The Busy Beehive

I really don’t like my advanced C# programming class… I’ve been reading the text for several hours now and it’s all running together. So, I think I’ll go stitch. It’s already 11 pm, but I’m not going to get much more out of this book tonight. There’s only so much I can cram into my brain at once. I did get a lot accomplished at work today, but my day tomorrow is filled with meetings, so it will be like taking a giant step backwards in the way of tasks being crossed off my list. Good thing I have a laptop with wireless, and I can work while I’m pretending to listen in those meetings that aren’t as critical as what I actually have to get done!

And, I haven’t stitched much in the past week. I watched the second half of Jane Eyre on Masterpiece Theatre (PBS) last night. This was a really good adaptation. I love Jane Eyre, and I knew I wouldn’t even be able to concentrate on stitching, so I didn’t even pick it up. That’s amazing really. I did get some more homework done on the weekend too, but have a lot to do yet to be totally caught up. And it’s only the beginning of the semester.

I did manage to stitch a bit on TMOM, and took a snapshot. The colors aren’t quite right in this pic, but oh well. I’m not sure I’ll get this one finished by my goal, since it’s so huge. And, since I needed a diversion, I started SB’s “Be Smart”. I don’t have a good pic of that one, so I’ll post one later.

I saw a catchphrase on a recent bulletin board post that I like. It said something like “Don’t spend so much time worrying about making a living, that you forget to make a life.” Sometimes I run from pillar to post, and wonder why I started out for the post from the pillar in the first place. Not all the time, but sometimes.

To everything there is a season, it is said. But sometimes it’s hard to know what season you’re in. Literally and figuratively. Right now, we’re all experiencing really crazy weather in the U.S. of A. And, the weather hasn’t been a really good indicator of the “season” we’re in for a while anyway. Weird warm air in December, then frigid temperatures in January. So, I guess we’re supposed to use our internal barometers to decide what’s seasonal for each of us.

I think my barometer’s gone berserk. It feels as though I’m in all seasons at once. So, my overriding goal for 2007 is to be a finisher. I will start less and finish more.

That means homework will get done on time. That means I will not start a needlework project unless I’ve finished at least five. That means my deck will be finished in early spring. And, it means so much more. I think I’m going to really like 2007.

I challenge you to spend your time in 2007 making a life. That can, and should include what you do for a living, but it shouldn’t be the only or overriding thing.

I’ve been working on The Drawn Thread’s “The Marriage of Minds” sampler. I have a very aggressive goal for this one. I’m hoping to have it done for my sister’s 20th anniversary, April 3rd. I know, I’m nuts. With school, work, home, church, etc. I don’t know if I’ll make it, but I’ve decided that if it’s the only stitching thing I pick up — barring a little sampler I need to do for my mom today — I just might make it.

Here’s my progress so far. I had about 80% of the tree done when I picked it up again January 1. I better pick up some speed.

I finished the stitching on this item a few months ago. It is Blackbird Design’s “Star Sampler”. It was quick, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I ordered a custom frame, since it’s a small piece. The thread and fabric conversion is from Shepherd’s Bush. I didn’t like the original colors, but the SB conversion was just what I was looking for.