Did It!

Oh my heavens you're ambitious.... C

I actually met my New Years Resolution! I finished all 6 WIPs! Yippee! So of course I immediately started a new project - a pattern from Cross Stitch Collectables called Fractal 38. I've decided to drive myself crazy and do it over one on 26 ct black hardanger. I also am preparing to start the Egyptian Garden Mandala from Martine Webber and have finally decided on the design for Test #3 for the Canvas Embroidery Master Cert. As a result, it will be a year or more before I finish another needlework - everything in the works is a large project that will take time.

Fran

Congratulations! That is an accomplishment to be proud of. Hugs, Catherine

WOOHOO!!!!! That must be a really good feeling. Congrats!

Joan

Good for you! I should make a date with myself once a week or so and set up a rotation. I have three larger projects that I really should finish and one new one in the wings, but I've hardly stitched at all for months now.

Elizabeth

Get with it, Elizabeth!! This is the year to stitch and knit!! Hope you are feeling up to par these days.

BTW, the "scarf" thingy I knitted with the baby mohair was a huge success. The old lady loved it! For youe others, Elizabeth lead me astray when we were in Mass, and I bought some super-expensive yarn, but it was a joy to use!

Gillian

Oh, but it's not! Any time I spend stitching or knitting is time that I could be reading or writing!

I am feeling much better, thank you. But I did got to a conference this past weekend that just about wore me out.

I got a skein of the same and am working it up in a simple lace pattern as a stole for myself. It's slow going because any kind of lace requires more concentration that I can usually muster these days.

Elizabeth

Or doing housework!

Ah - that's where you were headed

Sounds lovely. I've got to get into my knitting stash and see what I have for circular needles. Not that I'll get to Nashua until Monday if I don't have something small enough for what I'm making DD.

C

Honey, I'm employed full time outside of my house. I pay someone else to do the bulk of the housework.

Yep. Good thing to do, because it stimulated my interest in things that I haven't though about for a while, but getting in and out of Chicago was a hassle, not to mention getting back into Salem on the Sunday before Halloween.

And I need to keep going through my stash and unloading the things I know I'll never get to. For some reason, I'm more able to do that with my yarn than I am with the needlework stuff, even though I spend a lot more time knitting and am more likely to finish knitting projects.

Elizabeth

Are you using one of the chains or some one local? Local hasn't worked out for us in the past and IF I find employment, I'll get some one just to do the bathrooms.

Good

Not good

How many costumed revelers did you have to avoid...

I actually have a finish to post! C

DH went out and hired a local guy who comes in once every two weeks to vacuum and mop all the floors including down the front and back stairs and entryways (we live on the second and third floors and rent the first) and clean the bathroom. He doesn't dust, but that's ok - given the nature of my glassware on display, I'd rather do it myself. DH does pretty much all the laundry, while the dishes are my job. But since we both work out of the house, it only makes sense to split the housework that isn't contracted out. Neither one of us likes to fold laundry, so there's pretty much always a pile of clean laundry hanging around somewhere.

Elizabeth

Is he cute ?

I'm with Cheryl. I've tried hiring independent cleaners and it quickly becomes apparent why they have to work independent -- they couldn't pass the agency test-clean. The last one left cobwebs in the corners and stuff piled all over because she couldn't be bothered to put away what she took out of the dishwasher. (When you stand up from the dishwasher, the shelf with the plates/cups is right in front of you, so there's no excuse of "didn't know where it goes".)

And the only agency I've found that cleans to my satisfaction is the most expensive, i.e., I can't afford to have them come in twice a month.

*splorf* Ummm, no. He doesn't actually wear a wife-beater while cleaning at my house, but it's not hard to imagine him in one.

Elizabeth

That's rough. Since I my sister runs cleaning company and I worked for her for ten summers, I have very high standards. Having Stan come works for me, because I don't expect him to meet those standards. I expect him to do a competent job of the things that I can't do myself and that DH doesn't want to take the time to do (vacuuming and mopping). Since I pay by the hour and he's reasonably fast, I'm not unhappy with this compromise.

But I know for a fact that there are fantastic cleaners out there. I'm sorry you haven't come across one you felt you could afford. My sister occasionally raises her rates in hopes of losing some customers, but so far, they're all hanging on.

Elizabeth