To laugh or to cry?

"It was left to the genial Irish prelate James Ussher, while he was bishop of Armagh, to fix the date with absolute precision. According to his workings, which he managed to convince his clerical colleagues were impeccably accurate, God had created the world and all its creatures in one swift and uninterrupted process of divine mechanics that began on the dot pf the all-too-decent hour of 9 A.M., on a Monday, October 23, 4004 B.C.
- - -
At the start of that late October week, in the year that modern Christian calendar would style 4004 B.C., the Deity organized the basic consepts of light and dark, sun and moon, wet and dry. He then made every ocean, inlet, river, sandbar, meadow, desert, mountain, icecap, and fjord: The struture of the world, its topography, and the geology that forms the core of this story were complete. By the morning of the twenty-sixth, the Thursday, God had seen to it that life had been begun, and by that evening every first microbe, newt, spider, serpent, eagle, cat, horse, and monkey had been duly set in place, to creep, crawl, swim, fly, leap, spring and deploy its opposable thumb to climb.
By the following day the botanical phyla were all in place: Every rain forest, grassland, savanna, peony, orchid, rose, palm, apple, pine, and daisy had been left on earth, contentedly to bloom. All of Milton's "rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens" were now fully accumulated: An earthly paradise was set, ready to be lost.
And by the Saturday, most important of all, emerged those creatures who would lose it. The first two examples of ur-human, in the bipedal and upright (but otherwise subtly different from each other) forms of Adam and Eve, had been created in the Garden of Eden. They were at this stage blissfully unaware, of course, and therefore untroubled by the Fall (which would come later, via agency of the already created serpent and apple).
Recorded history would now formally begin. Human beings were in place, made in the image of their Maker, and they could do with their world more or less as they and their Maker between them pleased. Thus was it all done. Come midnight on the Saturday, with all this frantic labor done, the weary Divinity slept, having declared that all he had created was good, and fully ready to begin the adventuring he had ordained for it for the next six thousand years and more. *
- - - - -
* Few outside the world of rigid Christian fundamentalists the strict interpretation of James Ussher's arithmetic, which he explained in his monumental work of 1658, Annalis Veteris et Novi Testamenti. But nonetheless a 1991 survey showed that fully 100 million Americans still believed that "God created man pretty much in his own image at one time during the last ten thousand years" and anecdotal evidence now suggest that this number is climbing. ---"

Source: The Map That Changed The World by Simon Winchester

One secret HD revealed

This one.

Tidbits:

• Designer: Lady P. of Periphaeria Designs
• Design: Talviyö/ Winter's Night - exclusive complimentary design prelude for Violarium.
• Fabric: 30 count ink blue linen
• Floss: DMC 712 and Atalie's Nuit.

Special Kiitos to Leena who kindly provided me pictures as I forgot to take my own before I sent this to her.

Stitching time

I saw my all-time favourite GP today and came out with a sick leave due Idiopathic Acute Upper Respiratory Infection and an order to up my inhaled cortisone dose to 2400 micrograms.
He seems to be about the only doctor who can see from me when I am sick - as nowadays that is the only way to diagnose common cold in me (as mentioned, the steroids block the sneezing/ coughing rather well) - as most doctors get baffled due the fact that I look so da*n healthy even when I am sick.

And he is just so oooh after 28 years of having to deal with GPs who couldn't care less (and, even he takes interest he's just as fast with dealing the patients than any other GP - that is what a professional physician is like, /me thinks). I could say that I love that man as much one can love their physician without being weird.

Now I just need to find my appetite... it got lost somewhere.

I finally found the ornament design for my mother... as you may know she loves joulupukki and joulutontut (Santa (the Yule Goat) and his little elves (actually yule gnomes)) and I have always some difficulties to find suitable designs for her (she loves the Finnish Santa (The Real Thing™) and most Santa designs out there are way too American to her, or my, taste), but UniversBroderie solved everything: très joli, ne?

I'm going to stitch this over one, to make it small enough to be an ornament, on Graziano's 28 count Riviera with burgundy stripes, because that fabric came directly to my mind when I saw the design.

Speaking of things to stitch...

My Wentzlers came in Monday. ^^
Therefore I also have to make a drooling list list of designs which are absolutely in my to-do list:

1. Woodland Fairie

As usual with TWs the model pictures I have seen in the internet don't do justice to this piece. Very detailed piece with beautiful colours.

2. The Storyteller

I didn't "get" this design before late and what I fell in love with this design is the thought of harmonious life between dragons and humans... the peace, learning from each other. Or at least hope of it.

3. Castle Sampler:

I have always been fascinated by the court life of certain eras and this design falls into that area in my odd fascinations.
(Oh, the times when men wore tights... )

4. Stroke of Midnight:

I have never been much of a princess fan nor I like to stitch humans, but this design is the exception which makes the rule: the way TW presents the light within the ballroom and the details of her gown are simply stunning.

5. The Castle:

When I first saw this I wasn't fond of this at all, but since I followed Ternezia's process this grew in me - and after I saw all the colour conversions made for this design I was in love. (This one is to die for!)
It may look like the dragon were attacking, but what if the dragon is protecting the castle?

6. The Guardian:

When I first saw this I knew that I have to have this some day, for several reasons. One of them is the colour scheme of the dragon, as, even though I am not fond of yellow, the colours are really made for this dragon and the warmth of yellow brings balance to the design's otherwise rather cold scheme.
Another reason is that when I was at school our teacher read us a book which was located in Cornwall and the scenery I imagined looked exactly like this.

7. The Enchanter:

This was a real jaw dropper when I first opened the The Best of Teresa Wentzler Fantasy Collection II.
I have never been into wizards, but once again TW's style makes the theme attractive. I love the colours and details in this design: the velvety look of his robe, the silky look of his cloak, that little dragon on top of the little tree...

There were several could-dos which I left unmentioned, and maybe they will some day become must-dos as sometimes designs grow in slowly.
In general, I wouldn't stitch ANY of these designs on white as the models have been stitched. The white background "bleaches" these gorgeous designs, takes the life out of them.

Picture tells more than a thousand words

Dang those stitching bloggers write a lot! I just read the feeds when I woke up!

(Click (and click) for bigger picture)

To go or not to go?

Spite of not feeling well and sleeping almost whole weekend I went to work yesterday. And when I got home I had fever, 37,5 °C, which is about one celcius over my normal temperature... and now... I have class 1 hypothermia with a whopping body temperature of 35,6 °C.

It is actually stupid to ponder over to go or not as my sensibility says that I am sick, even if I have no fever right now I have drastic temperature changes - and I know that I never have fever in the morning, no matter how sick I really am.
What really bothers me that basically my only symptoms are unstable body temperature, muscle and joint pains in the evening (when the fever peaks...) and general weakness...
Ok, enough to sound like a sick person, I know, but if I have a cold I should be coughing my lungs out, or at least sneezing. Though, as this seems to go exactly like the previous one I had about 1½ months ago I won't start coughing before tomorrow or so - this applies to sneezing too (*achoo*, ok it seems to start now..).

The lack of cough and sneezing is a bliss in a sense and I know why I don't have them before I reach the ultimate phase of the disease (asthma and allergy medication - inhaled steroids - keep the airways open, you see), but it also makes it more difficult to let oneself to stay home sick... even I know that as an asthmatic I should allow myself to stay home sick because if I get really sick because I can't give myself sick leave I am in deep trouble.

You could imagine that it wouldn't be that difficult to admit yourself that you are not perfect, right?

(ETA: I will stay at home at least today and tomorrow - and I found myself a sore throat and the cough from somewhere...)

Unconscious Mutterings

Week 249

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Treadmill :: Torture
2. Stroke :: Strike
3. Exclusively :: Only
4. Lash :: Eye
5. Red carpet:: One Thousand and One Nights
6. Credit card :: Plastic
7. Points :: Weight Watchers
8. Domestic :: Violence
9. 21 :: Blackjack
10. Inject :: Insert

HD and...

.. I think I am getting sick - AGAIN. So, don't wonder if I am not around too much... I just hope I am imagining this, as I know there is interesting new stuff waiting for me at work in Monday.

Oh, I had a happy dance today, but as it is a model no pictures before later.

Ta-ta, I'm off to feel miserable.

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Sixty Eight

Appetizer: Which snack do you like to get when you go to the movies?
None as I am allergic to so many things that it is easier not to buy anything to snack.

Soup: What year did you start using the internet?
T3h intt4rw3b... I used IRC first time in 1992, but as that don't count IMO, I lost my internet virginity in 1995.

Salad: What is your first name in Pig Latin? (Here’s how to speak it if you don’t already know!)
Utioay

Main Course: Name something you are picky about.
It would be easier to ask what I am *not* picky about.

Dessert:Fill in the blanks: I ____ ____ yesterday and I ____ ____ today.
Sorry folks, I have never liked this kind of stuff so I won't fill up anything. *evil grin*

Memes and unsuitable thoughts after a massacre

Foto Pherrets: Week 95

Our word for this week is: Cloud

Apparently a rain cloud from last summer. Describes my whole summer quite well actually...

Today’s

Stitching Bloggers' Question

is:

When you have to frog out stitches, do you reuse that thread or do you start over with a new strand?

It depends on a situation. If the floss has been badly twisted or suffered from the frogging I just toss it.

Forced empathy?

What actually makes me wonder in honouring the victims of the Jokela shootings is that people didn't lit up candles yesterday, impulsively, as a sign of empathy, but it has been arranged through a SMS campaign that people lit candles... today.
As tragic it is I see it odd that those good people need to be told to do that. I lit the candle yesterday, without anyone telling me to, when I came home to grief what happened, to guide their souls home - and I am generally considered as an unemphatetic person....
Some things just boggle one's mind.

"It never happens here..."

...before it happens: Fatal shooting at Finnish school

He killed eight - and fatally wounded himself.
Maybe it would be natural to be more concerned about the families and friends of the victims, but I can't help but think about the family of the boy who did it... Everyone affected will suffer, everyone in their way and that should never be forgot.

Wentzlers!

As some of you remember I placed a goal to acquire as many Teresa Wentzler designs as I can during this year - and as some of you know my total is one design (which I got from Dawn in an exchange).
After I read from the Artistic License that Leisure Arts won't reprint the The Best of Teresa Wentzler Fantasy Collection I decided to use the money my father gave to me and buy the collection... and couple of other things too.

1. The Best of Teresa Wentzler Fantasy Collection - Volume 2
2. Brilliant Plumage
3. Woodland Faerie Chart Booklet (finally I will have an unmaimed version!)
4. Castle and Dragon Chart Booklet (...which seems to actually be in FC #2! *grin* Anyone up for an exchange?)
5. The Unicorn Chart Booklet (applies to this too - what we learnt from this? Never shop in the morning. )
6. The Storyteller Chart Booklet
7. The Best of Teresa Wentzler Fantasy Collection
8. Overdyed Red Dragon Chart Leaflet (Dragon Dreams)

It's so wonderfully relaxing to go to an early dinner with a male person of human species just because, and not because you are on a date.

The food was good, as was the company, and neither of us didn't pay a dime.

Brothers

Neko and Seiichi had a rare tender moment (Seeichi had reached ultimate relaxation after I gave him some tummy rubbing (he has indigestion (more than usual because he changed to Iams when I started to buy it for Her Highness, but his coat has never been this shiny which means that he is extremely well nutritioned))) last night while I was stitching and watching Hellraiser:Hellworld (the movies I watch in the middle of the night...).

Do you believe that these guys actually are step brothers (same father, different mother)?

As you know, kitty pics are sign of not having anything to show crafting wise. I am working on a model (I haven't touched it since beginning of August and it feels SO good to stitch it again!) and I don't think that the zipper of my jeans is that interesting, even I sew the new one on by hand.

The thing that annoys me... and UM

..with Budesonide is that I can't lower the dose even I should. This is the second time I tried and after three days my body temperature had dropped, again, to the level where I am freezing all the time.
This means that even I tolerate the drug well I can't use it in the long run - as when I get sick I should be able to double the dose and if I am already taking the higher dose it is not possible...

Fortunately it's about time to make the GP's appointment for the medication check. I also should ask about the flu vaccination (i.e. am I already classified as a person with a chronic lung dysfuncion and get it free of charge or do I have to pay for it) - and therefore be prepared to be sick for a week or two after getting it... but then, it means uninterrupted stitching time...

Unconscious Mutterings

Week 248

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Assets :: Qualities
2. Concern ::Worry
3. Over the top :: Over the hills and far away...
4. Supplies :: Thingies
5. Mustache :: Hercule Poirot
6. Doug :: Dawg
7. Coach :: Trainer
8. Bleachers :: -
9. Stripes :: Stars
10. Assortment :: Selection

*faints*

Certain things seem to make you go OMGWTFBBQBMW! no matter how much of a designer you are yourself:

The Dragon Lady commented on Fang!

That's all folks, I'm off to have some more coffee and stitch!

Tidbits and two happy dances

It snowed!

TGOS

Oh my, where this world is going to... there is nothing of interest in the latest The Gift of Stitching - though I can promise you that there is something of interest in the next issue...

And

As I guessed I was asked about what happened in Thursday after we left. And I knew there'd be those knowing "who knows where it may lead... " (Admittedly everything leads to something, but still...) comments from my course mates.

Happy Dance #1

Fang was finished in Friday.

Informative tidbits:

• Designer: Jennifer Aikman- Smith from Dragon Dreams
• Design: 'Fang', a limited time Halloween treat freebie
• Fabric: Elegance, 32 count hand-dyed Belfast linen by Silkweaver
• Floss: Misc. leftovers
• Additions: I replaced the French knots in Fang's eyes with red petite glass beads.

Happy Dance #2

And The Secret Gift was finally finished today and will be mailed out to its new home in Monday(-ish).
Pictures will follow when I heard that it is received, but I can say that it is simply gorgeous!

SBQ: Not just a dream game...

Today's

Stitching Bloggers' Question

was suggested by Ternezia and is:

If you were a cross stitch designer, what would your design style be?

If I were?

My style is mostly monochromatic with influences from Asia, Europe and Africa - actually I also have some other influences waiting to be published - but I do also coloured (and monochromatic) whimsical designs.
You can probably deduce from most of my designs that my base is in weave and print designing (I also wanted to become a knitted garment designer when I was in my teens so there are influences from that period too).

If you wish to see it yourself click yourself into Periphaeria Designs' site and have a look around, maybe you will find something you fancy.

It was a rather odd day...

It was first of the four course days between the two traineeship periods and we took a bus to the main place of the $INSTITUTE which provides the course (or has sold the course to employment services) - which was kind of nice as it is in the countryside (well, in general Finland as whole is countryside, but that is not the issue).
And as there are three courses going on simultaneously at the $INSTITUTE's "side branch", where the course I am in is held, our tutors saved some money, rent a bus and took us all to the $INSTITUTE's main branch.... which is nothing to blog about, but wait a minute when I tell you something else.

I have knew for some time that one man in another course is my ex-husband's (Dan) old friend. Dan had, after he heard that I am there, told him that I am there too - just on another course.

And today, when we were sightseeing the main site of the $INSTITUTE our groups met (there were so many of us that we had to be divided) at one of the buildings and he came to me and asked "Are you $NAME? Are you $NAME's ex wife?".
I confessed my crime and we kind of get to talking there, but my group went on its merry way and I had to run after them... Then he came to talk with me after the lunch (and I saw some very knowing looks around...) and, after we had had an informational hour about the $INSTITUTE, at the afternoon coffee we went to the same table and gossiped on (surrounded by VERY knowing looks - hey, he is about my age, is there something odd in two people, of same age range, having a chat over coffee?).

We continued that at the bus on our way back here... and then we ended up walking to the central area of the $SUBURB, because I needed to get new travel card and he needed to load his, chatting merrily.
Then he asked would I like to go for a coffee with him (and therefore he ended up spending his lottery winnings (few euros *grin*) on women (yes, he paid (odd Finnish man there O_o))), after which we headed to bookstore, after which he wanted to buy me ice cream... after this I had a meeting to go to, so we separated.

Now, we changed phone numbers in the bus , I offered to take him to dinner some day (as I have some free lunch tickets I got from $COMPANY and he's rather nice company) and he actually asked could he ask me for a coffee for some other day too, as he, as I, likes to have company over coffee - which is nothing odd, as far as I can see... in theory.
BUT: Note that this guy is my ex-husband's old friend (whom I never met when we were married), which kind of makes it a bit... odd (and for some reason he said he'd like to see my "pink monster" (TMI: a vibrating thing *grin*, you don't want to know the details) some day - should I jump to conclusions from that? (The things one reveals to complete strangers...)).

But still, it was great fun to just go with the flow and do something like that as it rarely happens (we had few occasional accidental coffee meetings with N. and I enjoyed them tremendously).

All the sudden I find my life much more interesting...

Goals

It's November already...! O_o

As usual strike and green equal a success. Orange is for "put some work to said piece, but not enough for a success", and red goes, as you guess, for a failure.

The goals for October were:

1. Work on models. One finished.
2. Stitch, finish and send one secret gift. I intended to finish it last night, but for some reason I was too tired to think straight (like I am always *grin*) and decided to stitch Fang - who is, by the way, almost done.
3. Stitch Linda's bourse.
4. Participate Stitch-A-Thon with Loy Krathong. Done!
5. Decide the design for Cross Stitch Lottery piece. Decided, will stitch one of Linda's designs.

Additional:

6. Finished and sent Halloween Exchange item.

Fortunately I didn't make the list longer... The goals for November are:

1. Stitch ornaments for my parents.
2. Work on models.
3. Stitch and send Christine's RR.
4. Stitch two parts of Hardanger Bookmark SAL (buttonhole stitch and eyelets).
5. Stitch and finish Linda's bourse.
6. Participate Stitch-A-Thon with Loy Krathong.

Once again short and sweet, but I think it's enough - and anyway I have to head to shower...