Ow

I've discovered the hard way that washing machines bite. Without provocation either. I was just asking it to wash some clothes. Look what it did to my pinky....


It's going all black and hurts like heck. The lid slammed down unexpectedly when I reached into the laundry basket to grab some clothes for the washer to wash. I never would have dreamed something so minor could hurt so bloody much! (pardon my french!)

I wouldn't mind so much, except......a new model arrived for stitching on Friday. I blame my pinky problem partially on the new model - the previous stitcher was unable to complete it because of a family emergency. Now it looks like I've broken my pinky (or given it one heck of a whack, at any rate).

*sigh*

On a happier note, whilst folding laundry one-handed, I had gotten up to retrieve more items from the dryer (it doesn't bite) and returned to my folding spot to find this:


Apparently DS#1's unmentionables make a most queenly bed. Serves me right for leaving them in such a comfy spot, I guess.

I'm off to see if I can manage to stitch a bit. Thankfully I'm right handed, so I should be able to manage. It's taken a dreadfully long time to type all this....

Ice. Need Ice. Need Advil. Need to kick washer.

Okay, I'm done being a baby now.

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Yikes!

Has it really been over a month since I last posted? I hadn't noticed how time has been speeding by me. Although, to be fair, I've spent most of the last month sicker than a dog, so my perception of time is likely off....

May has been quite a busy month work-wise as I've been doing lots of workshops for Scientists in School. Just last week I finished the 9th workshop in a row of my newest workshop that is for Kindergarten students. It's called 'There's No Place Like Home' and is all about animal habitats. I really enjoy this workshop, although I feel sorry for the little guys and gals - they've got to listen to me sing. Trust me, it's not something for the faint of heart to listen to! Thankfully those in the 3 to 5 year old range are quite forgiving. (although perhaps I got payback at a different school when one little boy tossed his cookies all over my tablecloth, magnifying glass and himself... Ew!)

Because I've been so ill, I haven't stitched much, although I'm pleased to say that my mystery project for my blogaversary (sp?) winner has turned out quite well in the finishing department. Now that work has calmed down a bit and I'm no longer drowning in my own mucus, I should get that out the door shortly. Although I'm having a serious debate about another little thing I stitched up. I'm thinking of finish-finishing that and adding it to the package. Hmmmmm.....

I did manage to start a new project while I've been sick. This has been sitting in my 'must-stitch-it' pile for a while, but I was struggling with just what fabric and fibre to use. While stash rummaging, I tripped over a piece of fabric I love and had forgotten about at the bottom of the pile. My next trip to the LNS found a fibre I was quite happy to have jumping into my hands, and well, check out the result for yourself.....


Yes, I've fallen into the Cirque des Cercles need. I've loved this piece since the first time I saw it. It stitches up surprisingly fast too. I'm stitching it on a 28-count opalescent lugana that is a lovely golden tone (it really doesn't photograph worth a darn!) with a DMC colour variations. I'd tell you the number, but it's upstairs, I'm in the basement and I'm not up to the trek of the stairs again just yet. (this being sick thing has messed with my stamina something fierce!) I'm in love, love, love.......

The other accomplishment that I'm basking in at the moment is the gardens at my DS#2's school. A few years ago a bunch of volunteers and I got together to dig up the never-ending-bed-of-weeds and try to make the gardens a thing of beauty. This year we're starting to see some results! Here's a few pictures of just what's blooming right now:


This is just one little clump of columbine that I planted last summer. I got the plants off a clearance table at one of those grocery store nurseries that pop up every year. I don't think I paid more than 50 cents for the plant. I think it's paying me off quite handily!


This clump of irises was actually salvaged from the great weed-a-thon when we first started this project. We found tons and tons of iris tubers in the garden beds so we rescued them from neglect and made their home a happier place. Again, I think they're paying me back in large quantities. I've never seen yellow irises with purple tips before. They're quite stunning IRL.

Here's a picture of just a portion of the flower bed (there's more around a corner that I couldn't squeeze into the photo and two small raised beds that surround a couple of trees):


Isn't it tremendous what a bunch of people can do when they work together? At one point, the weeds were as tall as the irises. The previous solution was to hack at them with a weed-whacker and call it done. In all the years I've been going to this school (almost 10 years now), this is the first time I've ever seen these irises. If I hadn't dug up and found the tubers myself, I wouldn't have believed them to be there.

Now I just have to figure out how to stop the person or persons who last summer, dug up 2 day lilies and at least a dozen rubekia and black-eyed susans and TOOK THEM. The only thing they left were holes where the plants had been. The audacity of some folks never ceases. But that's a rant for another day!

I'm off to stitch - I don't have to work for two whole weeks!

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