Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

3rd book of the Grisha Trilogy

This book was amazing. I loved all the characters except for The Darkling and I felt sympathy for him. I cried and I laughed and the ending was great. Not how I expected it to go but it was a good ending. Some of the characters did not end up the way I thought they would but everything was tied up. I love Alina, Mal and Nikolai.



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Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell review

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I listened to this on audio and loved it!! Set in the 80's, Eleanor and Park become friends and then romantic feelings happen. Eleanor comes from a troubled home which makes her hard to like at first but then you start feeling bad for her situation. Would have liked a little more closure with the end but it was good.



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February Books Read

What I read in February:
16. Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson - 4 stars
17. A Quest of Heroes (The Sorcerer's Ring #1) - Morgan Rice - e book - 5 stars
18. Animal Farm - George Orwell - e book - 3 stars
19. The Maze Runner - James Dashner - e book - 4 stars
20. Cress - Marissa Meyer - 5 stars
21. Braile House - James Wayne King - won this off of Goodreads- 4 stars
22. Fairest - Marissa Meyer - 5 stars
23. Witch and Wizard - James Patterson - 4 stars
24. The Darkest Part of the Forest - Holly Black - 4 stars
25. A March of Kings ( The Sorcerer's Ring #2) - Morgan Rice - e book- 4 stars

February Book Haul

This was a huge month of book buying. I bought a lot through BookOutlet for the President's Day sale.

Splintered trilogy - A.G. Howard
Anna and the French Kiss Trilogy - Stephanie Perkins
Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard
Inherit Midnight - Kate Kae Meyers
Truth or Dare trilogy - Jacqueline Green
The Midnight Queen - Sylvia Izzo Hunter
The Bells - Richard Harvell
The Countess Captive (Book2) - Andrea Cefalo (my cousin-in-law)
If You Find Me - Emily Murdoch
Elsewhere - Gabrielle Zevin
Siege and Storm - Leigh Bardugo
Glow - Amy Kathleen Ryan
Mystic City - Theo Lawrence
The Rithmatist - Brandon Sanderson
Chronicles of Nick books 1-5 - Sherrilyn Kenyon
A Wicked Thing - Rhiannon Thomas
The Sin Eater's Daughter - Melinda Salisbury

January Books read

I read:
1. The More the Merrier - K.R. Whitaker   - ebook - 5 stars
2. It's Time We Talked - K.R. Whitaker -e book - 5 stars
3. A Shade of Vampire #3:Castle Of Sand - Bella Forrest - e book - 4 stars
4. A Shade of Vampire #4: A Shadow of  Light - Bella Forrest - e book -4 stars
5. Ready Player One - Ernest Cline - e book - 5 stars (LOVED IT)
6. Cinder -Marissa Meyer - e book - 5 stars (LOVED IT)
7.  A Shade of Vampire #5:A Blaze of Sun - Bella Forrest - e book - 4 stars
8.  A Shade of Vampire #6:A Gate of Night - Bella Forrest - e book - 2 stars
9. Rushed - Brian Harmon - e book - 5 stars
10.Scarlet - Marissa Meyer - 5 stars
11.Finding Cinderella - Colleen Hoover - e book - 3 stars
12.Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead - e book- 4 stars
13. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry - Gabrielle Zevin - ebook - 4 stars
14. The Chocolate Book Bandit - JoAnna Carl - 4 stars
15. The Chocolate Clown Corpse - JoAnna Carl - 4 stars

January Book Haul

These are:
Scarlet -  Marissa Meyer
Cress- Marissa Meyer
Fairest- Marissa Meyer
The Darkest Part of the Forest - Holly Black
Mistborn Trilogy - Brandon Sanderson
Shatter Me series- Tahereh Mafi
Ruby Red Trilogy - Kerstin Gier
Cruel Beauty - Rosamun Hodge
The Book of Ivy - Amy Engel
The Selection trilogy - Kiera Cass

I bought a bunch of ebooks but not listing those

Reading

I haven't stitched much this year but I have been reading ALOT!!!  So I am going to play catch up with all the books that I have bought and read so far. So give me a couple of days to do that and I changed my blog name back to Shelleen's musings instead of Queen Stitcher as not much stitching is going on. I will post progress pics though, when I do stitch.

Day 15

This is the last day of the 15 in 15 Mirabilia's/Nora Corbett's. I started 14 new ones and one WIP. This is Mirabilia Winter Queen which I will continue to stitch on til it is finished. The last week of every month I will take a break and stitch on Halloween.

28 ct white evenweave

I watched 4 episodes of this season's Supernatural. I had DVRd them all and just now watching them. It also was renewed for next season , which is season 11.

Tonight I will read more of Shade of Vampires series. This is #6.

Day 14

Nora Corbett Faerie Winters Dream from the Cross Stitch & Needlework January 2013 issue.

28 ct Molino Silkweaver solo

I watched a little bit of Something's Gotta Give. 

The rest of tonight I will read the 5th book of The Shade of Vampire series by Bella Forrest, I am about 1/2 way through the book.

It has been below 0 last night and tonight. I unburied my car, which had almost a foot of snow on it since I haven't moved it in 2 weeks. I had planned on going to the library to pick up a bunch of audiobooks. It took me 20 minutes to unbury my car and my windshield still was not defrosted or the windows inside my car. I was also frozen and my face hurt. So I decided I was done. Came in and took a shower and put on flannel pjs lol. The library is closed on Thursdays so I will go on Friday.

Days 12 & 13

Day 12 - Mirabilia Giggles in the Snow - Boy

28 ct cream Monaco

Day 13 - Mirabilia Giggles In The Snow - Girl

28 ct cream Monaco

Not much else going on. I didn't watch any TV yesterday. Tonight I watched Hoarders and Pretty Little Liars.

I am still reading A Shade of Vampire Book #5 by Bella Forrest.

My puppy had more shots today and last visit she weighed 9.5 lbs and today she weighs 16.1 lbs. She is growing really well.

Day 11

Today's stitching piece is Mirabilia Fairy Roses.

28 ct cashel linen Silkweaver Pixie Dust

While I was stitching I watched:

Galavant

Resurrection

Revenge

I read an awesome book today as well. Cinder by Marissa Meyer. It is the first book of the Lunar Chronicles Trilogy. I rated it 5 stars.  A forbidden romance. A deadly plague. Earth's fate hinges on one girl . . . CINDER, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg.

 

 

 

Days 8, 9, & 10

I was reading a really good book that I put off posting in here.

Day 8 - Mirabilia Shimmering Mermaid

32 ct Wexford Linen - Silkweaver solo

I stitched on it while watching The Chew and General Hospital. Then I started reading Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and I read until I had to go to bed. The book was so good.

DAY 9 - Mirabilia July Amethyst Fairy

28 ct cashel linen silkweaver solo

I stitched on this while watching The Chew and General Hospital and then I pulled out the book.

Well actually I pulled out my Tablet since I was reading Ready Player One on that. I finished it and gave it 5 stars. I LOVED this book. It was amazing. If you think the world of virtual gaming is awesome, even if you don't play games, and you like the 80's music, movies and video games then you would like this book. I highly recommend it. It is one of the best books that I have read in a long time.

DAY 10 - Mirabilia August Peridot Fairy

Not sure what the fabric is, I can't remember

I stitched on this while watching a Hallmark movie on my DVR, A Royal Christmas, which I enjoyed.

My plans for the rest of the evening are to watch some You tube (book tube ) videos and play sims4.

7th day

January 7- So today's new start is Nora Corbett Arezzo 2014.

32 ct belfast linen - Silkweaver solo

I only watched The Chew and General Hospital today. I was in a reading mood and finished reading A Castle of Sand by Bella Forrest and then also read the next book A Shadow of Light by Bella Forrest. The books keep getting better. There are 4 more in this series. 

We have had a wind chill advisory all day through tomorrow morning. Right now it is -3 with a wind chill at -19. I am staying warm in my fleece pjs but is really cold when I have to take the puppy out. She seems to like it and doesn't want to come back in but wants to play in the snow. 

Since I have been home I have read a lot and not played sims4. I will probably find time over the weekend to play the game.

6th day

January 6 - Today's new start is Mermaid Azure by Nora Corbett.

32 ct Belfast Linen, Silkweaver solo

I stitched while watching The Chew and Pretty Little Liars. I also watched Grumpy Cat's Worse Christmas Ever that I had DVRd from Lifetime. It was one of the dumbest movies I have ever seen. 

I also am changing my reading goals for this year, than what was mentioned in my January 1 post.  I won't list it here in case I change my mind again LOL. But I did finish the Beau Butler series by K. R. Whitaker and am going to finish The Shade of Vampire series by Bella Forrest. Starting Monday I am doing a read-a-lon with a friend. We are going to read Cinder by Marissa Meyers. I have heard such good things about this series that I really want to read it.

We have a winter storm advisory for tonight and tomorrow plus a wind chill advisory of -20 for tomorrow through Thursday morning. All my warm clothes have been washed :-)

5th day

January 5- Today's new start was Luna by Nora Corbett. You can't see it but this fabric is glittery.

28 ct Lugana silkweaver Opalescent - Inferno

I ended up being sick overnight and am home from work. Slept most of the day but found time to stitch a little bit.

I also finished reading It's Time We Talked by K. R. Whitaker. I give this ebook 5 star. It is also the last book of the Beau Butler series.

The next book I will be reading is A Castle of Sand by Bella Forrest. It is #3 of her Shade of Vampire series.

Happy New Year - updated 1-4

My stitching goals are to start 14 new Mirabilia's/Nora Corbett's. Finish Mirabilia Winter Queen. Stitch on a Halloween piece the last week of every month. To finish as many of the new starts that I can.

I also have reading goals this year.

For January I want to read:
The More The Merrier- K. R. Whitaker
Cinder- Marissa Meyer
Smoke & Mirrors - Barbara Michaels
The Longest Ride - Nicholas Sparks
Rushed- Brian Harmon
Audio - finish Lone Wolf - Jodi Picoult

During my Christmas break I watched You Tube videos by Ashley B.  and got an idea for books to read . So I wrote them down and will continue to follow her videos all this year. I also watch her Sims4 videos as I play that a lot as well.

I also want to get back into watching movies again. I slacked off for awhile.

Instead of posting a new post every day then I will just keep adding to this post of what I have read/watched and stitched. I want to get back into blogging again as I have a few followers who have asked where have I been.


JANUARY 1 - Stitched on this while watching Once Christmas Eve. Was a Hallmark movie I had DVRd and it was really good.

Mari-Nora Corbett

28 ct cashel linen silkweaver Jamaica Sunset

JANUARY 2- Stitched while I watched General Hospital and a Hallmark movie, Christmas Under Wraps. Another good movie.

Cleo - Nora Corbett

28 ct linen - not sure what the overdyed is

JANUARY 3- I watched a lot of you tube videos on Books today. Seems like I am missing out on a lot of good ones out there. I have a huge list lol.
Today I stitched in a quiet room. Listening to the sleet and freezing rain. Will read more of The More The Merrier by K. R. Whitaker, tonight. I also want to watch a couple more You Tube book videos.

Ana - Nora Corbett

28 ct linen Silkweaver solo

JANUARY 4 - Still have a cold that I started with on Friday. Today was spent watching my grandson for a few hours. It is always fun being with him.
I watched a few more reading you tube videos and wrote some more books down. I did finish reading my first book of the year. It was The More The Merrier by K. R. Whitaker. It is the 4th book of his Beau Butler series. I will be starting the 5th and final book of the series, It's Time We Talked. It has magic and creatures in it and I am thoroughly enjoying the books.
Tonight I stitched while watching Galavant, Resurrection, and Revenge. Galavant is on for 4 weeks and is a little cheesy but fun for entertainment. Can't go wrong with John Stamos in it :-)

Gigi-Nora Corbett

28 ct cashel linen Silkweaver solo

Goodbye 2014

December was a busy month for me. I had parathyroid operation the first week which laid me up for a short time. So my son, Justin, did all the Christmas decorating and the tree. It was simple this year. Never again will I schedule an operation before a holiday lol.

On the 20th I got a puppy.  Her name is Daenerys and I got the name from Game of Thrones. She is a Queen. She is a  Rotti/German Shepherd mix.

This was also Carson's first Christmas.

I stitched on AAN Butterfly all month. This is being done on a 32 ct pink sparkly fabric with DMC B5200.

I watched a bunch of Christmas movies from Hallmark.

I also read:
Laurell K Hamilton- The Laughing Corpse
                                  Circus of the Damned
                                  The Lunatic Cafe
                                  Bloody Bones
                                  The Killing Dance
                                  Burnt Offerings

Loved them all and will continue the series in 2015.

Where has the time gone?

I haven't posted since April. I want to start posting every week again. I have a few friends who miss my posts. I won't promise that I will post every week but I do promise to post at least once a month.

So here is my year in review.

My grandson, Carson is now almost 11 months old and I love him to pieces. I see him at least twice a week and wouldn't want it any other way.

Scott and I have been in search for a puppy for a year now. Either free or small fee. German Shepherd or German Sheppard Rotti mix. Well a post on FB yesterday found me a German Shepherd/ Rotti mix that is now 4 weeks old and ready to take home Dec. 23. I told them I am definately taking a female and put one on hold for me. We will go next Saturday to check them out and to pick one so we have to take a collar with us. I can not tell you how excited I am.
I also found out in July that I have diabetes. Since then I changed my eating and have lost 33 lbs. My numbers are now to where someone without diabetes is. I am thrilled.

I haven't read much or listened to a lot of audiobooks. I did read 2 series by K. R. Whittaker that I loved. They are only available as ebooks.

I have stitched a lot as well.

I have been DVRing all the new Christmas movies that have been on Lifetime and Hallmark and will start watching them soon. Right now I am getting caught up on The Chew. I am almost a month behind on those. I watched a lot of them while on Thanksgiving break. I also am having a parathyroid removed on Wednesday so I am hoping I can stitch and watch a lot of The Chew Thursday and Friday and again next Sunday, Then onto the Christmas movies.

So I just finished stitching on HAED SK Butterflies Galore and that is put away for awhile and this month is AAN Butterfly. Next year I am doing 15 Miras in 15. So we pick any 15 Mirabilias or Nora Corbett patterns and stitch a different one January 1 - 15 and then try to finish as many as possible. You can also count the freebies and UFO/WIP that we have. I only have Winter Queen started so I will stitch on that and will be my first finish for next year. This group is on FB. Should be fun.

Mirabilia Winter Queen

I haven't posted in a month. My internet was down for 2 weeks and then seems like my Sundays were busy and just didn't get to posting.

I have been watching the first 3 seasons of Game of Thrones and just have 2 episodes left on season 2. I am enjoying them very much.

I haven't been reading much or listening to my audiobooks either. I am reading Drop Dead Beautiful by Jackie Collins and am listening to Dust by Patricia Cornwell. Don't have much more on either one.

I started Mirabilia Winter Queen on 3/14/06 and the last time that I stitched on it was 2/24/10. So I pulled this back out on April 1 and wish I had more progress but I have been busy a few times this month.

2/24/10

Progress as of 7pm 4/20/14

Wow, I guess comparing the 2 pics I have done really well this month. The hair took me the longest.

I leave early Thursday morning for the Mirabilia Retreat in Columbus , Ohio. I can't wait.

I have been spending more time with my grandson and he loves to smile and coo at me. He is so precious.

I did Easter yesterday. Dylan (22) wanted me to do an Easter egg hunt. Justin (24) wanted me to do Easter baskets. I had Scott(DH) hide some eggs and I bought some candy for the baskets but didn't actually have baskets. Had everything arranged at the table for when we sat down to eat. We had a great time. I told them this was our first annual Toland Easter party lol.

Thanks for reading and the comments. Love the comments. I am behind on reading all of my friend's blogs too.

Page 1 finished, started page 2

HAED SK Butterflies Galore

25 ct 1x1

I have been enjoying stitching on her. She is quick and not to bad on confetti. Only 1 week left to stitch on her so I am hoping to get maybe 2 columns done.

I read/listened to:

10th Anniversary by James Patterson and this is from his Women's Murder Club series. I enjoy the characters and how they are friends.

Poison by K. R. Whitaker - the 5th book in his Jason Turner saga. That is it for now for this saga but he says he isn't done with it. He has a few stand alone books and another series and right now he is writing a series which sounds like it will be a lot of fun to read. Nothing like his other books. You can only get his books in the Kindle edition. He is a friend of mine so I get to discuss his books with him.

Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell. This is a part of her Kay Scarpetta series. I have been reading her books forever and keeping on with this series.

The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell. I just started this one and hopefully can finish it this week.

I haven't watched any movies the past week.

Saturday Dylan and Amber moved to another apartment so I got to watch Carson. He was soo good and can't wait to see him again. I had dinner for them, when they were done moving so they didn't have to unpack all the kitchen stuff and they wouldn't spend their money ordering out. They now live 10 minutes from me and I drive right by their road every day.

Still waiting for Spring to show up here in WNY.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I like to be in the spirit despite not being Irish. My hubby is though. I wore a green shirt today.

So last week I got a lot of stitching time in. Wednesday we had a blizzard so I stayed cooped up in the house watching a bunch of movies and stitching. We ended up with well over a foot of snow, almost 18".

So this is how much progress I have made.

HAED SK Butterflies Galore

25 ct 1x1

Last Sunday's progress report only included 1 eye. I am almost done with page 1.

I watched a bunch of movies too:
The Wrong Woman - LMN - Good
Dirty Teacher - LMN - Good
Dark Shadows - ok
Pitch Perfect - Loved it
The Purge - Good
Les Miserables - Loved it
Gone - Good
Monster's University - funny
Jack Reacher - enjoyed it even though Tom Cruise does not fit the profile of Jack Reacher in the books
Alex Cross - liked it
The Double - Good
A Christmas Story 2 - cute
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark - Good

Today I finished listening to an audiobook:
10th Anniversary by James Patterson. It's from his Women's Murder Club series , which I like a lot.

So I keep forgetting to post a pic of my grandson. Carson is now 2 months old and sooo cute.

March new start

March 1st I started a new piece.

HAED SK Butterflies Galore

25 ct evenweave 1x1

She has been fun to stitch.

Movies I watched this week:

People Like Us - loved it

Magic Mike - funny

A Sister's Revenge - LMN- Good

Being Flynn - OK

The Cabin in the Woods - Weird

Contraband - Good

The Perfect Boss - LMN - Good

Books/audiobooks this week:

Jane's Melody - Ryan Whitfield - Kindle - Loved it

NYPD Red - James Patterson - audio - Good

 

Tonight the new episodes came back of, Once Upon a Time, Resurrection (new show), and Revenge.

We have had warmer weather and the sun has been out. Spring has been in the air but the weathermen say that winter will be back this week.

L&L Fairy Grandmother February progress

I started this on the 1st and continued to stitch on her for the whole month of February.

She is now put away for a couple more months.

Last week I met up with a few close cross stitch friends. We rented a beautiful house on Lake Marion in SC. Lots of stitching and laughter. 3 of us had to leave 2 days early to make it home before storm Titan hit. We were bummed but wanted to have a safe trip home.

I finished reading 2 Kindle books:
Tragedy and triumph- K. R. Whitaker
Wake at Your Own Risk - K. R. Whitaker

I highly recommend this series. He has another series and a few standalone books and is working on a new series. Please check them out.

L&L Fairy Grandmother weekly progress

I have stitched on this all week. Where there should be a neck is a high collar of her blouse and will be done in beads. I add the beads when all the stitching is done.

L&L Fairy Grandmother

 

I am hoping to get a lot more done on her this week.

Monday I started out with some stomach bug but I felt better by Tuesday afternoon.

I started listening to NYPD Red by James Patterson and am enjoying that. I also read a little more of Triumph and Tragedy by K.R. Whitaker.
Still watching the Olympics every day.

Friday night I watched my grandson so Dylan and Amber could go out. He was so good and he is very precious. Saturday night Scott took me out for our Valentine's dinner. We went to North Shore Grill, which is on Conesus Lake. I grew up on the lake so it was really nice to sit at the windows and watch the snowmobiles and ice fishermen.

Tonight I am dying my hair brown so tomorrow Allie can put blonde highlights in. Then this Friday I leave and will be with a group of close cross stitch friends. We are renting a house, on a lake, in SC. So I won't have any progress pics next weekend. You will have to wait til I get back, which will be March 3. I am so excited.

Olympics and stitching

I have been stitching away on L&L Fairy Grandmother. Done on 28 ct Nantucket Sky Monaco steph's Fabbys.

Last Sunday

As of today

I made quite a bit of progress.

I have been watching the Olympics since Thursday night.

Yesterday I had my Bookcross luncheon. I came home with 2 books. The new ones by Janet Evanovich and James Patterson. I took 4 books and they were taken.

Then hubby and I got our taxes done. Getting a little back from both state and federal. Better than paying in.

Yesterday I finished the audiobook Guilty Wives by James Patterson. I loved it and it did make me mad a lot. Tomorrow I will start listening to NYPD Red by James Patterson. I don't know when I will get a chance to read again. I know I will once the Olympics are over.

We have still been getting snow and cold temps. Wednesday we got a foot of snow and we had wind chill advisories for 2 days. I love the snow but it needs to warm up a little.

Well That is all for now. I am getting really tired so I may go to bed early and miss the last bit of the Olympics tonight.

A new start

Yesterday I started L&L Fairy Grandmother. I am doing this as a SAL with a group of friends.

Started February 1, 2014

28 ct Stephs Fabbys Monaco Nantucket Sky

2x2

I stayed up late last night, well technically til 2 am this morning. I watched the last half of Gone With the Wind. I don't remember if I had seen it. Scarlett was a real bitch and no wonder Rhett said " Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn". I need to watch the first half next time lol.

Today was Super Bowl Sunday. I started out at noon - 3 watching the Kitten Bowl on Hallmark Channel. Then 3-5 was the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet and then onto the Super Bowl. I rooted for the Seahawks but didn't expect a blow out game. The Halftime show was the best that they had in a long time. I wasn't to fond of the Red Hot Chili Peppers but Bruno Mars was amazing.

Also on this day it was sad. RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman. A very talented man but plagued by drugs. 

 

Friday I started listening to Guilty Wives by James Patterson. It is soooo good. Hoping to finish it this week. Plus finish reading the ebook by K. R. Whitaker Jason Turner saga book #3 Tragedy and Triumph. 

 

Yesterday I also watched 2 movies:

The Big Year - good

Bernie - good

I just got a weather alert for my area. Tuesday night through Wednesday night a snow storm with a possibility of at least 6".

Well I need to get to bed. Have a great evening

Drac

Well I stitched on Drac on January 31 and watched Halloween cartoons.

I was hoping to have more done but I kept falling asleep. Plus I am mad because I ran out of 209 and when I pulled out what I had they are a lighter shade of this purple and I went to Michaels, today, and theirs is a lighter shade of purple so I must have started using an older color dye lot. So I am going to have to frog all that 209 and use the new dye lot. Grrrr!

I bought a 50" TV for the family room and that is hooked up today. Plus I bought a small one for Scott in his room. Can't wait to watch the super bowl on the big TV. Plus at noon on Hallmark is the Kitten Bowl and at 2pm is the puppy bowl on Animal Planet.

Today I will start on L&L Fairy Grandmother. I went to Michaels for floss. They have been out of one color for over a month. I asked when they order floss and she said every Friday. I looked at her and said oh really, then why have you been out of the same color for over a month? She said well we can order it for you. I said no, not if you send in an order every Friday then it should be here right? She didn't answer me. I looked at Walmart last time and , even though I am thrilled that Walmart brough back floss, why don't they carry all the colors? So of course they didn't even have a spot for the color I wanted. Oh well, next Saturday I will be by Joanne's and will get it there.

Dylan had asked me to help him and Amber scrapbook for the baby pics. So today I bought a bunch of baby stitckers and some paper, at Michaels , that were all on clearance.  The other stack of paper that I want was $19.99 and I didn't have a coupon so next weekend I will get a coupon for Joannes and get it there.

I have had a headache all day so once the ibuprofen kicks in then I will stitch. Not sure what I want to watch though. I have all The Fast and Furious DVDs, that I got for Christmas, so I may watch those.

Oh and by the way. GO SEAHAWKS!!!

3 columns done

I put in 3000 stitches on HAED Treasure Dragon Stocking and tonight it is put away for a few months.

Tomorrow, well maybe tonight I will pull out a Halloween UFO piece. While stitching on it tomorrow night I will watch Halloween specials. Hoping to finish 1.

Is everyone getting ready for the Super Bowl? I don't really care which team wins but I always go for the underdog. I can't wait for the commercials lol. I did see 2 already. I saw the new Budweiser and John Stamos new yogurt one.

This week I listened to Zoo by James Patterson and it was really good. Tonight I watched a Pixar movie called Brave and that was cute. Also tonight I watched Vampire Diaries.

Good night,
Shelleen

A new start and the stocking

Yesterday was the 25th so I have decided this year that the 25th of each month I will stitch on a Christmas piece and watch Christmas shows or listen to Christmas music to keep the spirit alive. I will be skipping February though, as I will be out of town

Homespun Elegance 2013 Snowman ornament

28 ct Picture This Plus Lugana - Legacy

I have also been stitching quite a bit on HAED Treasure Dragon Stocking.

I finished listening to an audiobook.

Kill Me If You Can - James Patterson. I love his books.

I also watched a couple of movies:

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - loved it

If Only - Tearjerker

Beneath The Darkness - thriller- pretty good

Remember Sunday - Hallmark movie - awesome

The Sweetest Thing - funny

I plan on stitching more of the stocking this week.

 

Since I love Halloween and I have quite a few pieces started, I will stitch on one the last day of every month and watch Halloween specials. Except for February, as I will be out of town.

 

Then on February 1st I am going to start L&L Fairy Grandmother. I am doing this as a SAL with a few friends. I will stitch on her throughout all of February.

I can't wait for the winter olympics and printed up the schedule. I will miss the last 3 days so will have to DVR a couple of things Anyone else already to sit and stitch while watching them?

2 weeks behind

I forgot to post last Sunday. So since January 5th I stitched this much on HAED Treasure Dragon Stocking. I didn't stitch since last Sunday because I got engrossed in reading a couple of books.

So since my last post I read/listened to:
9th Judgement - James Patterson
Changing Habits - Debbie Macomber
Sealed Justice - K.R. Whitaker - only for ereaders - I highly recommend this series
Traitor's Revenge - Book 2  - K. R. Whitaker- Had gotten so engrossed that I couldn't believe I had finished reading it.

Movies watched:
The Sound Of Music - original movie - first time seeing it and loved it
Despicable Me 2 - cute
Dance of the Dead - ok
Stalkers
Keeping Up With the Randalls
V For Vendetta - loved it
Alvin & The Chipmunks : Chip-Wrecked
Arbitrage - good
Airborne - ok
American Reunion - funny if you like the American Pie movies

Tonight is the season finale of Betrayal. I will also be watching Revenge. Getting bored with it again.

See you next week!

New Year, New Start

I put in over 400 stitches on HAED Treasure Dragon stocking. This is for Justin.

While stitching I have been watching movies and listening to audiobooks.

Movies were on the DVR or from Netfix:
Last of the Dogmen - good
House of Secrets - good
Profile For Murder
A Mother's Rage
The Nearlyweds
An American Haunting
Take the Lead - Loved it

I finished listening to 8th Confession by James Patterson and started 9th Judgement. This is from his Women's Murder Club series. I am still reading Changing Habits by Debbie Macomber.

Also tonight started the new shows back from hiatus. I watched Revenge and Betrayal. Both were good.

Well seems like we are in for another major storm and high winds and wind chills. We could see up to 3 feet of snow, with wind gusts up to 60 mph and wind chill at -30 for a high.

Last post of the year

So I met my goal this month. I finished page 1 of 4 of HAED Literate Dragon

HAED Literate Dragon SAL

25 ct evenweave

1x1

My new start of the year is HAED Stocking Treasure Dragon

 This will be for my son Justin as the rest of us already have stitched stockings.

This will also be done on 25 ct. 1x1. I have most of the floss for this but will have to get the rest hopefully tomorrow. I will grid the first page on the fabric and start it January 1.


I watched all the new Christmas movies of this year on Hallmark, Lifetime, and UP. I might have missed a couple, but that is ok.
Also this past weekend I watched:
The Sentinel- good movie
Scooby Doo: Ships Ahoy! - cute
The Hobbit part 1- very good.

I am still reading Changing Habits by Debbie Macomber and listening to the 8th book of the Women's Murder Club by James Patterson. I am almost done listening to this. I am either on the last CD or I have 1 more to go.

So what are you stitching goals for 2014?
Any reading goals?
Personal Goals?

Stitching:I have in my sidebar what I plan on stitching on in 2014.

Reading- I want to read/listen to 40 books. I got a new iHome for my iPod so I can listen to my audiobook when I am stitching. I can listen to my iPod at work in the area with the microwaves.

Personal Goals: Smile more and be happy. Hoping to adopt a German Shepherd. Lose weight. Keep in touch with my close friends.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

3 Days til Christmas

I have been busy stitching away on HAED Literate Dragon

I am on the last column of page 1 and hoping to finish this month.

I will be making some changes on the side and posting my 2014 stitching goals.

This week was stitching while watching a lot of Christmas movies from Hallmark, Lifetime and UP.
I watched:
Christmas in Conway
Christmas In The City
Santa Switch
Window Wonderland
A Very Merry Mix-up
Holidaze
Guess Who's Coming To Christmas
Snow Bride
Hats Off To Christmas
Christmas on the Bayou
Finding Christmas
Pete's Christmas

I enjoyed them all.

I have 1 more gift to buy and then stocking stuffers. Scott, Dylan and I went shopping at what used to be my favorite mall. We walked out disappointed. Today I went shopping with Dylan. He wanted a TV for Christmas so I let him pick it out, I bought the last gift for Scott and Justin also. Tomorrow Justin and I are finishing up our shopping.

Christmas Eve will be wrapping everything. Trying to figure out what I want to cook and what to cook for the day after Christmas, since I have that day off. Christmas Day is at my parent's house and I take a tossed salad.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Getting Close to Christmas

I can't believe that Christmas is 10 days away. I still have a lot of shopping to do and we have had nothing but snow upon snow so I haven't gotten to the stores.

My tree is up and lit and this is the first time in many, many years that it is not a tree with 90%  handmade ornaments. In fact there aren't any this year. Justin (DS#1) wanted to do new lights so he bought Bright White and they really are. I had 16 pretty purple ornaments and he wants to get some more purple and silver ornaments. Right now it has a lot of Hallmark ornaments and other ornaments that are both my sons' ornaments since they were little. 

We went shopping to adopt a dog. We didn't find anything but I did find 3-4 online and want to check them out this weekend. They are German Shepherds and there is a 6 month old puppy that is a German Shepherd/Rottie mix. Which is what I have always owned in the past. We aren't in a hurry and will take our time.

This week I didn't stitch quite as much as I would have liked to.But I did manage to make some progress.

I was hoping to finish the column by tonight but I didn't.

I watched 2 good movies this week as well, off from my DVR.
Let It Snow- Loved it
The Christmas Spirit - still have like 20 minutes left on it but it is so good and will need kleenex for the rest of it.

General Hospital has been getting really good. Loved how it ended on Friday and can't wait for tomorrow.

Everyone have a great week!!

Dragon update

This month's UFO/WIP is HAED Literate Dragon. I have been stitching on this since last Sunday.

Hoping to finish the column by next Sunday night. Still on page 1 of 4 pages. 1 over 1 on 25 count.

This week was pretty good. I finished reading Sex, Lies, and Vampires by Katie MacAlister. I gave it a 3 out of 5 stars. I also finished an audiobook, Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson. I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Today I watched 2 movies:
The Omen 666 - 3 out of 5 stars
Lucky Number Slevin - 4 out of 5 stars

November progress

This is all the progress on Spring Angel for now.

Spring Angel - Joan Elliott

December's piece is............HAED Literate Dragon. I had hubby pick a number and Literate Dragon won. I am hoping to finish page 1 this month.

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. I celebrated with my parent's, sister and her boyfriend, my hubby and DS#1.

Then Saturday I celebrated it again with my in-laws. I ate to much there lol.

I finished watching Under The Dome and loved it and then watched and finished Cedar Cove based on the books by Debbie Macomber. Loved that series. Can't wait for next summer for both of these series to return.

Today I watched The Shaggy Dog (2006) and enjoyed that. Just watched a Hallmark movie on the DVR, Three Weeks, Three Kids and that was really good too. Tonight is Once Upon A Time and then a Christmas movie that I will DVR. I haven't played Sims3 in over a week and am thinking about playing it. If not, I will watch the movie and stitch.

I have been waiting for a holiday weekend to clean my computer desk and I think it looks great and I hope to keep it this way.

Spring Angel progress

Well I have stitched a lot on this all week.

I am loving the colors on this piece. Spring Angel by Joan Elliott. It's out of a The Cross Stitcher issue, from several years ago.

Movies I watched this week:
Think Like A Man- I was surprised that I liked this.
Iron Lady- Better than I thought it would be
The Thanksgiving House - Hallmark movie - Loved it!
Puppy Love - Hallmark movie I had DVRd a while ago - Loved it
Under The Dome - Stephen King 13 week series. Not sure if it was a mini series that started in the summer and continues or if it is all done with episode 13. I just finished episode 9. I am really enjoying this series I will finish it tomorrow night.

I will continue stitching on this piece through next Saturday and then will pick another UFO to stitch on during December. I have about 15 UFOS that I started in January and some are quick stitches and can be done in a week. I am hoping their number comes up soon so I can have a finish :-)

Spring Angel

Since my last post, I had fallen really hard and did damage to my left leg. When I had gotten to Myrtle Beach, for the Pals Cross Stitch retreat, it had gotten worse. I went to the ER and was diagnosed with Cellulitis. So I was on antibiotics and pain pills. Not allowed to go shopping or walk the beach. I did get to stitch a lot. I also had a lot of fun anyways.
I also found a new home for our dog, or I should say my hubby did. She was hyper 24/7 and she wouldn't listen to me at all. I couldn't put a leash on her as she would try to bite at me. She is now at a home with a lot of land and 2 other dogs that she can play with. She goes on 5 mile hikes and seems much happier there. I gave it almost a full year and feel like I had failed her. I have owned several other dogs and 1 I trained as a puppy and never had this problem.

My stitching mojo is back and I have been stitching on Spring Angel by Joan Elliott.

I love the colors on her and am enjoying stitching on her. I will move to another UFO in December. I will choose another UFO every month.

I also have been reading again. Right now I am reading Sex, Lies, and Vampires by Katie Macalister. It's ok.

I am hoping to update my blog weekly now. I also should have some news to share with all of you by the end of the week. I need to have it official by then.