It is summer in the Yukon!

And it feels so good! It is sunny almost 24 hours a day, is green everywhere and wild roses are in a full bloom. I love going for walks, every breath I take is filled with the smell of roses.

 That's near my cabin (yes, I leave in the cabin). All ditches are full of roses...

and all the way along my gravel road (that's the road that takes me from my cabin to Alaska Highway). Drive it at least twice a day (to and from work). It's very dusty in the summer and lovely white in the winter. Our summers are very short so for most of the year (from October to May) I'm driving on the white road...

SCHOOL

Yep I'm back to school! I took almost a year off, my mind was wondering what to do next... and I decided to continue with courses towards my accounting designation.  It is an awful long and bumpy road to CGA. Now, when I'm thinking about my university years, they seem like a kindergarten... Mind you, I was much younger then I didn't have to work. Now is working full time plus studying with a very little time for stitching...

STITCHING

Yesterday was my first day without the brace (torture chamber as one of my readers called it) and it was good. I even stitch for half an hour! Next time I will have an update picture! I'm still working on Computer Catastrophes and I'm sure I will work on it for a very long time! During our long weekend I will finish mail art I'm doing for my stitching buddy but the picture you will see after I know she received it. You know, she reads my blog and I do not want to spoil the surprise!

FROM ME TO ME ON MY BIRTHDAY

I know it sounds silly, but I love to celebrate everything and my birthday specially! I do it for 12 days starting July 16. For some reason I couldn't wait and I have to buy myself a gift. Maybe because I couldn't stitch, maybe because I was feeling so much pity for myself or maybe because I made a decision about going back to school, I do not know. But I know I love photography and I know I wanted a good camera for a long time. I have a nice Sony, kind "point and shoot", taking nice pictures... but I wanted something better than that. So yesterday I splurge for another Sony but this time it is (my first ever) digital SLR (single-lens reflex)!

The battery is charging and I can't wait to put it to use! Stay tuned for more pictures and a ♥GIVEAWAY♥.  Yep, you are reading right! For my birthday I will hold a giveaway and it will be a very special one. More about it in the next post.

So long my friends,

A whole week with no stitching...

Yep, I went to see a doctor because none of my home remedies worked on my thumb. He just did a couple of test and said: "Ma'am you have De Quervain's tenosynovitis"  (What an awful name, try to pronounce it with my Polish tongue!) and he said that I'll be all good in a couple of weeks.  For now I'm killing the pain with super strength Ibuprofen, I'm wearing a brace and can't stitch with that thing on.

But nothing will stop me from shopping! I always wanted to stitch the Moon Goddess so finally I bought it. I absolutely adore this design

and one of my stitching buddies introduced me to the Dukan Diet. Let me tell you, it's awesome! A little like the Atkins diet - has pure protein days in first phase (he calls it attack phase) that lasts anywhere from 2 to 10 days and the second phase contains proteins plus vegetables. My buddy lost 10 pounds in 2 weeks, I've lost 5 pounds in 3 days. But I love chocolate and chocolate is not on the list of allowable foods. I'm craving for chocolate.... so I bought a chart Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate! I hope it will cure my cravings when I start to stitching it!

I was checking Julie's work and came across lovely design that she was working on (must have for me) "Shore Patrol"

It didn't took me long to find it! Now it is on the way to me and hopefully Canada Post will get back to work so I can receive my mail!

So long friends,

A giveaway

Brenda of The Rusty Thimble has a giveaway. Check her blog for many chances to win an awesome witch!

So long friends,

And the winner is...

Emily in NC

Congratulations Emily!!!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

My week was very quiet. Absolutely nothing excited happen... just work, some contemplations and some stitching. I even didn't stitch much because my thumb still sore (I think I over used the joint at the base of the thumb near the wrist). It has been couple of weeks (or maybe more) since the pain started - I think it's time to see a doctor. I stitched Computer Catastrophes, here is the picture of the progress:

So long friends,

New start!

Finally lakes aren't frozen anymore!

Swallows are back to their houses

Seagulls are making nests

Crocuses are replaced by other little smiling flowers

Life is good!


Last Friday I bought new file cabinet. It's small, wooden and looks good in my study/craft room. It came in pieces with numbers... with no help from my man (he stays away from screwdrivers like a devil from holly water) I was on my own to put that thing together.  I think I did a darn good job!

Drawers are sliding smoothly and even lock is working!


You can call me crazy but I've started another piece from Heaven and Earth Designs, Computer Catastrophes. Size in stitches: 450 x 448 (total of 201,600). This time I will be working on 18ct aida with 2 threads of DMC. When done it will be 25" by 25". This is a tribute to my latest laptop that died unexpectedly. And, lucky me, I'm stitching it as a SAL (stitch along) with Cindy and Bea. I'm very happy to be in such great company!

This is how it will look when done:

 
By Saturday night all my floss was winded on bobbins (couldn't have done it without that little gizmo on the side of the box). I like to keep floss for the project organized by the number. Multiple skeins of floss I'm keeping in the ziploc bag.

 
I've also enlarged my working chart. And this is what I have done yesterday:

This time I started in the left bottom corner for a change and so far I like it. My thumb is still giving me a little trouble but I will try to stitch a little every day this week.  Next week I will be back to my Guardian Angel.

I wish everyone a great week!

Until next time,