No pictures today but..

got to the store to get the bolt so I could use my embroidery stand.  Got more of the French knots done.  The ones in the flower centers where I had to use two strands were really hard to execute.  My hand is hurting from pulling the needle through the fabric.  I just have that one batch of flowers left to do, along with the knots in the center.  Of course, those are the ones worked with two strands.  Sigh.  I'm hoping to have some AMAZING progress to post tomorrow!  Dare I aim for a finish??/

More Progress Made

I've stitched a couple more days on this but haven't posted an update.  Life has gotten in the way of me stitching every day, so I haven't gotten as far as I would have liked to by now.  I really need to get my stand out so I have two hands free to do the candlewicking knots.  Went to dig it out and I'm missing a bolt so I guess I will have to go to Lowe's tomorrow for another one.  Sigh.  That requires me getting showered, shampooed and dressed for one lousy bolt.   So, anyway, here is my progress as of a few minutes ago.

Can you see the flowers to the left that are still dark?  Need to still do them, plus finish the candlewick outline dots, then do candlewicking in the centers of all the flowers.  I've done some of the knots around "Our Home" and they go quickly.  I want to finish this one and the other one just like it before the Olympics start.  I have a needlepoint project I want to work on while watching the Olympics - Laura J Perin's "Christmas Tree 2011".  Plus, I have decided to do the blackwork project on Elizabeth Almond's Blackwork Journey blog "Save the Stitches".  I have all the materials for both projects so should be good to go.  I do love the Olympics!  :)

Monday

Work is progressing on our remodel.  Currently progress is being made in Cowboy's shop and after that, my laundry/pantry and the front bath.  The front bath has been gutted so he will put up drywall in all three rooms, tape, mud, texture.  Then finish out the bath to completion.  The shop/laundry will be finished to walls then left for last for finishing so we have a place to store furniture from each room as it's turn comes up.  Next week he will go home for a week to be with his family, then come back for another three weeks.  That schedule will continue until the house is done, barring any unforeseen changes.

I made a double batch of lasagna today and layered it into breadpans.  These are just the right size to make a meal for me and Cowboy.  Tonight there was enough left for him to take to lunch tomorrow.  Three of the four pans went in the freezer for future meals.  I also made some cheese herb bread in mini loaves.  One was baked tonight to have with the lasagna and the other two were put in the freezer.  The recipe makes 6 loaves, but I only had enough parmesan cheese to make a half batch.  But three is better than none.

I am still working on the pieces I committed to do for a friend.  I wish I could stitch faster.  They are going much slower than I had anticipated.  I should have started them months ago.  My bad.  Here is my progress on the first one so far.  They were supposed to be done by Christmas, but obviously I missed that deadline.  The recipients' birthdays are next month so I'm hoping I can get them done in time.  They are my main focus for now, even usurping housework.  lol  They .are Sunset kits, probably from the 1980s.  I am making two of them and am still just working on the first.  I've finished the sentiment and am now working on the white flowers.  I have spent three days on them so far.  I still have to do the candlewicking, but hopefully the knots will go fairly quickly.  The design size is about 9 x 12.  Am I being unrealistic to hope to finish this by the end of the week????