Monday, September 12, 2011

My new start and cleaning up after Irene

I was inspired by Robert, Terri, and Siobhan to start this new project, the Mary Allen Sampler by Samplers Remembered.  This is what the piece looks like (or you can take a look at Robert's finish or at Terri's header picture).  (This picture courtesy of ABC Stitch Therapy.)


And here is where I am.

Mary Allen Sampler by Samplers Remembered
40ct RR Creme Brulee
NPI fibers

I copied Siobhan's choice of fabric.


I just hope I can make it through all those words and letters. Not my favorite thing.  lol!

We had some people come in to clean up the basement and spray antimicrobial stuff to prevent mold and bad things growing.  A 30 ft. dumpster was practically filled up by all the stuff that was damaged by the 5 or 6 inches of water we got from Irene.


I couldn't believe that two guys could bring up all that stuff from the basement, but they did.  The spraying happened afterwards, and then industrial fans were set up down there to help dry the basement out.  

The dumpster should be picked up today (we managed to throw some things into it from the garage too), and I'm calling the basement dry as of today and calling the people to pick up their fans too.  It's a good feeling to have that work done.

On Saturday, we helped the girl child move back to college.  This involved two cars for a change.  The girl child drove her new used car down to college with the father type riding shotgun.  She needs a car on campus this year since she will be working part time at the place where she worked for the summer. The boy type rode with me in the minivan packed with the majority of the girl child's stuff.  I do have to say things went pretty quickly unloading with 4 people -- and with the girl child having learned what to bring and what not to bother with.  After the unloading, we stopped in town for some sushi, teriyaki and tempura at the girl child's favorite sushi place -- soooo good!  Then it was goodbye and driving home.

I think this year marks a record -- for the least watched matches at the US Open for me.  The first week, we didn't have power until Thursday.  The second week, I was busy with the flood guys and various other things -- plus two days were rained out at the Open, on days when I could have watched.  Saturday, the boy child kept me informed of the scores at the Djokovic/Federer match while we were doing the college trip.  I'm actually grateful to the girl child for keeping me from watching that one.  Ouch.  I watched the tail end of the Nadal/Murray match when we got home.  I will miss large chunks of the men's final tonight as well since the boy child's orchestra starts tonight and I'm on driving duty.  Oh well.  

But I got to watch the women's final -- congrats to Sam Stosur!  Yay!  I was so happy for her!

Mia's life hasn't been much affected by all the chaos of Irene, Irene cleanup, packing for college, etc.  Here she is sleeping with her boy child during one of their final naps of the summer.


Now the boy child is back in school and Mia won't have a napping buddy.  Unless the boy child falls asleep during homework.  lol!

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  It's always good to visit with you.  Have a great week!


48 comments:

Annie said...

Glad to see that all the mess is behind you now. Hope this week brings calmer days.

Your new sampler is a beauty. I always think stitching words goes pretty fast. Hope that's true for you too.

I'm kinda glad Serena lost given the way she was acting. Nice to have a newer face as a champion!

Erica said...

Beautiful start! Those "Samplers Remembered" samplers can be quite challenging. I have "Christmas Day Sampler" in my stash, waiting for someday. Same thing, lots ot writing.
I will be looking forward to seeing it come along!

Deborah said...

As always, a beautiful start! Look forward to your progress.

Giovanna said...

Lovely new start! Glad that you got your basement sorted out and dry - must be a huge relief.

Rita said...

I love this sampler....fell in love with it when I saw it on the wall at The Attic.

It's in my inactive pile until after marching band season ends but I WILL finish it this year...or next.

I look forward to watching your progress.

Berit said...

lol! Mia's sleeping posture is hysterical! I am glad to hear that all is well with you on the transition to fall and of course with your cleanup! I'm glad you were able to get pro help with the treating and drying of your basement--that stuff that can grow down there is seriously no joke!

Sherry :o) said...

I, too, have been contemplating Mary Allen...she is so pretty.

Glad you have your basement well on the way to being back to normal.

And it sounds like the move was efficient this year...prior moves certainly help with that.

I love the position of Mia's nap - doesn't look that comfortable, but cats can be entertaining with sleep, mine used to sleep on teh back of the couch with her legs all funny and would frequently slide off, slowly. The quilt her and your son are laying on is really pretty.

Have a great week, Margaret!

Mouse said...

oooo that was one big basement .... so glad things are getting back to normal .... love the sampler it is gorgeous ... sorry you didn't get to see much tennis and just love the mia pose :) love mouse xxxx

Siobhán said...

That is the most hysterical picture of Mia sleeping--it gives new meaning to the term 'as agile as a cat'. LOL

Love your new start!! I think it's such a happy sampler.

The clean out--omg. I can't believe how much you had to throw out! Please God that's the end of all the flooding for a loooong time.

The French Bear said...

Gorgeous stitching as always, you are amazing! Sorry to hear about the flooding, I have been through one of those and I can remember the mess....and the clean up, yuck, so I am happy your basement is dry and clean. You children are growing up so fast, love the pic of Mia and the boy child......so sweet! I have missed visiting this summer, it was just a crazy one, but I am back to my little attempt at stitching and now that I have been so inspired by you again, I shall try harder!!!!
Hugs,
Margaret B
xxxx

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Mia and the boy child must be the bestest nappers in all the world...it always brings a smile to my face to see their positions in which they snooze :) Ahhhh how funny....!
And I love your new start...it is stunning and shall watch with anticipation your next update!
Glad to hear that the girl child made a smooth transition back to college and the move went fast too! YUMMY SUSHI....I'm on a diet and that sounds so good!

Julie M said...

I'm glad the cleanup is mostly over for you. I can't even imagine the mess that was for you.

Beautiful stitching! Hang in there with the letters and words! It'll be worth it!

Laurie in Iowa said...

I was thrilled for Sam Stosur too! Way to go.
Oh my... that's a lot of stuff you threw out. My biggest wish for you is a very dry basement for many years to come. This has been a rough year.
Glad the girl child made it back to college safely.
Mia is as adorable as ever.
Great new start!

Patty C. said...

I absolutely looooove your new start - Gorgeous !!!

BrendaS said...

Great new start! You got quite a big accomplished too;))

Glad things are cleaned up for you after Irene. I'm sure it's a good feeling to have that behind you now.

Mia looks so funny sleeping with your son. The funny way cats sleep always amazes me!

Michelle said...

Praying that this is the last of your basement woes. You're had more than your fair share! Love the new start - it was hard to resist after seeing Robert's gorgeous finish!

Catherine said...

Beautiful new start! I'm sure you'll have it stitched up in no time!
I'm sure you're so relieved that the basement is all done and dry. I sure hope the winter is better to us this year after the summer we've had!
Getting back to the school year routine is so tiring the first few weeks. Mia looks like she fell asleep while practicing yoga!

Love to Stitch said...

Amazing what really comes out of our basements-- too bad so much was ruined. Glad to see it is getting under control-- I know you guys have been hit with tremendous amount of rain, and that doesnt help much! Great job on the new start-- I love this one, have the pattern, but feel like you-- there are alot of words. It is worth it though!!!!!!

Mia is so cute :)

marly said...

How in the heck do you manage all the chores and obligations and still get that much stitching done? Do you sleep Margaret? I've been considering Mary Allen ever since I saw it stitched on the blogs. The photo on the chart did nothing for me but it's obviously a stunner now that I see better photos. Glad your house ordeal is finished!

Bertie said...

Gorgeous sampler Margaret, love it, good to see you had some time to stitch after Irene.
The dumpster looks pretty serious, we did see the Irene pics here too, the clean up must have been awful and glad to hear that your life is back to normal:) lots of stiching!
Goodness, sometimes it must be great to be a cat (and a child) LOL.

Kim said...

Margaret!!! Your new Sampler is just beautiful. I am happy your basement is dry and mold free, I am sure that is a great relief for you. I was sorry to hear of all your troubles~~~~wishing you sunshiny days!!!!

Karen said...

Your new sampler is beautiful...

So glad you got the flooding cleaned up and will find more free time. Mia is just too cute and funny in that sleeping position!

happy stitching....

Katrina said...

Mary Allen is so, so pretty!!!! I love the strawberry border and the alphabet. Can't wait to start mine too :-). Hope the dumpster is gone and life is slowly returning to normal, glad Mia was undisturbed by all the flooding and storms!

Hazel said...

Margaret you are stitching faster then I can keep up with your posts!!! Amazing new start. You have done so much already. Love it. xx

valerie said...

Great start Margaret! Wow, that's a lot of garbage to be throwing out! I'm glad that the cleanup is over and you can relax some now. Hopefully no more flooding!

Mia looks like she's in some ballet pose!

Loraine said...

Oh my, I cannot believe that dumpster! You poor thing. I do hope things are back to normal soon. Such an ordeal!
I am working on Mary Allen with Deb, and it has given me a few fits. I hate lettering too! It will be fun to work on knowing you are stitching it too. I only hope to keep up with your speedy pace! Robert finished his sampler in record time, I was just blown away by fast he was.
Love the picture of the kitty and your son sleeping! Too funny.
Hugs to you!

Anonymous said...

Love your new start. Mary Allen is such a pretty sampler. I know you will enjoy working on her. Glad you can declare your basement "dry". Hugs to you from Kentucky - kelley

Liz said...

I'm so glad that you're all back to clean and dry again, must have been a huge cleanup. As usual, gorgeous stitching and pics of Mia and her boy...
Lizzie
xxx

Dawn said...

Hope the dry out is going well. Love your new sampler.
That Mia is just too cute. She will miss a nap buddy!

Susan said...

I have been itching to start Mary Allen but she's going to have to wait awhile as I want to finish up something--anything--first. What a great start you've made!

(Love your son's T-shirt!)

Melissa said...

That's cute how Mia seems to be copying your boy's sleeping pose. You know what struck me as funny just now - in a lot of the photos of your kids and Mia, your kids are sleeping on their tummies. Or maybe that's the only time you can safely get a photo! ;-)

Love your new start - very pretty!

Penny said...

That's a pretty start on Mary Allen. Hope all your basement troubles are over with for a long time to come. Mia is cute as usual-and what a funny sleeping position :)

Valerie said...

I love your new start, Margaret. Mary Allen has been on my wishlist for sometime now. I will enjoy watching your progress (as usual!) and if you don't mind, I will live vicariously through your needle :-)

I am glad that the Irene aftermath is over for you and your family. I am very sorry that you lost so many things. I know how hard it can be to go through things that are ruined by flooding.

Hope your daughter and son have a great school year!

Carol said...

That is an unbelievable amount of stuff filling that dumpster, Margaret! I'm certainly hoping the hurricanes leave you alone now for many, many years to come... I'm sure you're feeling good to have your house "back to normal" again.

Love your new sampler--I love stitching words so I would be very happy stitching this one :) Good luck--I know it will be a beauty!

Sally said...

I can't believe some of the positions Mia gets into to sleep!

Your new start is absolutely beautiful. I am always in awe at the pieces you stitch.

Glad the clean-up is behind you now.

Melanie said...

Great start! You've gotten a lot done already. (At least compared to how quickly I seem to work on things. lol)
I'm glad your basement situation is getting better. It's such a bummer having that happen. :( Let us keep repeating 'no more storms no more storms' for the rest of the hurricane season, yes?

Joy said...

Sorry your basement was so much work. Wow! And I complain about cleaning a dry one.

The new start is wonderful. I wish you and Siobhan would send over some of that dedication to stitching.

I didn't miss the men's finals...sad to say I was not pleased with the outcome. I so wanted Rafa to win.

woolwoman said...

Margaret I'm so sorry to hear you had flooding issues from Irene - so sad all the damage that storm and Lee has caused. hope the worst is behind you. Love your Mary Allen start - I had to pass up on it b/c of the wording - I am just being more realistic about what I am willing and able to do in my stitching life and lately it ain't much LOL! take care Mel

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

mia sleeps funny! LOL! Your stitching is very lovely!

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

your sampler is very beautiful,

have a good day my friend

Kathy Ellen said...

I love your beautiful new stitching project....it is such a beautiful sampler, and I love the verses in it.

My goodness, but you had quite a job cleaning up your basement after the hurricane. What an ordeal for so many people. So glad that things are finally beginning to dry out and you are able to get things back in order.

Cari said...

Your Mary Allen sampler is over the top beautiful !! I'll be drooling as I watch your progress. Glad you're coming along with the cleanup....what a mess !! And of course, I love the pic of BC and Mia. That is one yoga cat!!!

Dona said...

Margaret, I was so excited for Sam S.! She played played a great match and has a great attitude. Serena's rude and childish outbursts were disappointing. I hope you know I was pulling for Federer in his match against ND. I think he came closer to beating ND than anyone else in the tournament.

So sorry that you have the Irene mess to clean up. I know that has to be very tiring.

Enjoyed the pictures of little Mia. She's very cute.

I love Mary Allen and your start is very pretty! I hope to get to her someday soon.

Mindi said...

Beautiful start on Mary Allen! With so many people stitching her, I think I need to concentrate on her and Mary Gibson.

Unknown said...

Wow! I can't believe they can actually sleep like that. Are you sure that Mia wasn't just napping and boy child posing beside her?

Karoline said...

Great new start, Ann is looking lovely.

Glad to see you're through with the clean up.

Unknown said...

very great sampler...
Pat

antique quilter said...

what a mess you had too , glad its all cleaned up and everyone is back at school and the routine!
not fun being without power for a week! looking forward to seeing more of your stitching and perhaps some quilting this year?
Kathie