25

25 is scary. When we used to play house, I always had a husband and about 4 kids by 25. I understand now that that’s unrealistic (I don’t really, but I’m trying to convince myself it is!) Even though I don’t have all the things I thought I would by 25, I still got some good stuff: a sewing machine, coffee table, TV table, and cashmere dress from my parents (plus lots of quarters for laundry), a couple books, a new set of running headphones, and flowers from Jimmy.

Friday night he took me to the Red Sox-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium too. On Saturday night we went to dinner with my best friend, Kelly, and her boyfriend, Trevor, at Max Restaurant in Tribeca. She gave me the most thoughtful gifts: a coral print Vineyard Vines belt (she knows I love coral—see duvet cover with Winston below), Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story, and white cashmere gloves (perfect for walking Winston in the winter—his fur won’t show!) Thanks Kel!

Kelly and I met years ago at tennis clinic on Cape Cod. We actually couldn’t stand each other at first. The boys in the clinics thought it would be funny if they told each of us things the other one said. By the end of that first summer though, we were best friends. I don’t have many close girlfriends so I really value my friendship with Kelly. She’s my needlepointing buddy too! We’re the only girls in our twenties whose favorite thing to do is sit on the beach and needlepoint. I might need her help with my own needlepoint if I keep getting so many orders!

Anyway, on my actual birthday (Monday), my boss got lunch for us and then Jimmy and I went out for sushi. Then it was home in the pouring rain to watch Gossip Girl and finally try to finish the belt I’m working on (2 inches left!)

Poor Winston has been really strange lately—I think it’s because he’s alone a lot and it’s been raining so we haven’t been to the dog park in 3 days. He’s been getting into the trash again and just doing odd things. Two nights ago, he laid down on a pile of Jimmy’s shoes.

His paw made it into one of the Cole Haans (at least he has good taste!)

So I reluctantly took the order form off the website yesterday, for several reasons:

1. I can’t keep up and don’t think it’s fair to make people wait months for belts

2. It’s a little crazy right now between training for a 10K next month, exercising Winston and work, I feel really tied down and guilty if I’m doing anything but needlepointing

3. I’d like to start working on some new projects (keychains, coasters, etc)

4. All my family and friends want needlepoint, either for themselves as Christmas presents or to give to others, and I haven’t had time to make anything for them in about a year

I’ll probably put the order form back up in about a month and hopefully at that point will also add a key fob order form and coaster form. The belt feedback lately has been great and I’d like to also add a testimonials page as well.

Thanks for hanging in there! There are bigger and better things to come!

Reading and Winston

I’ve been torn recently between my needlepoint and reading. I spent the last year adjusting to life in New York and my first real job as well as studying for the Series 7 and Series 66 to become registered. I finally finished in the beginning of August and was so excited to finally read a book for pleasure. I picked a great one too! I was reading a back issue of Garden and Gun when I found an article by Pat Conroy, the author of “My Losing Season,” which is one of my favorite books. He wrote about where he got his inspiration for his books and about the journals he’d kept over the years. Whenever he had writer’s block, he would go back to his journals to get ideas on how to move forward with the plot. He talked about how he struggled with “Prince of Tides,” and after reading the article, I went out and picked up the book.

I’m about ¾ of the way through. Before I took the Series 66, I told myself I could only read the book on the subway to and from work, and had to study during all other free moments. Now that I’m registered, I want to read all the time! I don’t want this book to end though. Long story short, I have a ton of needlepoint to do, way too many orders for one person to fill, and all I want to do is bury my nose in this book. I’ll be sad when it’s finished but at least I’ll be able to get some stitching done…if I can keep from opening his latest book I bought…

I had a really fun night last night. Two guys from work invited Winston and me over for a barbecue at their apartment. I do love hot dogs, but the selling point was that Winston could swim in their pool. I haven’t heard of anyone in New York City who has their own pool and Winston absolutely loves to swim so I couldn’t say no. Even though he’s a Labrador Retriever, he doesn’t retrieve unless it’s in the water. He will swim out to a ball or Frisbee as long as you keep throwing it. Last night we were retrieving noodles.

He swallowed so much water he was wheezing but he wouldn’t stop. It took us half an hour to walk there and then half an hour home (it’s tough to find a cab driver who will take a hundred pound yellow lab!) So after an hour of walking and about an hour of swimming, he slept so well! Which meant I did too!

He’s been very funny lately. I had him in the city with me when I first moved here in June 2008 and then I took him home at Thanksgiving and my parents kept him in North Carolina and Cape Cod until I brought him back to the city this past June. I think he’s been weird cause he’s alone a lot—you know how people get weird when they’re alone for long periods of time? Every time I get in the shower, he tries to get in with me. A couple days ago, I picked up all of his toys and put them back in his basket and then went and did some dishes.

When I walked back in my bedroom five minutes later, he was laying on my bed, surrounded by all of his toys.

I do feel bad leaving him alone while I’m at work, but I have a dog walker and every afternoon we run to the dog park, play for awhile, and run home. I make him homemade doggie ice cream too! (recipe below)

32 oz plain yogurt

½ cup peanut butter

1 jar pureed banana baby food

Drizzle of honey

Paper cups

Foil

Mix all ingredients, pour into Dixie cups, cover with foil, and freeze.

I get the cups without the wax on them because sometimes he chews them up (possibly even eats some of them!) after he finishes the ice cream. He loves them though and they keep him occupied for a long time and then he’s tired and happy once he’s finished!