School's out for Summer!!

Not an Alice Cooper fan, but this song keeps running through my mind all weekend. Kids finished on Thursday. It was a great end to the school year. Both schools that I work for had field day, awards day, and field trips...several celebratory ways to end a successful school year. It is fun to be a part of these things. I worked in a middle/intermediate school for the first thirteen years of my career. The last two years I have worked in the elementary setting. I never intended to teach in a middle school. My major was elementary education, and my goal was to teach in an elementary school. It just happened that I was offered my first job teaching eighth grade language arts, and I found that I loved it. Loved middle school kids. So much so, that I decided to stay in a middle school. I later became a middle school/intermediate school counselor. Two years ago, the district that I work for decided to dissolve the intermediate school that I worked for and put the sixth grade kids in with the 7th and 8th grade middle school and move the 5th grade kids back to the elementary schools. All of the teachers and the staff in my building were reassigned within the district. That is how I came to work at an elementary school at this point in my career. I was hesitant and nervous at first, but it has turned out to be a really good thing. I started in elementary school the same year that my son started kindergarten. It has been nice being able to work in his school three days a week and see him some throughout the day. And I like elementary kids just as much as I like middle school kids. :) My last day was Friday. It hasn't really sunk in yet that I have most of nine glorious weeks off. :) Right now, I am just trying to catch up on sleep. The last weeks of school wear me out trying to make sure that I have everything finished and wrapped up before the kids leave for summer. 

I picked up BBD Blessings and Kind Wishes over the weekend and decided to keep stitching until I finished. You may remember that it was in my doomed-for-failure rotation a few months ago, so it was already 2/3 finished prior to this weekend. However, here it is...

Blessings and Kind Wishes

Blackbird Designs

Started October 30, 2008

Finished May 31, 2009

R&R Reproductions Linen 30 ct. Olde Towne Blend

recommended WDW, GAST, and Crescent Colors fibers

I started stitching this on Oct. 30, 2008...the day that my father had surgery on his heel to put pins and a plate in when he shattered it from falling off a ladder. I spent a couple of days there shuttling him and my mom to the hospital, follow up dr. appts., etc. I started this one sitting in the surgical waiting room with Mom while Dad was in surgery. I am so glad that as I finish this, he is up walking and has his mobility back. 

With summer vacation lying ahead, I have been putting in some thought as to the things that I would like to accomplish this summer. I want to start walking regularly and hopefully shed some pounds. I have a great neighborhood to walk in...I just need to get out and do it. I also want to spend some time decluttering a few areas in my house. Of course, I plan to stitch a lot. I want to try to get somewhat caught up on the scrapbooks that I have going. Scrapbooking has been neglected somewhat and taken a backseat to stitching the last couple of years. I want read several books and watch several movies.

I started a new book last night called "Love, Rosie" by Cecilia Ahern. Good so far. The novel is written in the form of letters, text messages, emails, and instant messages between several characters. It was kind of confusing at first, but after about 100 pages into it, I am finding that I am following the plot line and it is keeping my interest. I picked this book up yesterday after I finished watching the movie "P.S. I Love You" (for the second or third time) which is based on a book by the same name and also by Cecilia Ahern. . Great movie! This is one movie that I think is as good as the book. 

Each time I finish something it takes me awhile to get focused on something else. I am not sure what to stitch next. Should I start something new or work on one of the WIPs in the Never-Ending WIP Pile? I think I may pick Molly back up for awhile. There is something about these designs that I love. I think partly it is the cute quirkiness of them and partly because I love stitching with NPI. Here's my latest picture. I need to finish the poor cat. He looks like he has mange.  And we won't even mention Molly's phantom arm. My son looked at this a couple of days ago and innocently asked, "What IS that sticking out of the cat's head?" LOL!

If you are still reading this novel of a post, bless your heart. Until next time...

Happy Stitching,

Kellie