Happy Christmas Everyone....

I just want to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you! I've enjoyed sharing my blog with you this past year - and look forward to sharing more of my days with you in the coming year....

Snow snow snow snow snooooooooowww....

It started on Friday around 7 P.M., and didn't stop until sometime after eleven Saturday night or early Sunday morning (I was sleeping so wasn't paying attention)! We got 20 inches in total!

Miss Mary - Not Contrary....

I started this design by La-D-Da over a year or so ago. Somehow the other designs I was working on kept being rude and shoving it to the bottom of the stack! But it has fought its way to the top now and it isn't giving up the top banana position - for awhile anyway. I'm sooo enjoying working on it!

Miss Mary Mack Mack Mack

All Dressed in Black Black Black

With Silver Buttons Buttons Buttons

Down Her Back Back Back

I may even sew some silver buttons on it when I'm finished! (sorry for the hoop marks - should have pressed it before it got its picture taken - LOL!)

A Pillow for Your Head....

Well you can't have this one ladies! LOL! This is the second of my Stacy Nash "Ohio" designs I've stitched. I framed the first one. This one, however, was just crying out to be made into a cute little pillow. My husband was going to sew it up for me on the machine, but he was so nervous about messing it up. So I mailed it to my best friend in Ohio (she is also the mother of my niece Sara) and she did it for me. When I got it back in the mail, I stuffed it with Bamboo fiber. The fabric that it is sitting on is what I used for the back of the pillow. I think it turned out precious!

I'm In Chocolate Heaven!!

First, I found my chocolate covered biscotti dippers the other day (at Trader Joe's). And then today, while slogging through the grocery store, what do my lusting eyes spy? Chocolate covered Ritz crackers!! I grabbed those suckers up faster than Santa can slide down the chimney with care! I came home - ripped open the box, and have eaten about ten of them so far! Wow are they yummy with a cold glass of milk! They are a limited edition. I'm going back Wednesday and grab some more boxes. They better be there, or you are going to see a woman standing in the grocery aisle sobbing like a baby!!

Let It Snow.....Let It Snow.... ok, stop snowing now!

This is a picture I took out my upstairs window yesterday. We were only due to get 1/2 inch to an inch - on grassy areas. Well, can you say WRONG! LOL! It started sleeting at 8:30 in the morning, then quickly turned to a heavy snow - which continued all day and into the evening (adding up to about five inches - including on the roads)! And of course, Murphy's Law - my husband's company Christmas party was last night. They have it each year at the Dulles Air and Space Museum. It is a really nice party - lots of food, free drinks, desserts of all types, coffee, tea, a band, and tons of people! At 5:30 or so, we were still thinking of going. But then we looked out and just decided we really did not feel up to getting dressed up and slogging through the slush and snow and icy roads. So instead, we jumped into our jeans (me, still being in my nightshirt and robe) and drove five minutes to our shopping area in our subdivision - picked up a movie at the Redbox in our grocery store. We then debated over the six eating places that are right there, and decided on a chinese meal. It was yummy! We then drove the five minutes back home, and I jumped right back into my jammies and settled down for a warm, cozy evening at home!

Close your eyes and picture it in your mind...

I always mean to take pictures of things and post them here, but then I either forget, or get lazy - or.... well, you get the picture (ha!). So imagine the three things that I wanted to snap with my camera for you, but didn't....

My husband, sound asleep in his recliner, his chin propped on his hand - and on his shoulder, our kitty cat Katie - snuggled up and sound asleep too. I think her paw may have been propped on her paw, but I may have imagined that - LOL!

A lovely china plate with two of the chocolate chip biscotti dippers that have chocolate icing slathered on one side and a big glass of milk. I got these at Trader Joe's the other day and they are beyond yummy!

My dinner the other night - left over turkey slices, with stuffing on top of them and some green beans on top of that - a bit of gravy poured on top - and steamed in aluminum foil in the oven for fifteen minutes. Very tasty!

Can you picture all of these things? I hope so.... Next time I'll try and take real pictures for you to enjoy!

Isn't He a Cutie....

This is one of the many "goodies" I brought home from Occoquan on Friday. I bought him at Glory Bee, which is one of my favorite places to visit in this little town. They had various scents - with different snowmen jar toppers. The shop owner was so kind, and let me pick the scent and the topper that I wanted. It was hard to decide - they were all so sweet! You can't really see it in the photo, but he has a little tin star on his hat! After you burn the candle, the topper can be used as an ornament! Love it! For those of you who live too far away to visit the shop where I got him, there is a website. It is http://www.main-st-candle.com/ They have halloween jar toppers also, candles that come in old sugar shakers, and some really cute primitive signs!

To All Who Read My Blog....

Happy Thanksgiving
Abundant blessings to you
In the coming year!

Fun Day....

My husband went to Occoquan with me today. For those of you who read my blog, you know I love this little historic town of shops near my house. It is a cloudy chilly day - which is my perfect type of weather for going to Occoquan - especially around Halloween and Christmastime. The shops are all decorated up in holiday style - and are filled with wonderful goodies and gifties. I picked up a few gifts today and got one or two things for myself! I plan on going back next Friday to get more things for me - LOL! In the one shop, they were giving out cookies. One of these cookies was called "spicy oatmeal crisps". The secret ingredient in them is black pepper! They were so tasty. I googled the recipe and will put the link here if you would like to try and make them. I know I plan on doing that very soon! After shopping, we stopped at the seafood restaurant there and ate some seafood, while gazing out at the Occoquan River and all the lovely seabirds flying around. They were enjoying the day too! Since it won't let me paste the link - just google spicy oatmeal crisps..... Let me know what you think if you try them out!

Shhhhh...Don't Tell!

When my best friend Barb was here (she is the mother of my niece Sara), she saw this when I took her to my local cross-stitch shop. She wanted it badly. But since she feels she can't cross-stitch (but she can), she didn't get it. So I went back the following week and got it for her. I just finished stitching it last night. I will mail it off to her soon - and leave the sewing of the little buttons on to her! She does much better at that than I ever could. Since Barb doesn't read my blog, unless I tell her to, I doubt she will see this. Sara - if you read it - don't tell her - I want it to be a surprise!

Daylight Savings Time Change....

Try explaining it to a cat who wonders why her breakfast is being served so "late"....

Scrub a dub dub....

My sister knitted herself some dishcloths last year. She then made some for my Mom. My Mom loved them. So, this Christmas, I've been a dishcloth knitting fool! I've made two for my Mom and three for my sister. I actually had some more started, but decided enough was enough!

In the first picture, you will see the three for my sister. The "J" is for Julia. The second picture are the ones for my Mom. I didn't even realize I had a lime green border that really matches the lime green in the "heart" one! I'll just say I meant to do it - LOL! Not that it was a happy accident....

A "Prim" Pretty....

I just finished my Stacy Nash "Ohio 1846" primitive sampler. I've been debating back and forth on whether to frame it or make it into a hanging pillow.... Well, I'm going with the pillow. And when I say "make it into one", I mean have my husband make it into one! I don't sew on a sewing machine. But somehow, he just instinctively knows how to do it - mainly the basics, but that is all you need for many things.... So now, to find the perfect fabric for the backing of the pillow. I have a maroon and cream checked one here that would do nicely, but it isn't quite what I want. So, next week, when I hit my favorite little town of Occoquan, I will search for "the one" - and hopefully, I'll find it!

A Prim Little Finish....

I just finished this last night - crossed the last "x" while watching Grey's Anatomy..... Now, I'm trying to decide whether to frame it, or make it into a little hanging pillow. I'm leaning towards the pillow. I know my husband will enjoy putting it together for me. I have some cute maroon and cream checked fabric that would make a nice backing to it.

You Have to Read This Book!

I'm just about to finish reading this book - "The Honk and Holler Opening Soon" by Billie Letts - for the fourth or fifth - or maybe even the sixth time! I love this book. And every time I read it, I still get all freaked out over certain things that happen - wondering how it will all turn out. Even though I KNOW how it will turn out - because I've read it so many times - LOL! But this is the power of this story. I get so sucked in each and every time, it is like I'm reading it for the first time. So do yourself a favorite - get this book, sit down in a comfy chair with a cup of tea or coffee - and settle in for an enjoyable trip....

Haiku to Autumn....

Dressed in reds and golds

Royal in her finery

Atumn has arrived

Third Time Not the Charm....

I've knitted lots of scarves, done a few shawls, some hats, some felted purses, some dishcloths. I decided I wanted something a bit more challenging. So I tried the 5 hour baby sweater. No real reason to do one - just wanted to try it. Seemed simple enough - even though it does involve putting stitches on three separate holders - doing the sleeves separately and then stitching them up, then going back to the body of the sweater and so on. First try, it turned out whonky. I re-read the directions and realized I had missed a step. That is my story and I'm sticking to it - LOL! Then I tried it again. Got to where you put all the stitches on one needle and start the rest of the sweater. Messed it up again.... Couldn't blame it on the directions this time! Just operator error.... So, yes, I tried it a third time. I got the logistics down, but still had some major mess-ups. Decided there was no point in knitting on it more, so I bound off. Emily, my Cabbage Patch Doll says her new sweater is quite delightful!

Tuesday Teasers....

"A good house, deep in the woods, with a garden all around it and a river flowing past it. Fruit trees, and flowers planted for the bees. A place to grow my herbs. Silence in winter, and in summer nothing but the birds. Lonely as the grave, and every bit as restful."

and....

He was not listening. He was as deep in his own shocked thoughts as I was. "Do you mean she was a witch? A real one? I know people said so, and she used to laugh. She said she sometimes saw the future a bit, and she would tease me about that, what was going to happen to me, but it was always funny, I mean just fun. Wasn't it?"

If I've tempted you to read this book, it is "Thornyhold" by Mary Stewart

Care for a Cupcake....

Several years ago, I got a knitting book that had these adorable cupcakes in them. They were done with double pointed needles. I went to my knitting group and someone there brought a finished one in they had made. I sooo wanted to make one too. But try as I might, I could not conquer doubled pointed needles! I also tried the other methods of knitting small patterns in the round - magic loop and using two circular needles. Again, I failed. Gave up for another year or so. Finally last week, I watched an online video (over and over) for the magic loop method. I went downstairs, grabbed my yarn and long circular needle and tried it. Success!! Granted, my needle was too big and I didn't have the right yarn for the "cupcake paper". Nor did I have the right circular needles for the "frosting" and had to knit it flat and seam it up. But all in all, it turned out pretty cute! It is much bigger than it is supposed to be - which if it was a real cupcake would be more than fine in my book - LOL! So, today I went and got the right needles and the right yarn and $40.00 later... I can now try it again.... I'll let you see the finished product when I get it done!

My Poor Little Guy....

I feed the squirrels every day (along with the birds). I swear they are sending out an email - hey, stop by the Huson residence on your way South! LOL! Anyway, this little one has been coming around all summer. I call him "the baby". I always know it is him because he stays right by me while I put the seed down. A couple of weeks ago, he showed up with a messed up eye and his head was all torn up. It looks like the eye is actually gone.... I worry about him being out there, but he seems to do fairly well.... I just talk to him gently when I'm out there and he just seems to relax and go about his eating....

Tempting Tuesday....

"So much has changed," I said softly. "It looks the same, it seems the same, but there are so many of them gone now, and you can feel the holes where they were. What long shadows they cast..."

and

Oh Peter. Don't leave any of us again. We are all here, every one of us, all together in this place I love more than any other on earth.

If I've tempted you to read this book, it is "Colony" by Anne Rivers Siddons

A Teeny Tiny Visitor....

Wish I could get a picture of him/her. But alas, it would be like trying to capture a picture of a fairy.... You see, my little visitor is a hummingbird! I'm so excited and delighted.... My first time ever seeing one was about 5 or 6 years ago when I was on vacation with my parents. We were eating by the window at the Inn where we were staying and there he was - flitting outside of our window. I couldn't believe I had gone all those many years of my life without seeing this joyful gift of nature. The other night, while sitting on my couch here at home, I looked up and there was one flying around the feeders where there are spots of red. He was drawn to the colors I guess. Then about a week later, I saw him out there again. So I immediately went and got a hummingbird feeder and filled it with sugar water - never expecting he would come back and find it. I put it up last night and this afternoon, he has been zooming back and forth - drinking to his heart's content - or hers....
What a thrill to see this small creature.... it makes my heart sing!

Tempting Tuesday.....

All at once Emily let out a yelp and plunged into a tangle of honeysuckle. "George, she cried". "He's fallen over! Damn it, I knew he was unstable!" In some alarm, Diana ran after her and found her struggling to raise, not the fallen body of a man, but a slab of gray stone, shaped and smoothed by human hands.

and....

"Wild roses, Andy said. They were in full bloom along the fence the first time I ever saw this place. Big fat crumpled pink blooms, weighing down the branches - grown wild and rampant, uncared for but surviving somehow for God knows how many years"

If I tempted you to read this book, it is from "Vanish With the Rose" by Barbara Michaels....

Tweet Tweet....

I love stitching "bird" themed designs. And who could feel anything but

"J O Y" while stitching this sweetie tweetie by Country Cottage Needleworks. I was thinking a cute companion piece to this would be La Di Da's "Zippity Do Da"...

Good Things....

Yummy homegrown tomatoes from our garden

Getting a visit from my parents last week

Knowing I will soon see my my niece and her Mom

The sound of rain, after not hearing it for several weeks

Getting to watch the antics of a baby Lemur

Blasting the air conditioning in my car after a hot day at work with no a/c!

Sitting in Starbucks last week enjoying a cold vanilla bean frapp - along with my parents who were sipping on their hot coffee

Looking out the window at just the right moment to see a humingbird stopping for a second before zipping on its way....

I Do Not Like Change....

I'm a person who does not like changes - not in any way. It gets me all on edge and feeling frazzled. Especially when a change is just made for the sake of change. My grocery store is being remodeled - that in itself is a good change. The store has been there for a very very long time and was really looking run down and a bit pathetic. Now it is a brighter, fresher place to go to. Not sure whose idea it was to put down white floors..... They already look constantly dirty. A nice light grey would have been prettier and more practical. New shelving is being put in - that is good. New refrigeration cases are now in place for all the frozen foods - rather than having them out in open bins. That is good. The thing that is NOT GOOD - the thing that is driving me out of my freakin mind!!! The thing that has almost brought me to tears the past few times I've gone into shop - the thing that just boils my butt - THEY ARE MOVING EVERYTHING AND PUTTING THEM IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS!! ARGHHHHH!!!!
I do my grocery list by the order of where things are in the store. I've had to rearrange my mind many times in the years and years I've shopped at this store when they do mini rearrangements. But this time, it is all catty whompus and makes absolutely no sense at all! Before, for instance, you came to an aisle and there were cookies on one side and crackers and so on on the other side. In the next aisle was the breads and rolls and donuts and coffee and so on. Well, NOT NOW! Because some genius thought it would be a good idea to separate them and put them in different aisles, several rows away from each other. I've seen other people going around looking lost.... I try to avert my eyes in case we both should look at each other and run screaming up and down the store! Oh, also, while they are putting down the new flooring and the new shelving, they have to put things in odd places, until they can get it into the permanent odd place it will now go. So one day the bread was down in front of the meat counter - the other day it was down by the dog food. See why I'm losin it! I think until they get this all settled down and I can venture in there without wanting to stick someone in a not so nice place, I will go to another store.... or stop eating.... Oh, and then I went to B & N today - the one I go to all the time - and guess what... Yep, they moved things all around too. I think I might just go to bed and stay there.....

Arghhhhhhh!!!!!

I've been trying to make a ball-band pattern felted bag for my sister for over a week. Even though I've done this process many times (albeit years ago), I could not get it to come out this time around. I started it over four times - yes, count them - four freakin times!!! This involved, casting on 39 stitches, knitting 13 rows, and then picking up stitches, and then starting to knit in the round, slipping in the accent color, to give it the slip-stitched appearance. This is how it looked after I ripped it (and I mean ripped it) off the needles! Luckily I didn't rip the needles apart also in my frustration. I've totally given up on this for good now! No more - I'm done - it is in the trash. I even got rid of the yarn I was using because I didn't want to look at it anymore - tee hee!!

Needles on the floor after I threw them in total disgust and fed-uppedness (I've declared that a word - LOL!)

I instilled peace to my evening by starting my two-color slip-stitch scarf!

Thanks Mom!

I love my new toy Mom! It is almost as big as me! If you go away and take that camera out of my face, I'll go back taking care of business! My eyes are a pretty green color, but I figure my golden glowing death rays will scare my prey into submission!

A Day Trip....

I went to my favorite little town today - historic Occoquan,Virginia. It is around a 40 minute drive from my house. It was a bit warmer today than I like it when I go to this town. But at least the shops were cool. Going from the bottom picture - up to the top - this is the tourist center. Looks like an old saloon from back in the olden days. The next shop is called Country Morning. This used to be one of my favorite places to go, but they've been making some inventory changes lately and I just don't find things there anymore that I want to buy. Really saddens me. Hopefully as they settle into their new "look", things will get better. It was better today than the first time I went after they made the initial changes. So, as the Halloween and Christmas months come along, I'm sure they will get more of what I like! This could be good or bad - LOL! Then I hit the Golden Goose - this is a Christmas shop that is open all year long. If you can't find an ornament for every theme, you are not looking! They also have a nice Halloween section which my niece loves to look at when she comes for a visit. Then I went to Personally Yours, which is my absolutely favorite place! A lower level and then six rooms upstairs. I hit a few other places - found some nice Christmas "gifties". I walked down on the wooden walkway along the river. I took some pictures, but they turned out badly. Fed the geese and ducks some crackers - altho you are not supposed to do that! But they looked so hungry and were following me as I walked from place to place. Grabbed a bottle of water and went over to my last stop of the day - In Stitches. I got a piece of linen and some more sampler threads and was on my way for the drive home! Hope you enjoyed coming along on my trip with me! Remember, you can click on the pictures to make them bigger....

This and That....

I've been wanting to do some of "the girls" by Carriage House Samplings. Suzannah is one of my favorites as I love alphabets done in unusual ways - hence, this one done on her apron caught my heart. I've started her three times, trying to find the right linen shade. I really wanted to do it on the Lakeside Autumn Gold as chosen by the designer. However, getting 28 count in this fabric is hard. So I bought 32 count - and almost went blind trying to stitch on it - LOL! With the darkness of the color and the tiny holes - well, let us just say - forgetaboutit! I went out looking again on Saturday and found this Weeks Dye linen in Cappachino. I thought the color was close enough! And I can see the holes - tee hee! I'm even biting the bullet and putting out the money for the NPS threads. Oh what a total delightful sensation to stitch with these threads!

These cabinets are what I use to put all my DMC threads in. I find it convenient to just put them in these little drawers and number a label on the outside. However, as more and more DMC colors have come out, I've had to more colors in one drawer - sometines two, sometimes three! This often involves renumbering alot of drawers. But it still works for me. I'm also amassing a large collection of specialty threads by NPS, Weeks Dye, Crescent Colors, and Gentle Art. I've put them in large baggies with their name written on the outside. I store them in a lovely - and big - box I found at Michaels. Note - my husband really dislikes me having these thread cabinets on the hearth. But he has learned to deal with it - or at least keep his mouth shut - LOL!

I'm not sure where I found this DMC sign. I've had it for years and years and really treasure it.

Yipppee Skippeee!

My parents are coming for a visit next week. They will get here at some time on Friday, the 17th. I haven't seen them in over a year and a half. They are coming from Ohio.... I'm not sure what we will do, but it will still be nice just having them around for awhile. I know we will make a trip to at least one shopping center! My Dad loves to go walking around shopping malls - LOL!

Christmas Christmas Time Is Almost Here!

Yikes! It is only six months until Christmas. I have very few gifties for my sister yet - and none for my parents!! This scarf is one of the gifts I almost have for my sister - once it is finished that is! I've been feverishly knitting away on it a bit each evening. When I get it done, I have another one I want to try and finish in time also. If not, she will get it when she gets it - LOL! The one here is a reversible cable and it is done in a cotton yarn that I really like. In fact, I like it so much, I'm making the same scarf for me - but in shades of pink. I've neglected mine terribly as I try to get hers finished - which is more important....

New books!

I love to read books about flowers and gardens and rose rustling and plant thievery - both fiction and non-fiction - and mysteries - and so on. These are two books I bought on Saturday night. The one on the left is non-fiction. From the back cover "In this engaging book, Lucinda Fleeson tells us how she found new meaning for her life among the plants and fascinating people of the tropical paradise that is the beautiful island of Kauai. With Fleeson as our guide, we meet plant hunters and propagators trying to save engangered flora and scientists studying plant evolution. And we also meet a bunch of quirky characters". The other book (on the right) is fiction. From the back cover "A bang-up debut packed with adventure, betrayal, love, and naturally, rare plants... There is magic, romance, greenery, and greed as Lila and Armand venture through the Yucatan.

I've just started reading the first few pages - hope to get back to them tonight!

Crazy.... I'm Goin Crazy....

Well, I've always stitched by going across the linen and then coming back and crossing the "x". In this past year, the one lady at my LNS told me I should cross each stitch as I do it. And that I should separate the two strands of floss and then put them back together before stitching. So I did that. And sometimes I liked it and sometimes I didn't - sometimes the stitches looked good, other times they didn't. So I tried various things - not splitting the strands and crossing each "x" as I did it. Then I tried splitting the strands and going across and then coming back to cross each "x". Then I tried not splitting the strands and going across and then coming back to cross each "x". Again, sometimes the one way looked better and at other times it didn't. I think what is compounding this is the fact that a couple of years ago I got close up lenses to do my stitching with and it magnifies each and every little stitch so much that you can see every little flaw - LOL! So now, I decided to not split the floss, but to cross each "x" as I go. And we will see how that works. It seems like when I split the floss and put it back together, it sometimes gave it a separated look in the stitching. But of course, when it is magnified, it would look like that!!

So, if you are still with me after reading this babbling, my question to you - do you cross each "x" as you go or go across and come back? Do you separate your strands of floss and put them back together, or not.....

A Visitor....

This is a little guy who comes by to see us at least once or twice every day. As soon as he sees me come out on the deck, he runs over to where I put his seed. He fills up his little cheeks as full as he can and then runs off the deck, down the side of the house, down the driveway and across the street. He drops off his bounty at his little hiding spot. Then he zips back across the street and comes around to the deck for more and more and MORE - for as long as I keep putting it out for him that day. We call him Zippy... Every once in awhile, he has to pause for a sip of water out of the water dish. This collecting breakfast, lunch, dinner - and snacks - can get pretty exhausting - LOL!

Happy Days Are Almost Here Again...

After waiting two weeks (almost), I have my new computer. They tried to deliver it yesterday at 10:30 in the morning. But of course, we were not here... uh, we work.... So then they said they would make two more attempts - one today and one tomorrow. So I stayed home for awhile (went into work a bit late). Didn't come, so my husband stayed here. It finally arrived at 2 P.M. Typical. If we are not home, it comes early! If we are, it comes late. I was hoping it would get here earlier so he could get it set up. It will get set up eventually, I know. But I'm getting quite impatient. After two weeks of no blogging, as I can't load pictures onto this computer - no printing - as this computer is not hooked up to one - and no listening to audios or videos - because this computer is so old, it has none of the new fangled software you need for those types of things loaded on it! whew!! That was a mouthful - LOL! Then we realized that there is no thingy on the computer for me to put my memory card into to download pictures. I've been doing it that way since the USB thingy gave out on it. Not sure I'm saying that right. We tried to find a new USB cord for it, but I guess the camera is too old. No one seems to have them. So today I went and got an adapter where you plug in your memory card and then plug the USB cord into the computer and download that way. Only $13.00 - so it was an easy fix. Let's just hope it works! So hopefully, soon my computer will be up and running and I can get back to blogging in the way I enjoy - with pictures!

I've Got The Blues....

and not the macaroni and cheese kind - LOL! On Monday morning before work, my computer was working, altho it had not been sounding or acting right for a week or so. Thought it was my imagination, but it was not to be. When I came home from work on Monday afternoon, my computer would not turn on. We took it to the Geek Squad at Best Buy and they said start writing the obit - this thing is dead. Since it would have cost too much to fix it, we are replacing it. We called and ordered just the computer from Dell (no monitor). After thinking about it for a couple of hours, we realized we could get a better deal in a local store, and get it much faster. We called Dell immediately and left a message. The next day we tried again - left another message. They called us back around 9 A.M. our time and said we could not cancel - it was being processed. However, get this - we are not getting it until June 17th - after being told at first June 11th. But they cannot cancel it??!! So I called Customer Care (what a laugh that is) and asked to speak to a Supervisor. I was told they were all busy. I insisted and he said hold on. I told him not to cut me off. And guess what.... yep, he cut me off. I'll tell you, if you are thinking about buying from Dell - forget it! I've heard some more horror stories about some things that have happened from other people who have done this - wish this had been BEFORE I ordered! I'll tell you one thing, I'll never order from them again!

So long story short, I'm using a very very old computer, but it is better than none. When I need to print, I have to use my husband's laptop here at home. But I can only use it when he is here as he is not allowed to give me the password. Grrrrr..... Not sure how I'll put a picture on my blog if I want to - I'll have to check with him tonight on that.

I miss my old computer sooo much!! I've got the bluuuuuessss.....

A Little Shopping, Some Food, and Lots of Fun!

My niece, who lives in Ohio (where I'm from originally), has been coming here to Virginia (where I now live) around twice a year. Amazingly enough, the man she married, has family living here - about 20 minutes away from me. So when they come to see them, I get to see her! We always spend a day in the quaint little town of Occoquan to do some shopping. Yesterday, we did just that! We didn't even let a steady downpour of rain stop us! She got lots of nice little goodies to take back with her. I found a couple things, but kept my purchases to around $10.00. Not bad - usually I do more damage than that - LOL! We had some lunch and talked a lot about this and that. She drove back to my house with me and we spent some time trying to fix the punch needle design she has been working on. With the help of a better punch needle that I gave her and a few little updates on how to do it, it is looking much better. Around 5:30, we grabbed my husband and went off to meet up with her husband and son for a delicious dinner. Soon, we had to say good-bye - for this time. That is always the hard part. But hopefully she will get back in the fall!

Then today, it was back to work after being off for two weeks! I got my job back and that is a "good thing", as Martha would say.

Good Things....

Getting my job back - yippeeee!

Getting to have a day out with my husband earlier this week for breakfast, shopping, and a stop at Starbucks

Seeing a mourning dove with her baby curled up against her

Watching traffic stop today to let some geese walk across the road (they were sort of in the cross-walk too - LOL!)

New cross-stitch "stash"!

Finding two tops that look halfway decent on me - plus they were on sale!
(I wanted something new to wear for my first week back)

A nice cold bottle of water on a too hot day

Air conditioning!

My Sort of Two Week "Vacation"....

Well, Friday was my last day at work. We had an involuntary "letting go" of all the people who shelve books at the various libraries in my county. We are all going to be able to reapply this week (well, those that want to). And hopefully, I will be one of the ones hired back! I've been working there for almost seven years (wish me luck). It feels quite odd to not be going in there this week. I keep telling myself to pretend I'm on a real "my choice" vacation and just enjoy this time. But that little voice in my mind keeps telling me - NO you FOOL, you have no job right now - LOLL!!

I had some money set aside to do various things this week and next week. Well, after two days, I've almost spent all of it - tee hee! I went to one needlework shop yesterday and got some fabric and a chart or two. Also spent a long time just looking at various threads and doing some conversions to the less expensive ones. Maybe one of these days I'll spring for some of those luscious NPS that feel like you are stitching with butter! Then today I went over to my favorite needlework shop that is closing down at the end of June. It is beyond sad. That was my favorite place to hang out and chat and look and chat some more.... She is having a good sale on everything. So I picked up a huge piece of fabric I need for Shores by CHS. It isn't the autumn gold shade which I would have liked to have gotten. But it is a nice linen and will do just fine. I figure most of the fabric will be covered with stitching anyway! And I got another tiny piece of PTP in a shade called "Chime". I'm going to use it for one of the Plum Street charts. Wish they would have had another piece, for the other one I want to do, but alas they didn't!

I will have to figure out some things to do with the rest of my time off. My husband will be off tomorrow afternoon, so we are going to have lunch after my interview. And I will stay home a few days and actually start stitching some of the things I've been buying lately!

And do some reading, get out for some walks. Just try and really enjoy this time off. Because if I do get hired back, it will be awhile before I get to take off again!!

I Love New Stash!!

These are all my new goodies! I can't wait to get linen and start each and every one of them!! I told my sister about them on Sunday. She said, if you never bought another thing from now on, how long would it be before you ran out? I told her a long long time, but that isn't going to keep me from buying more charts that I fall in love with. She said, but you don't need any more. Silly silly girl....

Monday thoughts....

Hmm, I like rain, but maybe six straight days of it IS a bit much....
Hmmm, weather report predicting another week of rain to come....
Note to self - start building ark....
Last week of work before losing job...
Yesterday - day full of phone calls... sister, Mom, Aunt....nice to hear from all
Weekend filled with some reading and stitching and knitting...
Need to prepare self for re-interviewing for said lost job...
Good thoughts needed that I will be rehired....
Want to shop want to shop....
Have to hang onto cash have to hang onto cash...
Looking forward to two weeks off while I wait to see if get said job back...
Bad, sad news that my favorite LNS is closing....
Want to shop want to shop want to shop....
Mutter mutter mutter....

Now I Will Know My Alphabet....

Due to someone who I call "the enabling siren of the sea", I'm now stitching the abc hornbook by Primitive Needle (I love their designs!).... I'm not very far, as you can see. But I have enjoyed every little stitch I've made! I'm using Light Exampler by Lakeside Linens. And I'm using Weeks Dye threads, as a treat!

Ahhhh.... book shopping....

I went over to Barnes & Noble today. I wanted to grab the new Alexander McCall Smith book called "Tea Time for the Traditionally Built". I love this series! I had a 40% off coupon - yipppeee! And, on the recommendation of a friend, I also picked up The Lost Hours by Karen White (adore the cover art on this one) and The Beach House by Georgia Bockoven. Because of this generous friend, I had a gift certificate to use towards my purchases! Thanks again Marcia! I walked around a bit more, jotting down more titles that caught my eye. I'm going to check and see if my library has them. And then of course I walked next door to the Starbucks and got a frapp and a cookie for the drive home. I had been looking forward to this stop at the bookstore all day while at work and it lived up to my anticipations!

Happy Bunny Day to all of you!! I had an "Easter Cracker Hunt" today with the squirrels - LOL! Every morning, I throw them some Ritz crackers - they actually will sit up waiting when they see me come out. Today I threw them way out in the yard, in the deeper parts of the grass and made them "hunt" for them! Some of them were not happy because the crackers didn't have peanut butter on them- like they did yesterday when my husband put some out!! I knew he was starting a bad habit - tee hee!

Oh What Fun!

I went to my local LNS (Scarlet Thread) on Saturday and bought a bunch of goodies - and paid. And was ready to leave.... But I kept looking at a piece of linen the shop owner had on the table. She was stitching a design on it, using some beautiful threads. I found out the fabric was Lakeside Linens "Vintage Tarnished Silver". It has a lavender tint and a silvery tint - and is beyond pretty! The threads were Carries Creations new silk line. So I started on the search through the shop to find something I could stitch on this linen, with the same color threads Sara Leigh was using. I found this alphabet chart with my "L" initial - got my cut of fabric, got my silk threads in the shade called "Ephiphany" - paid - again - and was on my way. I've already started a little bit of the design and am "hooked"!

A spot of red....

It had been raining here for several days, very dark and cloudy. Altho I love days like that, I decided to put a "pop of color" into the atmosphere and work on my Quaker sampler. I'm using DMC #816 - a nice bright red, but soft at the same time. The doll was given to my Mom by her Mom, and then passed on to me. My Grandmother made the dress she has on.

Little Treats Go a Long Way....

I've been buying "fat quarters" of fabric to hopefully one day use with some of my cross-stitch projects. I decided to go out the other day to Michaels to get something to put them in. After looking at the baskets and dismissing them, I kept searching - and found this adorable box. As you can see from the first photo, I need to go and get another one already - LOL!

Hello, my name is Linda and I'm a....

coffee cup addict! For the past two years, I've not been able to walk into a Starbucks without buying a coffee cup - well, at least once a week or so anyway! This past three months, I put myself on a cup-diet.... I was not allowed to buy them - I was not allowed to even look at them! Every once in awhile, my eyes would start to stray and I would yell out - no no - look away - look away woman! Sometimes I couldn't help myself - I would have to go over to the shelves and look (and fondle) them. But I did not let myself buy them - oh no, not for three months. Then I saw this little charmer and I was lost. It kept calling out - buy me Linda - take me home with you - you need me, you love me, you want me.... And I folded! Now, let's see how long I can go without buying another one! People buying them for me does not count - that is allowed.....

A Memory to Share.....

Years ago, I just fell in love with items that had a "fruit theme" - especially when I saw it on china. When my parents came for a visit, I mentioned this to my Mom. We went out shopping a few times during that visit, and we seemed to see fruit-themed things everywhere we went. Christmastime came later that year. I opened a package from my parents, and inside were these fruit plates (made by Havilland china company), that belonged to my Mom. They were passed down through the family and ended up with her. And now she was giving them to me. I yelled out in surprise and delight - and then cried.... I love looking at them every time I walk through my living room.

Spring Has Sprung!

All my outside birdies are coming back for visits at the feeders. It is so good to see them again! Happy Spring everyone!

Such a Little Thing....

This looks like a tiny shadow box, with a few little items displayed in it. But ahhh, this little box holds much much more. It holds tons of memories of the first time Barb came from Ohio (my home state) to visit me here in Virginia. Barb, who is the mother of one of my nieces, is also my best friend in the world. When she came for this first visit, we went shopping to my favorite town of Occoquan. We went two days in a row, and had so much fun! We went crazy taking pictures of things we wanted to try and make one day. We still laugh over the fact that we never made any of them! However, we both did make these shadowboxes while she was here. We made them exactly the same. She took hers home to hang in her house, and I have had mine hanging in my kitchen - for almost 15 years now. And every time I look at it, all those good memories come back and I smile. And get a bit teary eyed too because I wish we could be together on a daily basis - shopping, chatting, doing our crafts! One day it will happen - I just know it!