Friday, December 14, 2012

Just around the corner....

is a new release from Silver Creek Samplers! I will be releasing it in early January. Here's a sneak peek to whet your stitching appetite....
Now, let it snow!
Thanks for dropping by!

Diane

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Testosterone: 2......Estrogen: ZIP!

That's right. I lost! To what, you ask? To football of all things! Although it does promotes male bonding between Alan and Colvin. They both are avid Giants fans and watch every game they can. Sunday being one of them. So I will paint you a clearer picture of what I lost: MY STITCHING CHAIR! I cannot STAND listening to a football game while I am trying to relax with my stitching. I've tried and I just can't do it! So I let the boys have the living room (and my stitching chair), while I packed up my stitching supplies, a spare chair, and floor lamp, and fled to a much quieter place in the house....our bedroom. It doesn't provide the cushiness that my bottom is accustomed to, but it provides me the peacefulness and solitude that I crave while stitching. I even had Christmas music playing quietly in the background. So I suspect that this will become my new stitching home, at least until football season is over!
Thanks for stopping by!

Diane

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

DMC 815....

That's about the color of my blood as it travels through the tubes and into the apheresis machine. When I'm not stitching, I donate platelets at my local Red Cross in Johnson City, New York. I donate every other Tuesday after work. It's about a 2 1/2 hour process, but I can't think of anything more satisfying than helping to save lives. I began donating whole blood in 1989, and platelets in 2010. The only thing that would make it PERFECT, would be if I could stitch WHILE I donated. However, as you can see in the picture, that would be impossible to do as I have a needle poked in each arm!
Really, it's quite a relaxing process. I get to sit in a comfy recliner with by back against a warm heating pad while I watch a movie of my choice, complete with headphones. And if I get cold, they cover me up with fleece blankies! If I need anything....the volume of the tv turned up, my face scratched, my nose wiped, or my feet rubbed....the technicians obey my every command! Why do they bow to my every whim? Because they covet my platelets and want to keep me as a returning customer.

How great is that! For 2 1/2 hours, I am queen of the castle. But then after a refreshing snack of Keebler cookies and juice, I return to reality where if I want something, I have to do it myself.
Do any of you donate blood? (besides the occasional needle stick you might give yourself while stitching!) If not, I would encourage you to give it a try. There's nothing better than knowing you gave a perfect stranger the gift of life. And it's one size fits all!

Thanks for visiting me here, down by the creek!
Diane