Where Have I Been????

I hate only being able to post once a week. I have a lot on my plate for the rest of this month and next. Let's see since I posted last Monday... Tuesday I worked 14 hours, Wednesday I worked 14 hours, Thursday I worked 13 hours (and had a meltdown in the evening), Friday I was in class for 8 hours, and Saturday I worked 14 hours. This is Sunday night as I type this and I have grocery shopped and done laundry all day. (Of course by the time this posts today I will be back at work for another 14 hour day.) In between Tuesday and Friday of last week I finished up my swap for Char and got it sent out. I also worked on a doll(which I will show you in a minute) and started a new stitchery today. I barely have time to breathe and this coming week doesn't look much better, but by golly I'm gonna craft if it kills me. It is my only sanity. LOL. Oh but I do have cake too... WHAT did you say cake???? LOL Steve made his very first pineapple upside down cake today. I helped a little bit, but he did most of the work. So I think I'm set for a few days.

Like I said I have been so busy and gone from home a lot lately. Have you just ever had a feeling of being overwhelmed and had a meltdown? I just lost it when I came home Thursday night. It all hit me when my son called and said he couldn't do his Math and needed help. It was already 7:45 pm and I was still at work until 9. I had not had any EMS calls all day and here I sit not being able to help him. Soooooo frustrating. The chief just doesn't understand how hard it is for a single Mom to stay until 9pm and still be able to make sure homework is done and checked. My housework isn't getting done either... if I'm not there to yell lol the kids don't do it either. Anyway, I get home dirty dishes in the sink, a load of towels needs washed, the kitchen needs cleaned, the dining room table is the catch all, and I find the paper telling me school pictures were that day and I didn't even know. Poor Steve got the wrath... you know the sarcastic nasty "Don't worry I got it don't get up off the couch" look and "I got it" speech. He was kind enough to watch the kids while I was at work. I just couldn't help the cat claws, pointy teeth, red eyes, and roar of a lion that night... oh and let's not forget the crying in frustration "I hate my job" speech. My poor daughter was cleaning her room at 9:30pm because I couldn't even see the floor through her clothes. My son went to bed early so I had to get him up at 5:30 the next morning just so I could help him with his Math. It is just so frustrating. Yes, I have to have the class for my paramedic card so there is no getting out of that and unfortunately I need the money right now too. Steve and I have had no time to talk as when I come home I am too tired and fall asleep while he's talking. LOL. But, I just keep thinking it is only temporary and soon I will be done and hopefully the temperature will warm up so that I can work outside. I think a lot of my problem is I have cabin fever with all this snow. Well, now that I have that off my chest I will show you my doll I am working on.

The doll was already made. My Mom picked it up at Pat Catan's maybe for $.50 and said here I though you could use it. Her dress (which is hard to see) is actually part of a sheet I just picked up from the Goodwill. It was white with blue flowers.
I coffee stained everything up and put another light blue sash around her waist. This was originally going to be one of Char's gifts, but I decided against it. Now that I look at her I think I'm gonna grubby up her dress a bit more. Anyway...



OK this picture is better.



I also took the time to frame this stitchery I did many years ago. My Mom found it at her house and brought it over. The frame was a Goodwill one that I painted with burnt umber thanks to Lisa's use of the same color. I hung it above my linen rack in the hall. Yes the stitchery is crooked in the frame... I can't get it right. Not sure if I cut it uneven or the preprinted lines for the stitchery were printed cockeyed. Like I said I did this way back in high school. I also didn't stain this one. Not sure why I just didn't. LOL.





I will leave you with a smile... Steve always cracks me up. shhhh... he'll kill me if he knows I posted this. LOL Yes the strings behind his head are the sweat pant strings. LOL. Haven't we all seen the older men with their checkered polyester pants hiked up to the chest???? Well.... Steve is well on his way..... LOL.