The Cubs won their game bringing the Magic Number down to 1. They clinched if the Brewers lost. The Brewers game started an hour after the Cubs game so there was some waiting going on. The Cubs left the field not knowing if they would be celebrating that night. I think it was worth the approximately 60 minute wait. Brewers lost, Cubs enter the playoffs!!! Woo hoo!!!

I’ve been a Cubs fan my whole life. I remember in 1989, I was a freshman in high school and my mom and I went to my Aunt Judi’s house to watch the Cubs clinch. My aunt bought a bottle of champagne and I was allowed to have a sip. And then I remember spending an entire Saturday sitting on the floor of our extra bedroom trying to get through for playoff tickets. And I got through!! I remember 4 years ago. My husband and I went to Florida and saw 3 playoff games. It was amazing. And now they have another chance to get to the World Series. All I can say is that I Believe.

This has been a crazy season. These are some of my highlights:

• The Cubs-White Sox series at Wrigley. Bases are loaded with 2 outs. Fans are going INSANE. Then, D Lee coming up to pinch hit after having been out for a couple of games. The crowd takes it up to REALLY INSANE which I didn’t think was possible. And he hits a grand slam. AMAZING!!! And I was at this game.
• Mark DeRosa having his first 5 for 5 game. Go Quakers!!
• Soriano’s lead-off homeruns.
• Jacob catching a ball during a horrible loss to the Padres at Wrigley. I thought we were going to need an escort out of the bleachers because he wouldn’t throw the ball back. But some nice young girl gave him a throw-back ball and we were saved. (I caught a ball during batting practice at that same game.)
• Ivan DeJesus stopping to give me an autograph. He was going to walk right past but I recognized him and asked “May I have your autograph Mr. DeJesus?” And he gave it to me (and some other Cubs fans). I saw him play shortstop while I was growing up.
• Hearing the crowd sing “Go Cubs Go” after the ball games. Even here in Washington, the Cubs fans would sing while leaving RFK. The fans were singing it at Clark and Addison last night after the Cubs clinched.
• That our 7th wedding anniversary was the date the Cubs turned it around! What a great anniversary present.
• Jacque Jones putting on goggles for the champagne celebration. Smart guy!

I know that there are many other memories. And more to come.

Go Cubs!!

Check out the Chicago Tribune for more photos.

Tags: Cubs

Greenbean Baby recently had a big shop update at her etsy store. I ordered some beautiful notecards and some fabric and embellishments. And Ellia threw in a little extra for me.

I am loving these notecards. They are so beautiful! I am tempted to send one to myself. I love how the ribbon is woven in. And the accents on the purple cards are so pretty. I wish that I could have a quarter of Ellia’s talent!

The fabric and embellishments are really cute. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the fabric, but I couldn’t pass it up. I do have an idea for the felt embellishments and the buttons.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, Ellia also made me some notecards and embellishments, special for Baby Duckles.

So much goodness in one box!!! Ellia is an amazing artist. I’m a very lucky girl to have a friend like her! Check out her shop. I know you’ll find something you can’t go without!

Tags: etsy

Finally my post on my completed Cozy shawl. I’m super pleased with how this turned out. As I posted originally, it was very challenging in the beginning. But once I got the hang of it, it was very fun to work on.

I started the project in March, finished it in August. I did put it down for a couple of weeks at a time. I also went on a big cross-stitch kick so Cozy didn’t get much attention.

I knit it up in Rowan Classic Yarns Luxury Cotton DK in the Marble using size 7 needles. The Luxury Cotton is beautiful - 50% cotton, 45% viscose, 5% silk. It took about 8.5 skeins. When I bought the yarn I was warned ahead of time that there had been some frustration with the yarn because it is stranded and that caused problems for some people. I did end up ripping out about 10 rows because I saw where I had a stranding issue. But otherwise, it wasn’t much of a problem for me. My only complaint with this project is that I wish it was a little wider.

As you can see, CJ approves.

Tags: projects, knitting

Well, I’ve done it! I launched my new business, Baby Duckles. You can find my online store at http://BabyDuckles.etsy.com.

So far it’s an earring business. But it will expand to some other jewelry, and assorted knitting and sewing goods. All handmade by yours truly.

It’s very exciting. I’ve always wanted my own business. And now I’ve done it. If only my full-time job didn’t get in the way of my new business and my hobbies.

Please check it out. Maybe you’ll find something you like. Maybe not, but check back as the store will get updated.

Thanks for supporting Baby Duckles!

Tags: none

I saw this meme on Allsorts and couldn’t resist. If you want to play along then tag, you’re it!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),
Maxine Beetle

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie),
Butter Pecan Snickerdoodle

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),
M-Nap

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),
Black Dolphin

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),
Louise Great Lakes

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),
Nap-Ma

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),
The Fuschia Asti

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),
William Robert

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy),
Jadore Snickers

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),
Dominguez James

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),
Sover St. Louis

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).
Autumn Orchid

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Strawberry Blousey

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),
Cheerio Maple

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),
The Needlepoint Boomers Tour

Tags: life

I’ve sold my first pair of earrings! Yippee! It’s gratifying when people are willing to pay money for something I’ve made. And my first customer , a friend and coworker, has a big mouth so she is spreading the word for me. You can’t really pay for that kind of advertising! I have another friend who’s looking at some earrings I’ve made and I think that she will soon be a customer. I feel a little bad hitting up my friends, but if you can’t hit up your friends to boost your confidence and get you started, who can you hit up? Well, there is my mother… In actuality, my mom has been such a great supporter and even gave me some seed money. We’re starting to see a return on that investment, Mom!

And what is it I’ve sold? I’ve been on a big freshwater pearl kick. The earring is a freshwater pearl with a swarkovski crystal on sterling silver. I’ve have a couple of different styles, and also have some earrings with different freshwater pearls and others with just glass beads. My style is very simple.

My next step is to set up my Etsy shop. I’m going to try and work on that this weekend. Maybe get a few things posted in a week or so. In the meantime, I’m off to the bank and the bead shop!

(Sorry for the poor photo quality. I was so excited I couldn’t wait so the photos are a la my camera phone.)

Update: thanks to my big-mouth coworker, I have made 3 more sales!!! YIPPEE!!!

Tags: earrings

On Saturday, I got back from a fabulous week at the beach. I rented an apartment in Ocean City, MD, for a week with a girlfriend because my husband had a big work deadline and couldn’t take any time off. He and another friend were able to join us for a weekend. It wasn’t long enough but he was able to recharge his batteries. The week was so relaxing. My days were spent on the beach under an umbrella reading. And napping. And getting a cannoli and coffee for a late-morning snack. For a change of scenery, we drove to Assateague and parked our umbrellas on a different island. It did have a different feel being a national park and not having a boardwalk. Plus there were the wild ponies and evidence of wild ponies. It was beautiful for a day, but it was so much easier to drag our chairs, umbrellas, mini cooler, towels and books a block and a half. And I swam with dolphins again! They were about a hundred feet offshore but it was the same water. They are so beautiful! I saw a pod on Friday and they seemed to be only 50 feet offshore. It seemed so close. I’m not sure if the dolphins were my favorite, or the amazing moonrise we watched. The moon was full and huge and bright orange. As it rose, at the very end it seemed like a drop was going to fall off but then it got sucked back in as the moon cleared the horizon. It was amazing.

Aside from my moonrise, my evenings were spent with Ugly Betty Season 1 on DVD and a project on my lap. If there was one thing I wanted to get done on vacation, it was Cozy. I am pleased to report that Cozy is complete!! More on Cozy in another post.

It was hard to say goodbye to the beach. As fabulous as vacation was, it is great to be home with my hubby and the dog and cats. Bill and I talked on the phone but it’s just not the same. And I missed my snuggly critters. It was especially nice to have two days to get ready for work instead of just one. And even with the extra day, I’m still not ready for work. I did get started on some ironing though.

After having spent 4 hours in the car driving home on Saturday, Bill and I got in the car and drove 50 minutes to The Stitching Post to pick up my custom framing. The pieces were ready on Friday and I had to get them ASAP. It was worth every minute in the car. Everything turned out so well! They do a great job. There will be pictures of the framed pieces, once they get hung. I’m so happy!! And of course I had to pick up a new project and I’m trying out a new fiber. So exciting!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day. My day was labor free. Except for the picking up and ironing. Poor me… I certainly enjoyed my time off. I foresee Bill putting me in the car kicking and screaming tomorrow…

Tags: vacation, finished projects