Thursday, December 28, 2006

Disney, Christmas, Cross stitch, Baby update...Long Post


Ian and I at the Osbourne spectacle of Dancing lights
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Hi everyone, I would like to wish you all a belated Merry Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukah/Winter Solstice. But I am right on time for Happy New Year! Ian and I got back from Disney last wed, and he had to return to work the next day ...so that left me with laundry and refilling the fridge, and doing some (minor) prep for christmas, like cooking and baking a bit for the two of us.
But now the updates


Disney: I shall not bore you with the long winded version of 10 days worth of park hopping and hanging out, so let me summarize. The weather was great, it only rained one day and while it was overcast most of the time, the temp was about 75-80 during the day. We had 7 full days to visit all 4 parks and went to all of the at least twice and saw almost everything. Ian, having never been, absolutely loved it (except not being able to ride the coasters with me, and the fact that Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is gone). I had been to all (but Animal Kingdom) before but it was a great as I remember, if not better because we had the time to browse Disney instead of rushing through it, and being on their dining plan (a bargain for $30 a day per person...we would of spent twice to three times as much if we had paid the list prices) I got to eat at all the places that I had ever wanted to...and some I learned I won't go back to. We never had to worry about transport, the busses, boats, and monorail took us everywhere. We saw all the christmas extras, the fireworks at Epcot, the fireworks at Magic Kingdom (twice), and the candlelight processional at Epcot where we heard beautiful carols, and the readings were done by Neil Patrick Harris.
If you want further insights or review, you can email me at the address in my profile

Christmas: As I had mentioned before I did not decorate this year, so Ian and I just opened our gifts from our families in front of the fire, even though it has beenin the 60s outside. Ian and I did not exchange gifts this year, Disney was it. But I did get a couple of things off my cross stitch wishlist from my mom, Pine Mountain Designs, Stitching and Easter Pillows and Homespun Elegance Winter motif and Fall motif samplers (I have links to pictures of these here on my wishlist). Speaking of cross stitch

Cross stitch: I have done nothing. Sigh. This stiching slump started right after I found out I was pregnant and finished Santa of the forest. It is frustrating because now is the time to stitch...before my life gets kicked in the head by a baby. I want to stitch but it has been boring me after a row or two (even on small projects). Everyone blames weird stuff during pregnancy on hormones. and even though I have not seen my share of any of that yet (no cravings or big mood swings) maybe I can blame my loss of cross stitch desire on the hormones. Sigh. Maybe a new project?

Baby: I went in for a doctor visit yesterday and Ian and I were hoping for an Ultrasound because we were visiting 6 weeks instead of 4 after our last visit. But the doctor said they don't do it till 18-20 weeks. So then I whined a bit about it being 18 weeks for me in 2 days, she obliged by bringing in the portable ultrasound, an older model with a tiny screen and scratchy picture, But we saw a head, a nose, a mouth, 2 eyes, an arm, a spine, 2 legs, and 2 knees. I have to wait 3 weeks for more than that. But I can do that now, because I am finally feeling him/her. Like someone is flicking me with a finger from the inside, I have been feeling kicks since friday, and everyday I feel more of them (in strength and number). I am still not showing very much, my jeans still fit, and I haven't gained but a couple of pounds. But Ian and I have now begun heavy discussion about cleaning out the room that is to be the baby's room..and where all that crap is going to go now. You know...I think I might actually be having a baby.

Friday, December 15, 2006

We meet Stitch!


We meet Stitch!
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Just a quick post cause it costs us $10 for 24 hours of internet time. So no more posts till we return, You can see some highlighted photos of our journey so far if you click on the photo it should take you to a couple of other photos.

Ian wanted to meet Tigger and Stitch, we were very lucky and got to both yesterday (quite by accident) at the Magic Kngdom. Ian was upset that Mr Toads Wild Ride is no more. We have been to Epcot 2ce and are going back today to finish up the World part. MGM was done on Tues. Yet to go to Animal Kingdom...maybe Sunday.

Friday, December 08, 2006

Off to the Land Of Walt Disney


Peace By Heart in Hand
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

I finally got all the christmas gifts off in the mail to the Parents and Inlaws. Doing the last load of laundry and beginning to pack. Tomorrow I am dropping Max off at the kennel (we call it puppy camp) cutely named The Bed and Biscuit. Then off to a Tarheel stitcher meeting to do a christmas exchange. Then packing and off on Sunday morning.
The cross stitch is a ornament I made for the exchange ..Peace by Heart in Hand. I adjusted some of the colors to fit what I had on hand, but I think it came out ok.

I am bringing my laptop and will try to post while I am in FL. But if I don't get to, then I shall see you all in the 20th.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Sucked in by a book

So instead of stitching, cleaning, packing, shipping, preparing etc. Yesterday I was sucked in by a book. The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory. I came home fully prepared to cook, clean, and do all the things that I need to do in the next 5 days, and instead I read straight from 5pm till 1am. This is not abnormal for me, just abnormal for me lately. I used to read straight through large volumes when I was in jr high and high school, it was a struggle for me to put down stephen king so I could do homework. I kept track of all the books I read and usually averaged about 30-35 a year. I get sucked into books in a way which is not possible with TV or movies, and so I knew I had to swear off the novels while I was in Graduate school or my thesis would of never gotten done. Now that the grading is done and the final I am giving is copied and ready for judgement day tomorrow, I guess I just gave in to the reading monster.

Anyway, the Queens Fool was not the best book ever but it was pretty darn good. A bit more far reaching than most historical novels, this has a fully contrived character that we follow in the tudor court of (mostly) Queen Mary. I have loved the whole Tudor story and Elizabethian england since I was a young girl. I love to read historical novels of the time. I mentioned to my advisor this summer that I loved these types of book and she lent me two, The Virgin Queen by Maureen Peters, a facinating version of the relationship between Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour, and The Last Boleyn by Karen Peters which I had mistaken for The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory both are about Mary Boleyn, sister to Anne, mistress to the king. I will be interested to see how The Other Boleyn Girl compares to The Last Boleyn which overall whas written a bit better than the Queen's Fool, but then again maybe I just like my character exploration to stick closer to the known facts of history.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

More ornamentation


side 2
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Here is Frosty Nights by Whisky Creek Ink from 2003 JCS ornament magazine. It is done in all DMC on perforated paper, there are 2 sides, see the back in the below post, and then it is folded into a open sided triangle I haven't had any time to stitch much else, been cleaning, finishing up grading and finals (I get to give them not take them!) and trying to get random things done like christmas shopping before we leave in exactly one week. 10 Days vacation!! I can't wait.

Frosty nights back side


side 1
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.