All about Football

.....It's Sunday and you know what that means ...FOOTBALL...

FOOTBALL
(according to Dictionary.com )

noun

1.a game in which two opposing teams of 11 players each defend goals at opposite ends of a field having goal posts at each end, with points being scored chiefly by carrying the ball across the opponent's goal line and by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball over the crossbar between the opponent's goal posts.

.

2. the ball used in this game, an inflated oval with a bladder contained in a casing usually made of leather.

 FOOTBALL
(according to ME)

1. great American sport that commander television and turn our husbands into beer drinking, junk eating screaming fools.

2. an event on TV used to kick back in the recliner with a dog in my lap, nap, stitch, eat junk and put up with a beer drinking, junk eating screaming fool of a husband.

Up today here at Casa Jackson will be our Tennessee Titans (2-8) VS Philadelphia Eagles (7-3).  I really don't think we have much of a chance of a win today....the Titans haven't really shown up for a game all season, but we with loyalty we will watch the carnage.

Now THE MEMPHIS TIGERS are on a real GROWL this year.  They are 8 - 3 (5 - 1 in the American Conference) with one more regular season game to go.  This is the first time since 2008.  Jere is an alumni (by default) with Lambuth University's closing a few years ago,  UofM AKA "Tiger High" bought the campus and invited it's alum to come to UofM.  Having been a pitcher on the Lambuth baseball team also made him eligible to join the M Club which is for athletes. We have been to most of the home games and watch the away games with a renewed enthusiasm this year.  GO TIGERS!!!

Yesterday, I gifted my Tiger Tickets to a friend of my Sis-in-Law because we had another function to attend.

We are season ticket holders for the Mississippi RiverKings hockey team.  Friday night's game against the Louisiana IceGators was delayed almost 2 hours due to transportation problems (the IceGators bus broke down in central Mississippi).  The doors to the Lander's Center opened at the usual 6:00 and of course, Jere headed over to his "all-inclusive" dive to collect the first 2 of MANY beers.  Well, by puck drop around 9:00 Jere was well buzzed.

The game was a fast, exciting game (especially for us King's fans) as Matt Harrington slapped the puck past their goalie for our first point at 0:26 seconds into the first period. And the goals kept coming.  Our boys sunk 7 of 43 shots on goal and Peter DiSalvo stopped 35 of their 37 shots ending in a final score of 7-2.

All of us fans are trying to figure out how we can create bus issues with all future opposing teams !!!

Well, yesterday they had a fun fundraiser at The Strike Zone bowling center where fans could pal around and bowl with the players.

With my back issues like they are I didn't bowl, but there were at least 25 of the 32 lanes filled with player and fan bowling fools....

There was soda, beer, pizza and DOOR PRIZES !!!  AND I WON !!! An official game puck signed by Andrew Randazzo his rookie year (2012) when he was sporting #18 !!!

Andrew Randazzo Rookie Year puck

This will nestle nicely in with our other sports memorabilia.  Hope to see Andrew go on to the NHL  some day and I can say "I knew him when ....."

Stitching News

As this is the 3rd full weekend in November it is IHSW.  And since I have had other distractions, I don't think I will get much done on the stitchy project I have selected to work on, but here is the before picture (it is already Sunday and nary a stitch has been added)

Sam Sarah Designs Mystery Sampler "Something Wicked"

Be sure to check back tomorrow to see the progress !

I really want to get this one finished up .... there are so many new projects calling out to me from my many stash boxes, and I WANT A NEW START !!!

Speaking of "so many projects" .... one day last week I cleaned and organized my craft room.  In doing so I found several duplicate patterns I have so I decided to make a list of kitted up projects, WIP'S (Works in Progress) and UFO'S (Un Finished Objects).  After several hours on the ole' laptop creating a document, I had to stop with  JUST the things I have complete supplies for.  Keep in mind there are TONS of patterns not listed because they are just that ... Patterns ... with no designated fabric/fibers collected and placed in that nifty zip lock bag to await my nimble needle. Also I have a rather LARGE collection of stitch related magazine subscriptions and hard cover pattern books perched on a shelf in my craft room.

Books & Magazines & Binders full of "Freebie" patterns

To date (and I believe I have them all listed) I have 74 projects all kitted up and much to my surprise, only 15 WIP's & UFO'S.  I fear it will take more time that I have left on earth to complete all the things itchin' for stitchin', but we shall see.

As long as I have be a Cross Stitcher, I have heard this (and made it my mantra)

SHE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST STASH

WINS !!!!!

Seeing the lists of other stitcihng friends around the globe, I am not and probably never will be in first place, but I believe I am situated well within the middle of the pack.

Well folks, the Titans have been on the boob tube for 30 minutes and they are already down 14-0 ... I'm gonna go stitch!

Till next time,

Cindi

11.23.2014

 

TUSAL UPDATE - November, 2014

Oh My Orts!  .... Twisted and Tangled Threads

11.22.2014

I keep cramming them down in the jar to make room.  Hope I can make it till the end of December!

Traveling Ort

11.22.2014

I guess I could revert to my little traveling ORT jar.  As you can see, our stitching & hooker group that meets once a month does very little stitching .... more show & tell, chatting & eating goodies.  But we do have FUN! 

Till next time,

Cindi
11.22.2014

ISHW

I have signed up for the International Hermit & Stitch Weekend through a fellow blogger's site - Random Ramblings. You register on Joyce's web page dedicated for that month's ISHW which will add a link back to your blog.  The point is that on the third full weekend of each month, beginning on that Friday,  you settle yourself in your favorite stitching spot with some background music (or TV - I watch Netflix) and stitch to your hearts content.  (Of course most days I do this anyway!) .. On Monday following you post a progress picture of what you managed to accomplish from Friday through Sunday on your blog.  Then you can hop from blog to blog to see what's up in the world of your fellow stitchers.

I have created a new page dedicated to the progress pictures of my ISHW pieces with a tab up top 

Till next time,

Cindi

11.21.2014

Hockey in the Mid-South

.It's Hockey season in the Mid-South !!!

I have loved hockey for years. In fact, it is probably my favorite sport. (As the saying goes "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out")... Jere and I have been season ticket holders for some time and this year not only got involved with the booster club for our local minor league team, Mississippi RiverKings.  Jere built a website for the club and is webmaster of 2 Man Advantage.

After becoming involved in the booster club, we applied to become a Family Sponsor for one of the players this season.  These guys are young and many are from Canada or other European countries   Being a sponsor gives you the opportunity to not only be an ambassador for your community, but help these guys out in a strange town with no family there to make life a little less lonely. Have them over to your house for a home cooked meal, help out with groceries for their apartments, treat them to an afternoon of bowling or a movie,  pick up Mom or Dad when they come to town to see their boys play, etc.

Last night I got a phone call from Peter DiSalvo, one of the goalies.  We had made a connection with him at some of the after-game parties held at the Fillin Station Grille. We are going to be his "Family Sponsor" for the 2014-15 season !!

Peter is 24 years old (just had a birthday last week) and is from Oakville, Ontario.  Last year he was goalie for the Pensacola Ice Flyers who were the 2013-14 President's Cup Champions.

An amazing save at the goal line !!! 

Jere and I are looking forward to being a friend to Peter and having a GREAT season!!! 

Till next time 

Cindi

11.20.2014

One more thing for today

Trina in Ontario is having a .....

....drawing is November 22, 2014


Follow her blog at Stitching Oz

Till next time

Cindi

Nothing in particular ...

... is happening today, but I do have a few updates on life in my world.

First ... I have joined in (a bit late I am afraid for this year) on a Totally Useless little project that is hosted by Sharon, aka Daffycat to show our "trashy thread" collection.  It has no other point than to see how many ratty threads we snip & frog during out creative process of stitching.  As we snip tails of threads instead of having them fly everywhere, you drop them in a jar  which should be settled handily near your stitching hole/corner.  Then once a month on The New Moon  (or there abouts) you post an  updated picture of said jar.  Not only can you see how much you have been working on your project, it shows how many times the frog has visited.

... for those of you that don't know what this little guy represents to a stitcher click on the "FROGS" tab at the top of the page and see what he is all about. 

I have completed a couple of small stitchy projects in the last few days.

 

Christmas ornie made using 18 ct. Mono Canvas stitched with Rainbow Gallery "sparkly" braid.  This dittie is going to travel across the big pond to Trudy in Wiltshire, England.  I hope it finds a nice comfy home on her Christmas Tree !!! 

Then I found out that a friend's birthday was last Friday (Frankie - baseball/hockey friend) so I stitched up this little bookmark.

  Frankie always has her book to read between innings (baseball) or periods (hockey)  and I thought that the  # @ % & !! could mean anything she wanted it to mean..... ( I KNOW what it would mean for me)  

I also had a little S.E.X. (Stash Enhancement eXperience) this week.   

I received the new Lizzie Kate mystery sampler "Things Unseen" in the mail.

You can read all about Linda's inspiration behind the designing of this cross stitch piece on her blog Lizzie Kate.

I had lunch yesterday with Cheryl at El Porton (yummy loaded chicken quesadillas) and she brought me this cute kit which will be added to my ever growing stash.

Halloween Happiness

by

Sandra Cozzolino

I had ordered a Z-Frame lap stitching frame a couple of weeks back and found that the way I stitch (all laid back in my recliner usually with a dog in my lap) it was just not meant to be.  So... I gifted it to Cheryl and I am happy to report ... she LOVES it. 

I also downloaded a couple of digital patterns ( I NEED more stuff people !!!!!) for these cute Biscornus ...

Bootscornu 

by 

Barbara Ann Designs

Hallowscornu

by 

Barbara Ann Designs

As you have probably already guessed my favorite theme is Halloween.  Some day when I have nothing whatsoever to do, I am going to have to make an inventory of all my Halloween stitchery.  I am sure even I will be surprised.  

Well... nothing much more interesting is happening at Casa Jackson with the exception that my constant lap warmer is settled in for a long afternoon's nap.

Amy

Off to get a few stitches in before I get up off my lazy ass and make dinner.

Till next time, 

Cindi

 11.19.14

 

Things are somewhat ....

....getting back to normal here at Casa Jackson.  While we are all still missing our Boo Boy, the other 2 of the "Terrible Trio" are having a hard time being the "Dynamic Duo"  Those three litter mates were ALWAYS together, and as hard as it has been for me, I know they have been grieving for the last 4 weeks.

Hershey

Nestle

Where one went, the other 2 were sure to follow.  Always out together making sure no bird, squirrel or cat ventured in their yard.  Most of the time while inside they were lined up on the sofa, Bruno on one end, Nestle on the other with their baby sister, Hershey in the middle.  

They say dogs have no concept of time so one day or one month is perceived the same, but this last week neither one has wanted to eat and keep staring at the door, I suppose expecting him to bounce in bragging to them that he got to go bye-bye in the car.  

I certainly hope they bounce back to their happy selves soon.  

On a more pleasant note, I have been stitching up a storm.  I got into a "beading bug" the last couple of weeks and finished up my Glendon Place "Witches Wheel" and it is STUNNING after adding the beads.  

A little back ground about this piece (and the reason for my LONG stitching hiatus) 

Some of you know about my major back issues.  They started in 1996 suddenly while getting ready for work when I was pulling on my "control top' panty hose.  I bet you never knew that a simple act of struggling into those Leggs could create such a life altering situation.  In September, 1996 I began the horror of the first of five surgeries to deal with my degenerative disc disease  I had three decompressions from 96 - 2002 and a 4th surgery was performed to install rods & screws to try and stabilize my lumber from L-2 all the way down to my sacrum....IE: "butt bone".  Well within 6 months the screws starting backing out and this "cage" was shifting back & forth each time I moved, which as you can imagine was excruciating.  It took several appointments with my orthopedic surgeon with me in tears to convince him that something that shouldn't have happened did.  I won't even try to explain the x-ray procedure they went through to confirm what I had been telling them for weeks was happening.  Prior to surgery, I told my doctor I wanted the metal they took out of my back and was I ever SHOCKED.  They looked like screws that would be used to hold a car engine together!

You thought I was kidding didn't you ?? 

Surgery #5 was finally done in November, 2003 and bone graft was used to fuse the disc together and due to nerve damage caused by not only the original condition, but the shifting of metal for several months caused a pretty bad addiction to narcotics (among other drugs).  I was taking about 15 different drugs from pain pills, to antidepressants, to nausea meds (to keep the others down) and also to laxatives to keep the ole pipes flowing.  Those of you that have had to take pain medication for extended periods of time know that the longer you take them, the more resistant you become, so every few months the milligram dosage has to be increased and after a while no matter what the strength, NOTHING seems to work.  Not only was I having all this pain problem, in December, 2009  I was diagnosed with Sleep-Apnea and got to have the joys of wearing a wonderful C-Pap machine to sleep.    

WELL, on February 2, 2010, my husband, Jere came home from work and I literally didn't know who he was .... I was flipping out on drugs, the damn C-Pap and the ever persistent pain.  After calling a female friend to come over hoping to get me under control, he called my pain management doctor and then 911 to send me to the hospital.  I was detoxed over a period of 5 days and came home on Super Bowl Sunday.  I swore then to NEVER take narcotics again !!!  I never realized how much life was passing me by in the stupor I had been in for so long.  

After lots of therapy (both physical & mental) I finally was able to become human again and now I push through the pain with nothing stronger than a couple of Aleve.  That is not to say I am free of pain ... sometimes I just have to take my Aleve and go to bed or veg out in my recliner. BUT I am determined to not let myself become controlled by a bunch of pills again. Oh, and the Sleep-Apnea ?? It was being caused by all the drugs, so if you know anyone that needs a C-Pap machine,  I have one that was used for all of 3 months !

NOW .... on to the original purpose of this long explanation of a period of my life I want to both forget AND remember (so it never happens again). 

Over this long 7 years I had lost interest ,among other things, stitching.  In May of that year, I got back to stitching with a vengeance and finally discovered the joy of stitching on linen & evenweaves.  I began a wish list of patterns and fabrics I wanted on several web sites and put together a Word Document that became pretty long.  On November 1, 2010 I emailed the list to Jere with a hint that this was my list for Santa.  Of course, Jere is a wonderful, very smart husband when it comes to keeping me connected (computer, smart phone etc) but like many men has NO CLUE when it comes to arts & crafts, so I made this a very DETAILED list, with web sites, exact patterns and exact fabric color, size and count. And he did VERY WELL !!! 

Among other wonderful things (both stitch related and not) I got not only Glendon Place Witches Wheel with the beautiful Picture This Plus "Solar" fabric, but Glenda's Sleepy Hollow along with the PTP Haunted fabric (this will be a 2015 project).  

As the GP Witches Wheel was my first big project on linen, I started and stopped several times over the next 4 years.  In September of this year I picked it up and with my Irish determination finished it.

 

Completed 10.29.2014

Close up of one of the witches.

Now to see about mortgaging the house to get it framed like I want - triple matting using lime green, orange & purple to match the beads and a dynamic frame. 

After completing this gorgeous piece, I picked up another Halloween piece I stitched last year during October and put it away before adding the beads, planning to get it back out October 1st and add the beads.  Well, that didn't go as planned, so after finishing my evil witches I got it out and finished it in 3 days.  And boy is she a beauty !!! 

Halloween Fairy by Nora Corbett

September, 2008 issue of

Cross-Stitch & Needlework Magazine

Gonna have to increase that mortgage for another framing job.

The only other thing of note to mention is I am recovering from some oral surgery done yesterday.  

I have had a permanent bridge on the bottom left for about 20 years and the back "anchor" tooth began to hurt about 2 weeks ago.  After visiting my dentist, I was sent for a root canal.. About half way into the procedure, the endodontist suddenly stopped and gave me the wonderful news that my body was "re-absorbing: the tooth.  Nothing could be done but to have it removed, therefore losing TWO teeth (the anchor and the "false" tooth between)  Surgery went great and other that being a little sore and on a "soft" diet for a few days I am doing fine.  Now to see how much I will miss those two teeth next time I want to chow down on a juicy steak.

I know it has been a few weeks since my last update and this has been a lot of ramblings about poor me, but I am so very blessed.  I have a wonderful husband, 2 smart, great looking sons each with beautiful, EXCEPTIONAL wives, 4 grandchildren and another one on the way in May, 2015.  

WHAT MORE COULD A WOMAN WANT ???

Till next time,

Cindi

11.13.2014