Making New Resolutions

I'm not sure how many of you make resolutions at the first of the year, but I always do. This year has been different to say the least. I had surgery for uterine cancer in April, which put everything on hold for a while. But all is well, and I give God the Glory for it! I am well, and back to normal, though normal for me is like fast forward at the moment. I've been working in my yard, and house, doing all sorts of changes. We're at the end of building a barbecue area in our back yard and extended our patio area where it is being built a little more. Not a lot, but it is a little bigger with some added stones that actually 'frame' the cemented area. I've changed some bushes out, and taken out 10 roses in my yard. Some replaced by crepe myrtle in a raspberry color, and the others replaced with wisteria. We've added a trellis for some trumpet vines to grow on, and added a few more Virginia creeper to the back wall in our back yard. I had some issues with my lawn, all kinds of things attacked it from ants to grubs, and I am finally getting that in shape. Also weeds! We have this spurge stuff that grows wild here in New Mexico and it really went a little wild in my lawn for a while but that too is getting under control. One thing at a time. I've been painting now, and will be doing more of that this week, also upholstering my dining room chairs. I have already upholstered two breakfast bar chairs, and I will post a picture of them so you can see the fabric I am using. I'll refinish some baseboards and window sills, and that will be the last of the work here. Our reunion is the end of September, so I have a lot to do before that happens.

My stitching has not taken a back seat completely. I am managing to work ona few things here and there. Yesterday I took in my Rockhome sampler for framing, and to my delight, they will have it done in a week and a half. So that's good news. I've gone back to working on my marquior sampler and will get an updated picture as soon as I finish block 5. I hope to finish the whole thing by the end of October, and get it in to the framer as well. Another goal for me to meet . I do like having goals, it really does help me to set time frames for things, and list all the things I would like to accomplish. Some years I don't quite finish the list, but if you get 48 out of 50, well, I think that's pretty good! Ha! Ha!
Yes, and most years I have at least 50 things on my list.
Just wanted to pop in here and post that my work is coming to an end -- in two weeks i hope to have most of it all crossed off, and all of it by the end of October. I do have some other sewing to do, but that is not critical so it is not taking a high priority at the moment. It consists of some outdoor pillows for my benches and chairs, and 4 Roman shades (two for doors and two for windows in my livingroom). It's nice to get to the last of the list before the end of the year I will say that!!
Since I have a lot of catching up to do with my stitching, the rest of the year, I hope to spend a lot of time stitching and getting things framed. I will be having another reunion at the end of the year after Christmas -- so I only have a few months before we are doing this all over again. The nice thing is that we get to spend time together as family and that to me is so important. And I do get a lot of help with all the food from the women in my family and some of the men too .
Next week I hope to have some pictures to update what I have been working on so you can see where I have spent my time, and I will also post pics of my new barbecue area when we get that lst of it put together.

Have a great week! I hope to get a lot of painting, refinishing of the woodwork in the house and some upholstering done as well....I know, I'm a little into overkill here . Pray for me that I'll finish on time .

Cathy