Ah, tis mornings like this...

that I've desperately missed. Smokey and I are the only two awake (or the only two that are admitting that we're awake) in the house right now. The morning began with the left side of my face stuck to my pillow, glued there by half dried drool while rain gently fell on the roof. After peeling myself off the pillow and drying the drool off, I moved to a dry part of the pillow and dozed off and on for a while longer, soaking in the comfort of my bed and the peace the rain brings. I've been up for a while now. Smokey and I ate our breakfast before he helped me make my bed (and played wityh the watering can I used to fill the vaporizer last night). I love how he can turn anything into a game. Whether its chasing me around my bed, trying to catch his tail while I hold him, or punishing me for leaving him, it all becomes a game. I really should take the time to better learn his art of living life. Still, I'm glad to feel the fun again. I'm typing this one handed, pausing to adjust how I'm holding him to keep him from kissing my glasses, or to bop him on the head for biting my shoulder. The rain has paused and I know that I should probably go outside to feed the critters while the rain clouds rest, but that would mean admitting that this delightful morning was over. I usually only get mornings like this with everything calm and quiet when I awake early, but the rest are currently at work or sleeping in  after a long night's work, or continuing to fend off a bug by resting. Regardless of the how, I just want to soak up as much as possible of this morning. Just yesterday, my chiropractor, *Gypsy, and I had been talking about how much we love rainy days. We don't understand why others find them depressing. While I love and need my dose of sunshine, to us, a rainy day has so many possibilities. We can get lost in a book, find the calm again, or have the energy to go through things reminiscent of past good times and why-did-I-feel-the-need-to-keep-this things. A rainy day gets my fingers itching to sew, to create, with a delightfully distracting certain kitty on my lap. It gets my creative juices flowing and makes words become my friends again, as they ooze out of every crevice of my brain and crack in my heart. It calms my soul and brings peace to my heart. I consider the rare rainy day-especially one spent at home- to be one of God's greatest gifts to me. Sure, when the Missouri version of a monsoon starts, I'll begin to crave my sunshine. But for now, this is day of endless possibilities, of calm, energetic life, is absolutely perfect.
 ~ Emmy

* I'm calling her Gypsy here because when we first met her a few weeks ago, she talked about how much she loves velvet, making the comment that "...it must be the gypsy in me." Youns would like her. I always bring a stitchy project to work on, and she always asks to see my progress with a genuine interest. I don't know about youns, but around here that is a rarity, except for select family members. Plus, she's the kind of person you would want to meet for lunch just to chat with.

Emmy the Kid

 We, being Sketchy Fish (he named one of his girlfriend's goldfish this), brought a hospice pt from Local Hospital back to his residence. The family was super sweet. I felt bad; Sketchy Fish and I are both short (this makes lifting easier unless neither of us are tall enough to reach high enough to finish the lifting!) so when we carried the pt up the stairs and over his bed on the mega mover (mega movers rock; I'll try to post a pic at the end of this.), more altitude would've been best. Fortunately, a family member was helping with the carrying (the pt was really, really tall), and was able to help get the pt high enough. Anyhow, the pt's wife and daughter both hugged me (I love when pts and their families hug me- unless they haven't bathed in a month. Then, not so much. These folks were extremely clean.). The pt's daughter followed us outside to sign our computer that we had left on the cot. She said, "You kids are doing a great job." I got a hug and a compliment today!!!!!!!!! Yay me!!!! (And Yay Sketchy Fish!). And yay you!!!!!! Its a "Yay!" kind of day. The sun sort of shone for the part of the day, my partner today doesn't hate life and helps with everything, and I get to start a new project! I hope you are having a "Yay!" kind of day!

 ~ Emmy

These things rock because it basically gives your pt handles!!!!! And, they are disposable, so no one has to clean gross stuff off!!!!!!

Driving Miss Daisy

  Ms. Daisy went on her first car ride yesterday. Her brother, Bear, was going to come, but he had outgrown his harness before he had even gotten to wear it! Mom drove and I rode up front and took pictures of her. :) I apologize in advance for what will probably be too many photos! ;)

Here she is getting ride for the car ride. And yes, she is wearing a diaper under onesie! (She has done well so far, but I'm not one for taking a chance on having to clean up a mess... The socks were to help keep her from accidentally scratching up Mom's car. Just for  the record, she wears a 6-9 mo onesie. 

She looked out the window at times, napped, and posed for pictures. That lil gal loves to have her picture taken! She's a bit of a diva though- if she sees me taking a picture of someone or something that is not her, she lets me know that that is unacceptable! Fortunately, she likes being dressed up. She tends to be on the cold side, so I think she enjoys the warmth that extra layers bring! Plus, she loves the attention!

As far as stitchy news goes, I finished Token of Love on Tuesday at 10:25. I was suppose to go to bed early that night since my beauty sleep (snort) was interrupted the night before at work. Instead, I chose to finish stitching. I always think that I can stitch something faster than I actually can. Anyway, here it is in all of its un-ironed glory:

Token of Love Redwork Sampler by Pineberry Lane. Stitched over 2 on 32? count natural linen using  DMC 817. 

  Apparently, I also couldn't hold my phone straight. Sorry about that!

  I was going to work on a WIP today, but I need to go over some of my lines with the erasable marker thingy-ma-bob. And holding the pattern and muslim over the window was just not working today. Too bad I had just pulled the masking tape out of my stitching bag a few days ago! ;) Instead, I think I just might start this:

  I'm going to change the colors from Weeks Dye Works to DMC. DMC is pretty much the only embroidery floss that is easily accessible around here. And I'm too impatient  to order floss that I need to start a project online! 

 Mr. Smokey is mad that he hasn't been allowed to write a post in a while, so I wouldn't be surprised if he "borrows" my laptop soon for something other than a warm place to sleep. 

He loves laying on anything gray because he knows he blends in. He gets so excited whenever my sweatpants or shirt is gray!

Here he is having fun decorating himself. He thought he was in trouble just prior to me taking the picture!

Smokey decided he needed to wear a headdress. Maybe he got the idea from watching Pocahontas?

And we can't forget about Banjo! 

 I hope that all of you are warm, safe, and dry and enjoying your evening!

 Happy Stitching!

Emmy

Happy Birthday

To the woman that birthed me and has put up with me for so long!

I hope it’s been a great birthday, Mom!

I got some more stitching done yesterday:

I also stitched the “of” and a bit more of the lower border. I’ve only put in a handful stitches today. 

Completely random note, but my kitty is like me in so many ways. He also sticks his foot out from under the blanket when he gets too hot!

Hope you had a wonderful Sunday! Happy Stitching!

Emmy

I’m back!

Well, I apologize for my unplanned hiatus. My family keeps passing around different colds and such, so I’ve kep busy trying to help them and not getting it myself. Plus, until last shift things had been super crazy at work, so if we got 2-3 hours of broken sleep, we considered it a lot. So I’ve basically stated in zombie mode until a couple of days ago. Last shift went well. I almost got to deliver a baby. He insisted on coming right before we arrived. I still got to hold a brand new baby and cut his umbilical cord (a first for me!). He wasn’t due until early April, but was doing great for us. He was so adorable!!!!!! I’ve made more progresss on Token on Love:

 I’ve been really enjoying this one! I’ll try to get a better picture soon, after I make more progress. Who knows, maybe I’ll even be ambitious  enough to crack out my iron (I say laughing).
  I had company on my way to work today. Ms. Coco went home to a coworker today. It was a lot of fun having company on the drive! Especially when the rain started freezing...

Here she is buckled into the puppy car seat (Daisy doesn’t know this, but I’m planning on taking her places with me. And after a puppy got hurt on a wreck we ran last year, there’s no way I’m chancing the same thing with her!). 

And here she is helping me check the truck while hernew owner was bringing his stuff out to his truck. She was starting to get really sleepy by this point!

And here’s the picture my coworker sent me. She had to go to the groomer and the vet today, so she’s had a lot of new experiences! 

 Well, I think I’ll try to squeeze in some stitching real fast. I’m hoping this shift goes as well as Tuesday’s shift did. Since we’ve had freezing rain alternating with sleet all day.  I’m not all that optimistic. We already had to trade out of my usual truck because we were informed that there’s something wrong with the air compressor for the chains. Not really sure why the message couldn’t have been passed along at 8 this morning so Coco and I could’ve avoided wasting our time, but that is the usual anymore.  I’ll try to share more pictures of critters either later today or sometime tomorrow. I hope the weather is nicer where ever you are at and that spring comes soon for all of us!

Happy Stitching!

Emmy