Progress and a complete finish...

So, here is the Jeannette Douglas Designs By the Sea Needlekeep COMPLETELY finished.  I finished the stitching on Saturday and sewed it all together today.  Wow, that feels so good to just finish it, not stuff it in a drawer or box to get to later (never).  I think it is really, really cute.  Look at that funny octopus in the lower box.

And here is my progress on Ann Womack from Shakespeare's Peddler.  I love this piece.  I have to admit that I didn't think it would be much fun stitching it but was I wrong.  I am using red silk that was given to me several years ago by Theresa.  I am loving working with the thread.  The picture doesn't do it justice.

Well, today is our last official day of Christmas break.  Nicholas is back to school tomorrow.  Classes at USM don't start until next Tuesday, but I have paperwork to complete.  These first 6 days of the year have been great.  I am "resetting" my diet back to a more whole-food standard.  Last February I did a 21 detox diet that was great.  I felt so much better and had more energy.  Then, we moved in with my parents after we sold our house and were waiting for the new house to be completed.  It was harder to stay on the diet since my mom is a great cook.  She was very ill during the summer, so I was pretty much cooking what I would normally eat.  Then, around the middle of August, she started cooking.  Did I say she was an amazing cook?  So, I gained a few pounds.  Now, we are settled in the new house and my husband and I are paying better attention to our diet.  We are on day 5 of the 21 day diet.  So far, so good.