First attempt at embroidery, Piano & Snowflakes

This is my first attempt at embroidery. I worked on both these sweatshirts at work. I did the snowman first on wednesday night and then the soccer one on friday night. I am able to work on craft projects at work. I work midnights and there is a lot of downtime. So between doing bedchecks and laundry I can work on things. I really enjoyed the embroidery. I need some practice but I don't think they turned out that bad. The snowman I saw on another blog and then found the pattern, I Loved the pattern. It was pretty simple. The soccer one I made on a sweatshirt I found at goodwill for .25. So between the cost of the shirt and I already had the embroidery thread, this project was very frugal and recycling all in one. My granddaughter plays soccer and the schools colors are orange and black so this one turned out great. My granddaughter said she liked it but she wouldn't wear it because that was a grandma thing. LOL I told her its a good thing she wouldn't wear it because it was mine to wear to her games next season. And afterall I am a grandma so I guess it works out. I am sure I will be making more of these type shirts. I found making them very relaxing.

This weekend I got a piano. I have been wanting one for a long time. I can't play that great but its enough for me. I can just do the basics. I plan on getting some books to do some self teaching and then hopefully take some piano lessons. I am excited about this. It's something I have been wanting to do for a long long time. I also put up some of my Christmas things. It was fun decorating the top of the piano. I also made some snowflakes to hang in my bay window. These snowflakes are so easy to make but look so elegant and they look great from the outside also.

I am so in the holiday mood. I am enjoying the decorating and things are really starting to take shape. I need to go through my stuff in the shed and see what else I can put out. I will post Christmas pics after I get everything decorated. I hope you are enjoying this holiday season and making the most out of it. Enjoy.

Update on Doctor visit

I went to my doctor appt yesterday and it went well. I didn't lose much weight but lost some inches. I lost 4 more lbs and another 4 inches. I know my body is shifting in how the weight is distributed because I can tell how my clothes are fitting. I gained inches in some areas and lost in others. I am not disappointed and I am sorry if it sounds like that. I spoke to the doctor about felling like I am at a standstill and he said that I will slow down now and by me working these midnights my body rhythms are off kilter. He was saying that there are studies done that show people that work midnights and shift work are low on the totem pole so to speak in losing weight. And he said some people stop all together and possibly start gaining weight, its a scientific fact. He went into detail on how the body works in its hormones, etc and it made sense because a lot of the things he said are exactly how I feel. He ask if there was any way I could get off these midnight and I just chuckled. I explained how seniority doesn't count for anything where I work. He was surprised, but he told me to do the best I could. Which I am. No matter what happens with my weight, whether I lose a few lbs here and there I am happy with the amount I have lost so far. I am doing things now that I never dreamed I would be able to do. I have energy, well most of the time I do if I can get some sleep.

I went to my appt with my friend Joe from work, who had the lap band surgery. He lost some but not much, and his problem is he still has a lot of the bad habits he had from before and he knows this. He still eats pretty much what he wants but just not as much as he used to. I think its been a year since he had his surgery and has lost right around 60+. He looks good and I am proud of him. We went shopping after our appt and had a blast. We left LaPorte around 2:30p and I pulled into my driveway around 10p. We also go out to eat everytime we go to appt. Boy doesn't that make good sense, go to weight loss doctor and then go out to eat. LOL But neither one of us eats much, and always bring home leftovers. Lots of leftovers. Either way its nice to spend time with him.

I spoke to the doctor also about my hernia and the trouble I have been having lately with it. He checked it out and said I am doing ok and it has not shifted or gotten any bigger, so just keep an eye on it. Having a hernia is really a good thing after weight loss surgery. I know sounds funny but...by having the hernia that means I will be able to have the loose skin removed from my stomach and the hernia repaired and my insurance will take care of it because it will be medically necessary. It won't do any good if I just have the hernia repaired because the loose skin will just pull down on the hernia site and cause me to get another one. SO...this is a good thing. He wants me lose at least 40 more lbs before he does surgery. This will be better because I will be closer to my goal weight and I won't run the risk of having to have a second surgery to remove more skin. I am happy about this. Not so much about going into surgery again but having my skin removed. Its a long process but one I can deal with. But no matter what happens I am happy for the 170+ that I have lost. I really never thought I could feel this good. Now if I could just figure out how to get off these midnight shifts????????? Oh well time will tell.

Craft projects I have been working on

I have been working on a few crocheting projects over the past month or so. I work the midnight shift and we have a lot of down time so I am able to take these projects to work with me. Might as well use my time wisely and get some things accomplished. I have already posted the afghan I made for my daughter, which I am sure she is going to love. She found the extra yarn I had from that project and has already questioned me about it. She liked the colors and wanted to know where I got it from so she could get some. I told her I couldn't remember, which is partly the truth because I have bought so much yarn lately I have forgotten which of the 2 places I have bought them. My granddaughters (Morgyn) afghan was made with 4 different colors

made into individual 8x8 in squares and then 4 squares put together to make 1 square and then I attached them all together and then crocheted a border around it all. I really think it turned out nice. I have people at work asking me to make them one.

I also made Morgyn another fuzzy scarf. She must have about 20 of them now. This one is florescent orange and hot pink crocheted together. She picked out the colors and I wasn't sure about it, but hey she is a teenager so I let it go. But it really turned out pretty.

I also made me a scarf and hat. I worked on it yesterday and today. I figured I better get mine made before the really cold weather hits. Not that these fuzzy scarves are all that warm they sure look pretty.



I have about 10 different projects running through my head that
I want to get accomplished. Now I just have to figure out when
to get them all done. Most of them are for Christmas presents.


As soon as I get the pics downloaded from my granddaughters formal dance I will post them. She is growing up so fast.

I hope you enjoyed the projects I have been working on. Will post as I get the others done. Have a wonderful and joyous day.