Naaaaaaaaaa.

Here is some progress on the Rishfield canvas that Mo-ther started at the beginning of the year.  As you can see, she's completed stitching all of the white flowers, and has added a lovely elongated cross border in between the green and red sections and on the perimeter.  Methinks this will be quite lovely once completed, provided the old lady doesn't go totally off her nut and do something crazy like apply felt daisies to the damn thing.

We're off to a quiet Sunday. My Aunt Chrissy and pesky cousin Bosco will arrive shortly for a marathon session of stitching, snacking, and Game of Throning.  We seem to have finally fallen into a pattern of "Sissy Sundays" that makes my mom's heart positively sing, so I suppose we had better keep doing it for the duration if we expect to keep any peace and quiet around here.

I hope that you know that until we meet again I remain your loyal and devoted friend.  To all of the mothers out there in Blogville, I wish you a most heartfelt Happy Mother's Day and all that comes with it.

With much love from your pal,
Stewey

HE SAID......WHAAAAAATTTTT?! *****EDITED TO ADD

******Sorry, kids.  I see that I probably should not have violated the whole thing about politics, sex, or religion.....I was just surprised that the Pope His Very Self was throwin' shade at spinsters.

(Don't you just love how I'm all hip with the lingo suddenly?  I KNEW watching all these Real Housewives would finally pay off!!!!)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Wednesday (May 8) told leaders of women’s orders from around the world to be “fertile” spiritual mothers in the Catholic Church, not “spinsters.”

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Pope Francis waves from the pope-mobile during his inauguration Mass at St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday (March 19) at the Vatican. World leaders flew in for Pope Francis’ inauguration Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday where Latin America’s first pontiff will receive the formal symbols of papal power. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini

---

The Argentine pontiff addressed some 800 leaders of female religious orders who are in Rome for the meeting of the International Union of Superiors General.

Speaking about the nuns’ vow of chastity, the pope stressed that it must be a “fertile” chastity, generating “spiritual children in the Church.”

With one of the more colorful off-the-cuff expressions that have become a hallmark of his young pontificate, Francis said that “the consecrated are mothers: they must be mothers and not ‘spinsters’!”

“Forgive me if I talk like this, but this maternity of consecrated life, this fruitfulness, is important!” he added.

Echoing a theme that has often resonated in his public speeches, the Jesuit pope also lashed out against “careerists” and “social climbers” who “use the Church … as a springboard for their interests and personal ambitions,” saying they do a “great damage” to the church.

The Vatican-mandated overhaul of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the largest umbrella organization for U.S. nuns, loomed large over the May 3-7 meeting of Catholic sisters, which is devoted to discussing the issues of authority within the Catholic Church.

On Sunday, Brazilian Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, who heads the Vatican office that oversees religious orders, told the meeting that he had been left in the dark about the Vatican investigation into LCWR. The Vatican’s top spokesman on Tuesday said it was “not justified” to infer that there was a “divergence” on how to deal with American nuns.

In his Wednesday speech, the pope reminded the nuns that it is “absurd” for religious women to think of carrying their vocation “outside of the church.”

“It isn’t possible that a consecrated woman or man might ‘feel’ themselves not to be with the church,” he said.

After the pope’s speech, a group of nuns was allowed to briefly greet the pope personally. Sister Florence Deacon, president of the LCWR, “was present at the audience but did not have the opportunity to greet the pope,” according to LCWR spokeswoman Annmarie Sanders.

A LITTLE CROSS STITCHING

MELISSA SHIRLEY SPRING FLOWERS FEE NEE

HAP-PY DAN-CING!

Now before you think I've gone completely 'round the bend and have neglected to actually finish this canvas before commencing with the Hap-py Dan-cing, I've decided that I'm going to use actual real live (OK, maybe not live, but silk) yellow daisies.  Remember the canvas that I did that with once before?  Well, if it was good once.....

Thanks for all of your lovely comments and encouragement during the stitching of this piece.  I must say that it was truly a joy from beginning to end and that I never could have done it without the design talents of the folks at Melissa Shirley, or the amazing charting/suggesting/tarting abilities of Miss Ruth Schmuff Her Very Self.  Who's better than they are?

Have a wonderful weekend, kids!  Stewey and I are off to the Happy Chair for a little cuddle time and movie watching tonight!  Woo Hoo!

IF ONLY.....

Thank you for all of your lovely comments about the canvas I'm working on, but I really must give credit where credit is due, especially since I am completely incapable of devising a thread/color/stitch scheme that doesn't end up looking like the dog's breakfast.

Unless, of course, it's MY dog we're talking about --  in which case breakfast consists of tea and lightly buttered toast, all served apres' bath on a whimsical little bed tray with the Times and a tea rose for effect.

Damn dog.

When I purchased this canvas, I asked Miss Ruth Schmuff Her Very Self from Bedecked and Beadazzled to kit/craft/tart the whole thing up as only Miss Ruth can do.  She selected all of the threads and stitches and told me when/where/how to do everything so that I could show it to y'all and feel like a freakin' rock star.

She's fabulous that way.

Lots of questions about the bird....she's stitched with a fiber called Fuzzy Stuff made by Rainbow Gallery.  Miss Ruth suggested that I turkey work her, but this is me we're talking about, so I just did a few long and short stitches and then fluffed the fiber with a little brush.

I'm still plugging away on the grass.  Who knew that it could take so long to grow?

SO CLOSE....AND YET....SO FAR

WOOOO HOOOOOO!

It's 2:00 on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon.  Thanks to Aunt Chrissy, the back patio is scrubbed freh and furnitureized with table and chairs, the house is (relatively) clean, and Stewey is snoozing in the patch of sunlight hitting his little perch.

After a hot scrubby shower for yours truly, I am thiiiiiiiis close to finishing my Melissa Shirley canvas.  Methinks there might be a whole lot of wobbly bit wobbling going on later this afternoon!

Can I get a WOO HOO from the congregation?

How's things in your neck of the woods?

WHAAAAAAAAH?

A few moments ago I glanced outside to see if the sun had finally decided to poke its pretty little head out, and I saw snowflankes.

Snowflakes.

On the 24rd day of April.

Oey.

Stewey has passed out in front of the fireplace (which, oddly enough, isn't on)  so I am going to hit the Happy Chair for a little stitchy time before bed. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  I know it's only 5:30, but sometimes a spinster just needs to think about going to bed. 

Tragic, isn't it, that thinking about going to bed is the highlight of my day?

NOW THAT'S MORE LIKE IT

Here's the latest progress on the Melissa Shirley canvas. The fourth flower and a few leaves were finished during yet another screening of Ghostbusters last night. Is there a better movie for some late night "I just want to sit here and giggle" sessions?

HEART ATTACKS AND LADYBUGS AND NAVEL GAZING.....OH MY

A sense of perspective isn't something I have in droves, so in light of all of the actual real life important stuff that's happening in the world right now, I hope that you'll forgive an idiot spinster for spending a few moments rambling about her own silly little drama of a life.

On Wednesday, I was driving down the street talking to my Jersey boy on the hands-free telephone contraption, when I noticed a gentleman approaching the intersecting corner.  As I glanced over at him, I saw him clutch his chest, double over, and then fall to the ground.  "I think that man is having a heart attack", I said to my Jersey boy.  "I'll call you back".  So I turned my little red tin can around, pulled over, grabbed my telephone contraption and called 9-1-1.  The gentleman on the ground was alert and conscious and breathing, and told me he thought he was having a heart attack.  I didn't have to perform CPR, so I guess it was my job to make polite conversation with both the 9-1-1 dispatcher and the gentleman having the heart attack, because all I could seem to do was chatter like a circus monkey, give the gentleman having a heart attack a continual thumbs up/you're doing a good job staying alive, Brother gesture, and promising the 9-1-1 dispatcher that I would, under no circumstances jump on this gentleman's chest and holler "Bring me the paddles!  Charge to 500!  Stat!"

Two South Bend police cruisers were there within a matter of seconds, followed by what I presume to be a South Bend Fire Department ambulance, since all of the people in said ambulance had stuff written all over themselves that said "South Bend Fire".  I managed to shut the hell up long enough for everybody to do their job, put Bob on a stretcher, and send him off to the hospital, where I am hoping and praying he enjoyed a full and speedy recovery. 

(And yes, in case you were wondering, I was perfectly calm, composed, and semi-professional right up until the point that the South Bend police officer asked the gentleman having a heart attach what his name was, and when he replied "Bob", I burst into the ugly cry and said "That was my dad's name!  And he had TWO heart attacks!  He's dead now, but I loved him very much and my sister and I miss he and my mother every single day of our rotten little lives because nobody should have to go through life without their parents, especially when they are ill equipped to handle all that comes at them in the course of a normal, yet hectic week here on the planet Earth!")

(Or something like that, anyway.  All I know is that the officer patted my on the shoulder and made sure I was sufficiently OK to drive and get the hell out of the chaos and on to my destination without revealing too much more of my inner messed-up mechanisms.)

Fast forward to yesterday, when I was at the downtown post office.  A young mother and her little daughter came in after what I can only assume was a very very long day of doing a whole lot of crap that the little daughter had absolutely no interest in doing whatsoever.  She managed to stand in line for a full seven seconds before she went into full on melt-down mode, and it was all any of us could do to protect our eardrums.  This kid was m-i-s-e-r-a-b-l-e and she wasn't going to stop until everybody within an eight mile radius knew this, so I decided to be "helpful" and engage the child in what I thought was appropriate conversation with someone in the midst of a nervous breakdown.  "I'm Butterfly McTootie Ladybug pants", I said while bending over to eye height with the kid.  "What's your name?" 

This might have worked at the Target a few years ago with a little boy named Ethan, but THIS particular child was having absolutely none of it.  I could swear I heard her tell me to go "f" myself, but that might have been the poor exasperated mother, who was, by this point, looking up in-patient mental health facilities on her iPhone.  I'm pretty sure that she would have slapped a stamp on her daughter's forehead and mailed her off to Montana if it would have meant that she could have gotten out of there with a shred of sanity and/or dignity in tact.

But I was not to be deterred by this.

"I'm Princess Tulip Buttercup Pansypants", I tried again.  "What's your name?"

This time the kid stopped hollering long enough to turn to her mother and say (loud enough for every single freaking person in the whole entire post office to hear her) "MOMMY!  WHY IS THE STUPID FAT LADY TALKING TO MEEEE???!!!!!  I DON'T LIKE THE STUPID FAT LADY!!!  I WANNA GO HOOOOOOMMMMMEEEEEE!!!!!"

It was at this point that I heard the mother say "Oh, screw it", and she grabbed the kid and hauled her (still screaming, by the way) back out to the minivan.

I could have been humiliated, sure.  And, if I would have had an ounce of self respect, I would have quietly made my own exit so as not to have to endure the quizzical looks of all of the other post office patrons, but I decided to stand there instead, shrugging my shoulders while offering a rather weak (yet effective), "What can I say?  I've put a little water weight on this week."

All in all it was one of those weeks in which I wonder why I tried leaving the friendly confines of my Happy Chair.  To remedy that, I've decided to turn OFF the damn TeeVee, turn ON the You've Got Mail, and get my fingers busy with some stitching.

So how's things in YOUR neck of the woods?

MY SISTER'S PRAYER

"You know what, Coni Jo?  When something like this happens, I don't pray that it never happens to me.  I pray that if it does, God will give me the strength to get the bad guy, run in to help, or give comfort to somebody who needs it."

...said by Aunt Chrissy

After Tucson.
And after Aurora.
And after Newtown.
And after Boston.

FAW-TY SEVEN

Aunt Chrissy would like for me to send y'all a big (and very very heartfelt) THANK YOU for all of your lovely birthday wishes.  She was, unfortunately, quite ill most of the day, so a bowl of mashed potatoes had to stand in for fancypants birthday cake this year.

My own b-day came and went without incident yesterday.  Stewey awoke at dawn with the idea that we would go for a picnic, but alas, Mommie Dearest here was more determined to plant her heiney in the Happy Chair for a little movie watching and stitching instead.

I've almost completed the background of the Funky Flowers canvas, but since there really isn't too much more progress than that to show, I'll hold you in suspense for a few days more.

We're off like a herd of turtles into the week!  I believe that the report calls for nine days of cold rain, followed by a week of "partly sunny" skies, so I see a few more Happy Chair days in my future!

Woo Hoo!

FAW-TY TWOO

Today my little sister turns 42.  How is that even possible?  I wish that I could tell you that we were off on some grand adventure, or that the naked dancing men would be here soon, but the truth of the matter is that it's cold and gloomy and Aunt Chrissy isn't feeling well at all today, so we will probably just take naps and call it a day.  Phooey.

Here's Laura J. Perin's Bargello Egg with yellow flowers:

I just can't decided whether or not to do Laura's suggested background, or to go nutso with a fancypants mat and framing.  For now, though, I think we're going to put this in the FUPPY pile and move on to a little cross stitch.

What's new with you?

WHAT COLORS ARE THE FLOWERS IN YOUR WORLD?

Oey.  I was so excited (and yet sad at the same time...how does THAT happen) to approach the finish line of Bargello Egg.  There I was, stitching away in the Happy Chair while whistling a happy tune, when it suddenly dawned on me that I stitched the flowers in the wrong color.

Brown.

I stitched brown flowers.

Who DOES that?

So after a hot bath and and a little dietCoke for sustenance, I'm headed back to said Happy Chair armed with the proper YELLOW thread.

Uh........duh.

CALLING ALL CARS, PART DEAUX

I awoke to the birds chirping and a to do list stapled to my forehead.  If it weren't for the fact that it was written in Stewey's handwriting, I would think that I got my groove on, and in a fit of domestic organization, decided to get crap done around here.

The list is simple enough, really.  I won't bore you with the intimate details shared between Mo-ther and "son", but it basically means that if I don't get the laundry done, the house cleaned, and the decor changed out to reflect the new season, Aunt Chrissy will have a permanent roommate.

Hmmmmm.  Wonder if I should have thought of this years ago?

In any event, I'm in the Happy Chair with Laura J. Perin's Bargello Egg today (while the laundry sploshes around, mind you), and tomorrow I will tackle the cleaning of the house.  In the meantime, I'm passing along a note from stitchy friend Lynda Baldauf:

 

I'm writing to tell you about my Spring Home Show coming up April 19, 20, and 21.  I run my business, Scandinavian Stitches, from my home in Old Greenwich, CT (a 50 minute car ride from New York City).  

Twice a year, I transform my home into a two-story Needlework shop and open up to fellow stitchers.  Those who have come in the past have had so much fun, that they come year after year, and they bring their friends.  I have door prizes, snacks and a thank you gift for everyone, just for coming.  They meet fellow stitchers and share their projects in a supportive community environment.

I would love to invite more stitchers.  However, I am hesitant to advertise to the general public, since this event is in my home.  Would you consider mentioning it in your blog?  If anyone would like to come, they would just need to RSVP to me with an email to info@scandinavianstitches.com or call 203-637-6832. Then I will gladly send them my address and directions.  

I appreciate your consideration and your time.

Oh, how I wish Hoosierville was but a short drive to Old Greenwich!  If you attend, please have a great time and then tell us all about it!  And can I get a big Woo Hoo from Miss Lynda for hosting such a fun day?  Makes me want to REALLY get this place cleaned up so that we might try it here too!

Have a wonderful weekend, kids!  See you on the other side!

CHELLO, MOJO.

A glorious weekend was had by all here at Chez Spinster.  It all started on Friday night when I got the bright idea that we should have a Game of Thrones marathon in preparation for the season premier.  So I whipped up some shrimp and scallop linguine and we were off to the races.  Laura J. Perin's Stained Glass Windows kept me company for the first evening's episodes (I think there were seven, but I lost count after 1am):

 

I started Laura J. Perin's Bargello Egg on Saturday, and am thrilled to report that I made some pretty good progress in between eating and Game of Throning.  It's amazing what you can accomplish during 21 hours of HBO series programming:

 

But I have to say that the best part of the weekend (in my opinion, at least) were these little beauties:

 

I watched The Pioneer Woman make them on her show last week, and said to myself  "I bet those would be pretty tasty for Easter brunch".  Boy was I right.  Delicious!  (I will confess that I used already prepared hash browns right out of the bag -- the refrigerated kind, not the frozen -- and they worked beautifully despite the warnings from PW that they might not.)   They did. You can find the recipe on her web site here: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2013/03/eggs-in-hash-brown-nests/, or just do this:

Spray a muffin tin really really well with Pam (or a cooking spray of your choice).

Smoosh the hash brown into the muffin tins and make a little indent in the middle.  (Build a nest).

Bake at 450 degrees until the hash browns are brown and crispy.

Crack an egg into each nest.

Bake at 400 degrees until the eggs are done the way you like them.

I hope that your weekend was swell!  Woo Hoo!

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A BASKET...

For once....no plan.  No rotation.  No angst.  I'm just going to plant my big fat heiney in the Happy Chair with these and....stitch!

Stay tuned!

WE'LL BE BACK AFTER A WORD FROM THESE SPONSORS...

My mom can't come to the blog right now.  She's taken to her bed with the covers pulled over her head, and I swear I heard her mutter something about staying there until the Apocalypse.  Methinks the old lady has been spending too much time in the world of late and it's time to get her back in her little woman cave -- pink fuzzies firmly in place, a dietCoke at the ready, and a little You've Got Mail on the TeeVee.

I suspect that all of this dis-ease around here can be blamed on a combination of things.  As y'all know, my Aunt Chrissy has been terribly under the weather lately, and this causes Mo-ther no end of angst as she tries to figure out how to fix it.  Trouble is, Mo-ther isn't a doctor, she only plays one on TeeVee, so she should spend her energies elsewhere.  (Like, for instance on laundry.  Or popping out to the PetSmart for some new toys for you-know-who.)

I'm just saying.

The second problem is this crazypants weather we're having, and the fact that it has seriously hampered the old lady's efforts in the self improvement department.  She decided that this was finally going to be the year that she hauled her self around the block every morning, but so far Mother Nature has refused to cooperate.  Between darkness and snow and rain and sleet and hail and ice, there hasn't been one day that Mo-ther has felt safe venturing forth.  (You can't blame this one on me, kids.  I'm game for a w-a-l-k any day of the week and twice on Sundays.) 

So there.

The third and final piece of this little mental health puzzle is the list of things that Mo-ther is NOT doing.  In no particular order, this list reads as follows:  Mo-ther is NOT stitching.  Mo-ther is NOT reading.  Mo-ther is NOT writing.  Mo-ther is NOT doing the damn Jumble each morning, and last but not least, Mo-ther is NOT spending adequate cuddle time with yours truly here. 

Well, I'm going to remedy all of that as soon as I possibly can.  I've asked my Aunt Chrissy to come over this weekend for a little sissy time up in the studio, and as long as Mo-ther cooperates, I suspect that the needles will be flying once more. Then, once this happens, you can bet that you'll see her on this here blog with a little bit better frequency, and I know for a FACT that this will mean that all of the other stuff will fall into place thereafter.

So thank you for being such good sports while Mo-ther hibernates, my dear friends.  I would imagine that all of her drama wears thin after a while, so I really do appreciate you sticking with us!  Until we meet again, I remain your loyal and devoted friend.....

With love from your pal,
Stewey

PAGING THE MAYTAG REPAIRMAN...

I'm out of balance.

Kind of like a big fat sweaty washing machine that has too many bulky towels in it and decides to shimmy across the laundry room floor.

Except my shimmy is busted and I wouldn't be able to perform any type of mechanical function whatsoever.

Time to switch the load....

CWAP

Will somebody please explain to me how long it takes to re-learn all of the stuff I seem to have forgotten with respects to this thing of ours?  I used to be able to stitch with two eyes closed, a vat of dietCoke in one hand, the TeeVee remote in the other, and handsome hunky mens on said TeeVee.

Now it seems like I require absolute silence, a moment of fervent prayer, and six people with flashlights just to thread a freaking needle.

Sheesh....if I would have known that when you lose your mojo you REALLY lose your mojo, I never would have left the house!

So looks like it's a bit back to square one for me, kids.  If I'm not back in a week, send reinforcements, please.

WHO'S HAPPIER THAN ME?

It's 7pm on a Saturday and I'm in the Happy Chair with glasses on, diet Coke iced, and this perfect project to play with. Thanks to dear stitchy friend Charlene, I won't have to roam the streets tonight in search of the perfect project.

Woo Hoo!

FOR SALE....RED SHOES, BEANIE, AND A REALLY LOVELY GOLD RING (ALL SIZE EXTRA LITTLE)

My mom can't come to the blog right now.  She's out in the driveway trying to convince my limo driver that a Mishawaka Public Library card is surely adequate payment for my recent excursion from O'Hare to Chez Spinster.  (What can I say?  My flight from Rome was delayed getting in and there was only so much time to grab my valise and hop on board the Hummer stretch that was conveniently parked at the curb.)

Stupid Mo-ther.  She actually thought I was going to take the bus home after the ordeal of being rejected as the next Pope. (For the record, methinks I would have made a very good Pope, especially when you consider that my campaign platform was "Red shoes for everybody!")

Moments ago I heard someone on the TeeVee say "The problem with the Catholic Church is that it's run by humans."  It must be my jet lag, because I found myself snarking "As opposed to other churches that are run by gerbils?"  I mean, even I, a very simple pup knows that that was a silly thing to say.

So now that I'm stateside once again, I hope to return to more regular postings. There really hasn't been a lot to report, unfortunately.  Mo-ther has been on her very best behavior and has even managed to put a few stitches into her canvas, but I'll have to show you later since the TSA confiscated my camera.  (Dirty bastards.)

(Oops.  Maybe that's why the vote didn't go my way.)

I hope that this does find you well and that wherever you are is exactly where you want to be.  Know that I love and cherish you most dearly and that I'll return to this little corner of our world very soon!

With love from your pal,
Stewey Sanctis, Second Runner-up to the new guy, but who is not bitter about it in the least.

JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE...

Progress continues on the Rishfeld canvas:

Aunt Chrissy is closing in on a finish ('scuse the wrinkles, please):

And Baby Bosco is giving kisses:

EASY LIKE A...SATURDAY?...MORNING

Aunt Chrissy and Bosco are still snoozing, Stewey is on his perch, and I'm contemplating another cuppa.  It has been such bliss to have a house full of sissy love and pups.  Methinks we need to think about doing this permanently.

(I suppose that that little plan would require Aunt Chrissy to feel the same way I do, hmmmm?  Why do I think that the answer to that particular question might not be what I expect? )

(What can I say?  I'm much better in small doses.)

Any whose....we're off for a few sissy errands and then hopefully it's back to the Happy Chair for some weekend therapy in the form of some serious tent stitching for me and some lovely silk crosses for AC.

Are you exactly where you want to be today?  I hope so!  Stay warm and safe and dry and we'll see you on the other side!

SPINSTER SISSY STITCHING

Aunt Chrissy and Bosco have been hanging at Chez Spinster lately and there's a whole lotta' stitching going on!  I finished the green background of the Rishfeld canvas, and Aunt Chrissy made some good progress on Shepherd's Bush Baby Bug Ball.  (She's been a SB fan from Day One, so it's a pleasure to watch her get back into a stitchy groove!)

Here's Aunt Chrissy's piece:

And here's mine:

We're warm and safe and dry and hunkered down with some vegetable soup and homemade bread for dinner.  The weather report for these here parts is a bit dicey, but we're armed with lots of comfort for the duration!

Thank you one and all for all of your lovely notes and cards and letters and well wishes for Aunt Chrissy's speedy recovery.  She'll be on the mend soon and back to her old self as fast as I can possibly get her there.  In the meantime...love love love to one and all!

WELL, AT LEAST SHE HAS A PLAN

My mom can't come to the blog right now.  She's still snoring away in the big girl sleigh bed, with occasional mutterings of how she's never going to leave the house again.  Methinks she has finally gone 'round the bend, poor dear.

What a wonderful world we occupy to have such lovely friends both far and wide.  Your prayers and support and encouragement were everything my mo-ther and Aunt Chrissy needed these last few days, friends.  THANK YOU!!!!  Both Bosco and I want you to know that your concern for our mommie dearests is precious to us, and we will never forget it.

The plan for today is rest and then more rest, followed by an evening of lounging.  Tomorrow, we're going to wash some underpants and push the Swiffer around a bit, and then Sunday is going to be a studio day.  I can tell how much it's bothering Mo-ther that she hasn't stitched in a while, so I'm going to insist that she does so, if only for the good of the planet.  A stressed out spinster isn't god for any body or any thing, so we need to fix it.

As for me, I will enjoy the return to my perch, little bed, apartment, and ottoman.  You'll be happy to know that I have been on my very best behavior of late, so please don't fret that I'm watering the drapes.

Wherever you are is where I hope you wish to be.  Have a splendid weekend, give yourself a big hug from all of us here in Hoosierville, and know that we cherish you sincerely.

With love from your pal,
Stewey

THREE THINGS

1.  Thank you, dear friends.  Your love and support are just what the doctor ordered.  In the lobby of our hotel is a big dispenser of this special water that's supposed to make everything all better. (Well, maybe it's just regular old water with a bunch of stuff in it like fruits and herbs and such, but I've got it in my head that it has magical healing powers, and I make poor Aunt Chrissy take a sip every time we pass it.)  "You do realize that we're in Cleveland and not at Lourdes, right?" she says every time I hand her a cup.  Well, your comments are like that damn water, kids, so I'm drenching her in them every chance I get.

2.  A few moments ago I got a really good chuckle out of her.  We were watching the TeeVee and a commercial came on for Kourtney and Kim take Miami.  So I put on my very best pouty kissy face and said..."Kourtney and Kim take Miami?  How about Crys and Coni take Cleveland!?"  And then we started cutting up about what that might look like and how we'd finally have enough money to do all of the things we'd like to do, like send Stewey to charm school, get Bosco a motorbike, and finally open up that needlework shop.   Look out, Bravo , here we come!

3.  At one point last night I got so frustrated that I am of no help whatsoever that I said (right in the middle of a snotty ugly cry)...."Oh, sissy.  You would have been better of with a labradoodle."  Thank God my sister is my sister and she knows that no matter how bad the circumstances might be....I will find a way to turn it all around and make it all about MEEEEEEE, because she just smiled and patted my hand and made me feel much better.

We headed off to yet another procedure.  This one will involve anesthesia, so at least I know Aunt Chrissy will be able to get a minute of peace and quiet.

Thanks again for all of your love and support!  We're hoping to return to our regularly scheduled programming real soon!