Ugh, I'm so stressed about my algebra final. I put way too much pressure on myself. I feel like if I don't get at least a B that I'm a failure! I should just be happy if I pass!! :) I finished up my last lesson last night and now I'm putting my review problems on flash cards. Only I ran out of cards! I should take that as I can start studying tomorrow and relax today, right?? Well, not much else going on here. Wish we could get out of the house and do something. We are broke though. Still wondering how we're going to pay for christmas presents. I do get a bonus, not sure how much though. It's ok, I know it's only temporary. And hey, I can't complain, I have a roof over my head, heat, and plenty of cross stitch to last a loooooong time!! :) Well, that's all for today! Going to get things clean, maybe I can get Jake to take a nap and then I can get some stitching done! :)

Thanksgiving went pretty well. It ended up raining all day here. My mom came over and I made a huge dinner. We'll be eating leftovers for awhile. My mom is scared of storms, so she left early thinking that it was going to storm. I looked on the radar and told her it was unlikely, but she was still all nervous. So I told her to just leave. She drives me up a wall!!! Other than that, it was a nice, lazy day. Dh's Uncle, Aunt, Cousin, Cousin's wife and 9 mo. old son stopped by on their way back to Colorado last night. They stayed for about an hour. We had a nice visit. They are really nice people. I wish they lived a little closer. They were in for quite a drive home, and were planning on driving straight through. No thank you!! :) Well, dh has been off and I don't seem to get as much stitching done when he's home. I guess I feel like I should be cleaning or something. Sick isn't it?? :) I have to get one more Algebra lesson done and then I'm going to stitch, stitch, stitch!!! :) Well, write soon!!

Well, I started typing yesterday and something happened. it shut down my computer or something. Anyways, I think I was writing about thanksgiving. Chris's parents were supposed to be coming up. Chris called last night to make sure and of course they're not coming now. I was pretty disappointed. Especially after I bought $70 worth of food and cleaned like a mad woman all day. I can understand though, my MIL has health problems, and I think she been taking a lot of medication. Anyways, we'll have lots of leftovers! Any lonely people out there that wanna come for Thanksgiving?? :)

I started Celtic Summer the other day. I had been wanting to start for so long (about since it came out). I'm loving it so far. I love MLI's designs because they're so easy to read and stitch. You rarely have to guess what goes here or there. Anyways, I'll post a pic when I get a chance.

I woke up with yet another migraine this morning. Thankfully no nausea. I definitely need to see a doctor about these! One of these days I'll make that appointment. Well, I'm almost done with my algebra, I'm on my last lesson. Then I have to start studying for my final in December. I was almost feeling kinda sad that it's over. Even though it's so hard at times I still love learning new things. I think I'm going to sign up for another online class for the spring. Well, that's all for now. Write later! :)

Ok, I'm doomed!! I only got a 75 on my latest math lesson quiz. I took it 3 times (the most they allow), and I got a 50 on the last one I took! Thankfully they take the highest score. It was just this one problem that I couldn't get through! And the problem with the quiz is it was only 4 questions, so you couldn't miss one! Ok, enough about that. I just need to study up on that lesson before the final. Well, I didn't get any stitching done, but I did knit a little. My stepmom wanted me to make her some dishcloths for christmas, so I'm trying to get a couple done for her. I don't know about you, but I'm the worst procrastinator when it comes to christmas. I always wait until the last minute. I'm so envious of those who can actually start shopping in August. One day when I have more money I'll do that. Yeah, right!! :) Well, I really need to clean. I let the housework slide while I was catching up on my homework. Oh I forgot I have to go see my gyn today. I had to reschedule a few times because things kept coming up. I'm nervous about going because I need to talk to him about some serious stuff, like my PMS that I've had for years and have never done anything about. I get pretty depressed and angry. I'm not a fun one to be around for those two weeks, and I'm finally ready to do something about it. And I also want to talk to him about some long term BC. I'd love to have another baby one day, but right now we just don't have the time, money, or space!! Anyways, that's all for now!! Write more later...

Oh my, this is torture!!!! Nonlinear Equations. I have been working on this for a few days now, and I finally got through it. I didn't think I ever would. My brain is mush. Now I have to work on 2 more lessons before the week is up. How could I have let myself get so behind?? Anyways, no stitching for me. I felt too guilty, and now I'm just too tired. No storms tonight, just lots of rain. We can all sleep peacefully. Well, that's all for now!

I haven't done any stitching in the past few days. I've been working and trying to get caught up on my math. It's becoming ridiculously hard. I'm just so confused and wondering if I will ever really need this?? Oh well, I gotta pass it. I just need to know to pass!! The one good thing is I'll be able to help dh when he goes back to school. I'm feeling anxious because we're supposed to be getting strong storms today. My mother passed down to me her fear of storms (thanks mom). So I'll be going to her house to ride them out. I'm going to bring my ott-lite, so I can get some stitching done. I'll let her watch the kids! :) Well, not much else!! I'll let you know how it went tomorrow!

Well, we are starting to get back into our routine (if we have such a thing). I have been getting some stitching done. I've got 3 rose borders done on Sophie's Rose.



I have also started the Pam Kellogg Christmas Mystery, like Stitchy Jen. I'm still working on Part I, so I have not gotten as much done as her. I have to work all weekend and then I'll be off for four days!! Yippee! I have to catch up on my Algebra, I can't remember if I'm one week behind or two, and that's pretty sad! I'm taking 6 days off in December to go back down to Florida to take my final. Hopefully I pass!! :)

We got back from Florida late last night. I could not wait to get out of that car!! :) I'm so sleepy and I still have housework and the car to get unpacked and I have to work today. That's why my mood is set at challenged! Maybe it really should be unmotivated. I wish I could be soundly sleeping in my cozy bed like dh!!! Anyways, I haven't gotten much stitching done because of our trip. Hoping to get a little done on lunch today. Well that's all for now!! Write later...

We are leaving for Florida tomorrow morning and I have gotten nothing done. I need to do laundry, clean, pack, and it's all a mess and I can't get my butt off the couch. I'm sure it's from working and Jake getting up at 6 am every morning. It's starting to catch up with me!! I wish Chris could just take the boys down there by himself. But I don't think he'd last very long on the drive! And I know I'd miss them all after a day... or two. I'm just so tired!!! I feel like I just don't get a break unless I'm sleeping and even then I get woken up at least once during the night! Ok done whining!! I promise!! :) I'm going to go put a load of wash in!

Yeah I finished!!! It turned out pretty. I ended up using regular beads, and kinda wished I had used petite because it was hard to get them to all fit in some places! Here's the pic....



Now I think I'm going to get Sophie finished. She's feeling neglected!! :)

I ended up getting a lot done on my little freebie. It's almost finished except for the beads. I was thinking of using petite beads since it's on 32 ct. I haven't decided yet. It's really not my style, so I may give it as a christmas present. I'll post another scan when I get all the beads on. I got my supplies for the Quilt Mystery yesterday. The colors are so pretty!! Drema from Needlecraft corner had them all in baggies on a ring, very convenient!! :) Well, not much else... still trying to wake up! Jake woke me up about 6:30 this morning. I have to work at 2 today. I'm actually looking forward to going to work today, these kids are wearing me out!! Write more soon!

mmmm... comfort food! I just made my version of shepherd's pie, or since it has ground beef it's called cottage pie.

1 lb. of ground beef
1 medium onion chopped
1 can of corn
1 can of green beans
6 servings of instant potatoes
1 jar of brown gravy
6 slices of cheese or you can use shredded cheddar (I used munster)
1 tbsp of oil

heat oil on medium heat, add onion, cook until it starts to soften. Add beef, cook until brown. While beef is browning make potatoes according to directions on package. Add corn and green beans, stir. Add gravy, stir. Put everything in casserole. top with potatoes and then top with cheese. Put in 350 oven for 20-30 min until cheese is bubbly and you can see gravy starting to bubble on top. Eat with warm crusty bread. mmm, mmm! It's even better heated up the next day.

P.S. You can use any vegetables that your family likes.

I woke up with another migraine this morning. I took some Excedrin right away, so I'm hoping it doesn't become a full blown headache with the throwing up, etc. I think I'm going to be ok, just have the headache. I can deal with pain, but I can't deal with the nausea. I finally scanned my little freebie... it's just an unfinished border right now. I'm hoping to work on it some today.



Well, that's all for now. Write more soon!

Application of Logs. Sounds like I should be learning how to cut down trees not doing algebra homework!! :) Well, I got a little more done on my freebie. I just love the colors, but worried that the cream I chose is blending too much with the fabric. It's bugging me! :) I think I'll just live with it because it was really just a test for me to see how I'd like stitching Chatelaine designs. I love how clear the chart is, and the instructions are pretty good too. Can't wait to start on my Mysteries! That's all for now! Write more later!! Back to the logs!!

My Little Pirate!



We had fun trick-or-treating yesterday! It was Bradley's first time and my first time in about 13 years!! :) Haven't done any stitching, but hope to work on my little freebie. I did get my beads organized. I will write more on that later!