Never Ending Source of Entertainment

Part I
My neighbors have not only become a thorn in my side, but also continue to amuse me with their passive aggressive behavior.

Remember the swing incident from a couple weeks ago? I have a little update… When the daughter moved in (which I’m *still* wondering if the landlord knows), the covered swing was placed under the trees in the backyard behind the garage. Ya’ll remember the sign, right? “Do Not Touch” Hmmm, yeah OK.

My nieces came to visit me last weekend. I suggested they go in the backyard to see what was back there. They came back about 10 minutes later. I asked them how they liked the sign. One exclaimed “Oh, they can break the tire swing” but I can’t touch theirs?! Then she proceeded to tell me that she removed the sign and taped it backwards on the swing. LOL (Can you tell we’re related?)

The story doesn’t stop there, though. Oh no...

The next day, I found that the neighbors moved the swing! They moved it to the side of the garage where it could be viewed from the kitchen windows. They also removed the sign. LOL

Part II
When my neighbor mows, she blows grass all over the concrete driveway and leaves it. I’m guessing she figures since she doesn’t have to drive on that side (and I do), that she shouldn’t have to clean it up. Two can play at that game... When my niece was over, she mowed the yard. The good kid that she is, she mowed the entire front yard, including the neighbor’s side, along side the driveway where the other neighbor’s house is, plus the front part of the backyard. The grass on the opposite side of the driveway was quite tall. Not as tall as the weeds up against the house on the my neighbor’s side, though. My niece was going to clean the grass off the driveway, but I informed her we don’t clean up area the neighbor drives on. Bad influence, aren’t I?

The best part was when I went outside the next day to let my dog out, the neighbor was over there sweeping up the grass! Now, I ask you... if she can sweep it up when she didn’t put it there, WHY can’t she sweep it up when she does?! I chuckled to myself all the back to the house.

I had plans for my niece to mow the ENTIRE yard all summer and was going to pay her to do it. Since my neighbor started the passive aggressive behavior, my niece gets paid to mow only my “bit”, as determined by the neighbor. Neighbor’s loss!!

SBQ - It's Always Nice to Share

How do you share your finished pieces with others? Do you frame them,scan and/or photograph them, or do you have another method that you use to share?

I have the framed pieces that I've made for myself, or have "rescued" hung on the wall going up my staircase. There's also a bathroom themed one hanging outside my bathroom, and one hung in my spare bedroom.


Scissor fobs and bookmarks are usually in use, so they are always "on display."

I always photograph every "finish" and put the pic in my Yahoo Photos album, and usually put an entry in my blog so all my stitchy friends can see what I've been up to.

You've Come A Long Way Baby!

When searching through my stash a while back, I came across this ornament I stitched way back in the early 90's when I first took it seriously. It was a free ornament kit you could get just by writing to DMC and requesting one. Curious as to how my stitching has changed over the years, I scrutinized the front. All stitches lay the same way, neat and orderly - Yes. Doesn't look bad, does it?



Then I turned it over to review the back side. Notice all the threads being carried? The good thing is that they weren't carried very far. If I were to stitch it again, I'd more than likely weave the threads under existing stitches. My-oh-my, how times have changed!



And finally after all this time, here is the finished ornament! (Does this count as my second finish of August?)

Stitching "Over Two"

Earlier in the year, I took the plunge into the world of evenweaves and linens. Some get confused because the counts are so high: 28ct, 32ct, 36ct. Relax.... What you have to remember is counts this high just means you're probably going to be stitching "over two" which essentially equates to 14ct, 16ct, 18ct if you were using aida. So, what's the "over two" language I'm using?

Simple. When stitching a design on an evenweave or linen fabric, work each cross stitch over two threads of the fabric. This means you should count across and up two holes instead of one in order to create each half of the X. What I do is count 'one, two' each time I make a stitch. It helps until you get the hang of it. The diagram below is a visual example of what I'm talking about:

My first project stitching "over two" is Japanese Garden by Martina Weber. It'll be 17x17 when finished and contains lots of specialty stitches. What was I thinking?? LOL It'll be gorgeous when finished. A completed pic of it is in my sidebar to the right. If you've never stitched "over two" before, I would choose something MUCH smaller and easier so you get the hang of it. I would also recommend you try evenweave first, as opposed to linen. I've been told it's easier. Since starting JG, I've made several smaller projects on linen. Linen or Evenweave, I like them both. The fabrics look more refined than aida. I haven't given up the aida, though!

50 Things About Me

1. FIRST NAME? Meari
2. NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Last week
4. LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes
5. FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Honey Smoked Ham
6. KIDS? No
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Most definitely!
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Just my blog right now
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Yes, LOL
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Heck no!
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Don’t have one
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Of course – My Daddy always said they’d last longer.
14. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
I have to pick ONE?
15. DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE A STRONG PERSON?
Yes, have had to be
16. SHOE SIZE? 10 RED OR PINK? Red
17. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My quietness
18. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My grandparents
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING NOW? Black
20. IF YOU COULD BE 18 AGAIN WOULD YOU?
Yes, if I can keep what I know now
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Some dumb radio talk show
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Lavendar
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Lilac
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED ON THE PHONE? A banker
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? their face
26. HOW MANY SPEEDING TICKETS HAVE YOU GOTTEN?
Probably 8
27. FAVORITE DRINK? Non-acoholic: Ice tea, Sprite Acoholic: Amaretto Stone Sour
28. FAVORITE SPORT? If I play, volleyball or softball
29. EYE COLOR? Brown
30. HAT SIZE? Don't wear hats
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Sometimes
32. FAVORITE FOOD? Sushi
33. WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE MOVIE THEATER? Benchwarmers
34. SCARY MOVIE OR HAPPY ENDING? Happy ending
35. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Mocha
36. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
37. HUGS OR KISSES? Both (greedy, aren't I?)
38. FAVORITE DESSERT? All of them
39. WHAT BOOKS are you READING NOW? Learned Optimism, DaVinci Code, Ecology textbook -- obviously not all at the very same time
40. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Bits of dirt and white fuzzy things
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? My name is Earl, Everyone Loves Raymond
42. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Nature
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Neither
44. THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Caribbean
45. WHAT IS YOU PRESENT OCCUPATION? Accounting
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? In a hospital, although I wonder because growing up my Dad always asked me "Were you born in a barn?"
47. ARE YOU AN ONLY CHILD? No
48. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? Yes
49. ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON or A NIGHT OWL? Sometimes both, but usually a morning person
50. LEAST FAVORITE FOOD? Cottage cheese and Yogurt