Today's weather is absolutely beautiful! Had to run an errand at lunch, and didn't need my coat, nor did I want to come back in! The car thermometer said 54*, but it felt even warmer! The only bummer is that this warm weather is melting the newly fallen snow at the ski areas. Sad!
As like another post I wrote, there's no "theme" to this, but just some thoughts:
- Spent 4 days down in Ocean City (OC), MD with a group of about 80 other stitchers 2 weekends ago (over MLK holiday). It's my 3rd year attending Camp WannaStitch and loved every minute of it! I read about it 3 years ago in an email I received, and no one I knew was interested so I went by myself. Best decision EVER! Within a few minutes of my arrival, met a group of gals from Harrisburg, PA on the elevator, going down to the large ballroom, called our "Stitching Room," and have remained friends with them every since. (it's easy to identify other stitchers because our tote bags are all overflowing with charts, linens, frames, etc.) Each year, more and more gals from their H'burg contingency join us in OC, so this past year there were 12 of us planned, but 2 had to back out at the last minute due to illnesses among the kids. They were missed! At Camp WannaStitch (CWS), there are no classes, no formal agenda (thankfully!) and the only requirement is to have fun and get some stitching done! Everyone brings food (mostly goodies, sweets, and all the WRONG kind of food ha,ha!), and lunch both days is supplied by the wonderful moderator, Julie, so we don't have to waste our time stitching looking for food. Dinner out each night is also fun. And last but not least, the BEST part of the weekend is shopping in the most wonderful stitching shop I've ever visited: Salty Yarns. It's run by Sally and Sarah (mother/daughter team) and they make Salty Yarns the most fun and warm and welcoming stitching shop EVER! Our hotel is located up near 100th Street and the beach, and their shop is at 8th Street and the beach, so it definitely means a car ride, especially with the cold January wind whipping off the ocean, but once inside, it's warm, and overflowing with all things "stitchy." Soooo much fun! And of course, now I have to wait another year before CWS rolls around again, but already counting the days! For me, the drive is about 245 miles, but women come from all over the country to attend. Here's a photo of some of us sitting outside the shop, with the beach out in front of us, as you can see reflected in the windows: (I'm on the left)
View of the beach from balcony:
- Had about 8" of snowfall this past Saturday morning when I got up, and more fell throughout the morning, so it was a very lazy day and weekend. Just snuggled into the couch, watched some TV, did a lot of stitching, and only ventured outside when Autumn needed a potty break. She's really good in the snow, and thinks it's funny to stick her nose in the snow and then leap up and try to run (she's always on a leash), so I'm always prepared for her "snow" antics and we make the best of the winter wonderland. (no photos; you all know what snow looks like, right?) But as mentioned in my previous post, I did finally finish my 2nd mermaid. However, now I'm feeling a little lost....I worked on her for 361 days (not EVERY day), and now it's an unusual feeling to not have her there waiting for me. Need to get another large project going...
- This past weekend, because of the lousy weather, I had to cancel a get-together planned at my place with two of my bestest NJ friends, Joan and Maria. We all worked together throughout the 80s and have remained friends ever since, and I was to have a lazy-day get-together on Saturday with drinks, food, and jigsaw puzzles --- the dress code was fleecies and slippers. Was so sad we had to cancel but it would've too dangerous for either of them to drive. We've re-scheduled for later in February. If I remember, I'll post photos. Keeping fingers crossed the weather cooperates this time.
- Spent the first weekend of January up in the Finger Lakes area, skiing with my roommate from college, Bonnie. (She lives in that area) It was extremely warm, so the snow was really heavy, making the skiing sluggish and tiring, so instead of skiing both days, we enjoyed the sun and warmth on the slopes on Saturday, but called it an early day and then went shopping! Her passion is quilting so we visited her favorite quilting store and saw some of the most gorgeous quilts hanging on display. I also got some small remnants of fabrics for backing ornaments I stitch. Then next door, there was a cross-stitch shop, but by the time we left the quilt store, they cross-stitch shop had closed. (That was ok...spent too much money in the quilt store!). And then, down a couple more stores there was a beautiful bead shop. They didn't carry some of the more exquisite beads that I like, such as lampwork beads, but still had some beautiful designs on display. That little plaza could be sooo dangerous to anyone's budget with all those stores in a row. It was sooo good to see her, her husband, and her 2 sons (still home for college winter break). Wish we lived closer, but we already have plans for another ski weekend in February. Let's just hope there's some snow on the slopes! (forgot to take photos! DUH!!!)
- My parents, who have been in FLA since Nov 1st, called over the weekend with some good news: They finally have a qualified, pre-approved buyer for their house up in the Buffalo/Rochester area! They (we) have lived in the same huge 3-story house since 1971, and about 2 years ago, they started looking in earnest for a smaller, 1-story home. They found one, bought it, moved, and have been living there ever since (May thru Nov). The larger house has remained on the market all that time. There were a couple of interested buyers, but neither were approved for a mortgage. So this is really, REALLY good news. The inspection passed with flying colors, and only a small fix-up was required, it's already been taken care of, and now we wait for closing in March. It'll be sad to say good-bye to the house I lived in since I was a Freshman in HS and all the memories in that house, but I'm so happy for my parents and their new-found gem in their newer home, and to see how happy they are there.
OK...I think that's all for now. If I think of anything else, I can always add to the bullet list.
~~Thankful for the beautiful weather today,
for all my friends from different areas of my life,
for my amazing parents (married 58 years!),
and for my health and well-being~~
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