Happy New Year!

I hope all of you and yours have the best year in 2012!

Now, I'm off to bed - and it isn't even midnight! But I'm sooo tired! So raise a glass of champagne.... or milk for me!

I'm Wishing You All..

a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah...

A sparkle of orange....

An afternoon trip to the mall... a gift card to use.... equals.... a new sparkly orange scarf!

And then a nice lunch....which came with a real slice of orange!

A walk past Santa - who waved and called out Ho Ho Ho! His beard was real - so he must have been the real Santa - really!

And then...at the Starbucks in the mall...a Lyle Lovette sighting!

Now I am home...it is raining...and I need a nap!

What I've Been Up To....

In the past couple of weeks, I've:

Done lots and lots of knitting....
Talked to my sister lots and lots about knitting....
Argued with my sister lots and lots about knitting....
Finished three books....
Went Christmas shopping....
Had lunch out after Christmas shopping (my favorite part of Christmas shopping)....
Watched a whole lotta blue jays come out of thin air as I was throwing out crackers in the yard....
Almost put up the Christmas tree.... still have lights and ornaments to put on it - but hey, the tree itself is up!

And that is about it for me right now... How about you... what have you been up to lately?

HAPPY GOBBLE GOBBLE DAY!!

On this day, I wish you many blessings for the coming year....

I will be sitting here today, doing a bit of house stuff, doing a bit of reading, and doing a bit of knitting - while I ponder how they make yarn out of corn and milk.....

A Whole Lotta Knitting.....Going on.....

A light cotton blanket to keep me warm; two cabled scarves for my neck;
a necklace to pretty up a blouse; and a dishcloth for my sister to wash dishes with..... and a partridge in a pear tree (not really - just making sure you are paying attention!

My Week.....

On Monday, I filed for Social Security - yeah!

I saved a chipmunk from the visiting cat that comes around.... I am hoping the neighbors did not see me running around screaming like a banshee - telling the cat to drop the chipmunk - DROP the chipmunk NOW!

I listened and watched as my big woodpecker with the bright red head sat out on the tree limb (where the suet feeder normally is), yelling about it not being there and filled! It was inside, all filled up, but my husband needed to hang it back up. So I told the woodpecker to blame him!

On Thursday, I met up with my niece Sara and her Mom Barb. They were in town for a few days. We went to our favorite town of Occoquan to do some shopping. Barb bought us all gorgeous scarves - scarves that are so long and wide, they can be used for a shoulder wrap to keep warm. I told Barb - if you wear it out to a restaurant or work as a scarf and you get chilled, just take it off your neck and wrap it around you! She got the scarf with red tones, Sara got the one with purple tones, and I got the one with orange tones! Then later, Sara bought me an umbrella that is bright orange with white polka dots. Too sweet of them!

On Thursday night, we all met up for dinner....

Then on Friday, we all met up again (including the guys) and we went shopping at the mall. Well, they shopped, I watched! Barb bought me another scarf - this time a more casual one in madras (brought back some memories of when I was growing up and we wore madras alot). This scarf has shades of pale lilac, and pale orange and a bit of purpley blue - makes me happy whenever I wear it.

Then we had to part.... I had to try really hard not to cry! They left on Saturday morning. Booooo!!

And that was my week.....

Crock-Pot Sundays....

I often use my crock-pot for Sunday dinners - especially in the winter time. Even though we are not quite into that season yet, today was a chilly cloudy rainy day. So I got up today and got the crockpot going. Into it went some chicken breasts. Then in a bowl, I mixed up one cup of apricot preserves, a packet of dry onion soup mix, and one cup of Catalina dressing, and poured that over the chicken. Cook for 6 to 8 hours. I did it for 8 - which was a bit much as I only had 3 chicken breasts in there and they were on the small side. So next time, I will go about an hour less. But it still turned out delicious. I had some brown rice on the side. And some lima beans for my husband.... Easy peasy....

My Oh My....

I do love this sampler! It is "Sally Spencer" by Birds of a Feather. The colors are just popping on my Lakeside Linens Vintage Examplar! On the one hand, I want to stitch it quickly, so I can get it framed and on my wall. But on the other hand, I will miss stitching on it when it is all finished!

Ten Years Ago....

I remember where I was on that day....
I remember crying and crying for weeks - until I thought I could cry no more - and then I cried some more....
I remember the silence everywhere I went, as if everyone was so filled with grief that they couldn't speak....
I remember the skies over my house being so still - skies that are normally filled with planes going in and out of both of the nearby airports....how strange it felt not to see and hear them up there.....
I remember so many things about that day when the world did seem like it actually stopped turning....

I will never forget all those beautiful people who are now gone from us....

Laaaa D Daaaaa...

Here is my almost finished Miss Mary Mack Mack Mack - All Dressed in Black Black Black... oh, and silver buttons too.... on her back back back! I may end up putting some actual silver buttons on it before I get it framed! I've been stitching on her for a long long looooong time - and look forward to having her on my wall!

Ramblings.....

Went to lunch with a friend today. First time I've been out to lunch with a friend in a long time. Who knew it was so expensive! $21.00 for lunch! I enjoy being with this friend, so it was worth it! Altho a part of my mind goes to how many cross-stitch charts or books I could have bought with that money! Does that make me a horrible person? Don't answer - LOL! No, seriously, it was well worth it and more....

While out shopping, I stopped at Sur La Table. I love that place! I only had about five minutes to spend in there before meeting my friend. I need to go back soon and just spend as much time as I want - looking at all the interesting gadgets, books, and other fun things they have in there!

My parents arrive from Ohio on Friday. I'm furiously trying to get all my cleaning done..... My Dad always says - don't worry about cleaning. Uh, I tell him - so you are fine with sleeping in a bed with unclean sheets and using an uncleaned bathroom..... Uh, he says.... nope.... Thus, I have to do some cleaning. I wish the cleaning fairy would stop by. But, I gave up waiting on her a long long time ago!

My Dad loves to go to the malls... he already has a trip planned to one on Saturday.... My Mom hates to go to the malls. But he drags her along anyway! I am okay with the malls - just can't deal with all the crowds of people. But for some reason, everyone else enjoys going to the malls too. I've tried to figure out a way to get them all to stay home when I'm there, but so far, it hasn't worked out that way!

I've been stitching away - for a year or two now. But I still haven't finished anything! Well, I finished some things - but they were gifts or models for my friend who has a cross-stitch designing business. I've also finished a couple of small things that I framed myself (not very well). But they are at least "in a frame"..... I'm coming close to finishing one piece that I've been working on for many many MANY years. So I'm getting excited about that. I have this dream of a "wall of samplers"... but until the stitching and finishing fairy comes to visit me, that isn't going to happen any time soon. I think she is off somewhere with the cleaning fairy!

Earthquakes and Hurricanes - oh my!

Tuesday, I was at the library with my husband. He came with me to do my volunteer hours. Before I started that, I went to the biography section to get a book I wanted and all of a sudden, there was a low rumbling coming from the roof area. I thought it was a low flying plane. Then it got louder and people started jumping up to leave. Then the metal shelves started rattling. I was looking around and asking my husband - what is it! what is it!! Someone standing there (before he ran out) said earthquake! Never in my wildest imagination would I have thought that was what it was. I thought it was a plane coming to crash into the building. Luckily we were all okay, altho there was damage to many buildings around our area and of course, at the epicenter, which is about 70 miles from us I think.

Then tons of rain and wind yesterday with Hurricane Irene blowing her way through. We were very fortunate to just get some milder aspects of it around us - not sure how other cities in our area faired. We lost power for about 3 hours. Today the sun is shining, the sky is blue - the wind is gently blowing - it is gorgeous out there - cooler, the way I like it. My prayers and thoughts go out to all of those who lost property and who are, I'm sure, still without power. I am also keeping in my prayers, the families, who lost loved ones during the storm.....

10 Magpies in a Pie....

Or... Birds of a Feather's "Counting Magpies".... Not sure how tasty magpies would be in a pie! If you ever try it (that is saying you can find a magpie), let me know how it goes! I've changed all the DMC conversions in this chart, except for the black #310. I feel one of my few "gifts" in life is being able to match up DMC colors to sampler threads. After collecting tons of sampler threads of various brands, I found I really don't care to stitch with them! But they still come in handy when I do my own versions of "converting". Sometimes I will like the conversions the designer has done - other times I find ones that I care for more. In this design (which I'm so happy to finally be stitching - I've had it forever) - I am using:

instead of DMC 3729 for Pecan - I'm using 434

instead of DMC 648 for Tin Roof - I'm using 3023

instead of DMC 3826 for Terra Cotta - I'm using 918

I love the way it is turning out!

MRI's and Baby Crows....

What do they have to do with each other - well nothing really - LOL! But the baby crow softly cawing and then loudly squawking as it waits for his/her Mommie to feed it some crackers, is keeping my mind off the MRI I'm having today - in about an hour. This baby crow (I think there are actually two) has been entertaining me for weeks now. I am constantly throwing out crackers and bread for the Mom to feed them. I'm sure they would find food elsewhere, but I worry... so I keep putting it out for them.

I use the term "baby" lightly - as the baby is almost as big as the Mom!

I'm going to have an MRI on my lower back to see what is causing the problems in my left leg (for almost a year now).... I'm hoping it is just a pinched nerve and they can fix it easily! I'm claustrophobic, so the thought of going into that closed up tube is not making this lady happy! I have some Xanax that they gave me and I just popped one. Hopefully it will calm me down and help me not to freak out and squawk for MY Mommy! LOL!

Strange Things That People Collect....

I don't collect as many things as I used to - lack of money, lack of room... Heck, the real reason - the stores where I used to find the stuff are gone! However, with tons of Starbucks on every corner, I never have trouble picking up a gift card with a different design on it. Everytime they come out with a new one, I grab it. I've got around 60 now.... I was trying to think of something to store them in... and found the above! I am pretty sure that it is supposed to be used as a planter. However, I thought it an ideal vessel to put my cards in!

I'm still here!

I feel terrible not posting anything, but I've just been in one of those
sort of "out of it" modes - LOL! Let's see... what I've been up to:

1. Reading tons of books at the same time
2. Knitting some dishcloths for my sister as Christmas gifts
3. Stitching on various designs
4. Getting out for my walk each day (well, almost each day)
5. Volunteering for two hours each Tuesday at the library where I used to work
6. Suffering through two days of 100 degree heat with a broken air conditioner! Thank goodness it was fixed quickly! Not quick enough for me, but quicker than I thought it would be!
7. Enjoying the new season of some of the shows I like - White Collar; Memphis Beat, The Glades... and looking forward to more that will be starting soon... The Closer; Rizzoli & Isles; Royal Pains
8. Writing - or trying to write - a children's book. My plan is to self publish it via B & N and the NOOK.... Have to finish it first though!

I will get some pictures on here soon of my stitching and my dishcloths. Since my sister doesn't have a computer, I don't have to worry about her seeing anything!

Ahhhh.... Retirement....!

I've been "retired" for a week now. I'm slowly getting used to it. I keep forgetting that I don't have to go to work! I still find myself getting that "rushing around" feeling - like I have to hurry up and get things done before I go to work - or after I get home. Then I remember... I can sloooowww down - LOL! Here is how my husband and I spent the day. We went to Great Falls and just stood above them and watched the rushing water and felt the cooling breeze. We even saw Great Blue Herons flying around. Some of the younger ones were down near the water - sitting on little rocks - trying to catch the fish as they splashed by! I was going to try and get a picture of them - but since the herons were almost the same color as the rocks and the water, I don't think they would have shown up. But it was fun to watch them! We walked around a bit more (we've been to Great Falls many times over our years of living here), so it was just refreshing our memories.... And then we stopped for lunch. And then we dropped by B & N so I could pick up some books I ordered. Now, I need a nap!

God Bless America.... and our Troops!

My Daddy is a World War II Vet. He turns 85 this July 22nd!

CHCHCHCHANGES....

A good change! After working since I was 18 years old (I'm now 61 and a half), I am finally retiring! This will be my last week of work and I'm beyond excited! I have little things planned for my first few weeks of "no work" .... places I want to go, things I want to do around the house.... After those things are finished, I will then need to sit down and figure out what I might do in this next "chapter in my life".... Any ideas or suggestions?!!

Feeding the Birdies...

and the squirrels... Every morning, I go out and feed the birds and the squirrels. Along with their regular seed, I also throw out crackers and bread (or in other words, junk food for birds). Usually, like this morning, as soon as I start throwing the stuff into the yard, one of the birds will "send out the message". I was laughing this morning, because a blue jay started yelling out - and within a minute, it was like a Disney movie! All kinds of birds zooming in, and 7 or 8 squirrels popping out of nowhere. It is alot of effort each morning to put it all out, including fresh water - winter and summer - rain or shine or snow...., and it gets a bit pricey buying all of the food, but I truly enjoy it. I stand out there for a bit each day, chattering back to all of them.

Happy Marriage Will and Kate!

So many years ago, I remember getting up very early to watch Princess Diana's wedding. Back when I was much younger and had the energy to get up that early. Well, that, plus the fact I was working full-time and had to be at work - so I was up almost that early every morning anyway - LOL! This time around, I decided to get up at my normal time, knowing I could catch recaps of Will and Kate's nuptials. And I was right! I got to see her on the way to the church, getting out of the car, walking down the aisle - Harry and Will's arrival - the exchange of vows - them leaving the church and getting into the carriage for the ride through the crowds! And I saw the "kiss" - both of them. I didn't think I would cry - but I teared up several times - over and over - as I watched the scenes unfold. I kept thinking of how wonderful it was to see all of the people come out to watch them marry - the excitement of the crowd for them - the well-wishes you could just "feel". And I kept thinking of how they are just starting out on their journey... I do so wish that they will be as happy for the rest of their lives together - as they were on this day....

Easter Memories from....

long long ago. My sister and I on various Easter Sundays - dressed in our almost identical outfits. We always wanted to try and be a bit different than the other - so would carry a different purse, or wear a different hat. I'm the shorter one....

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!

Sara... It is Done!

Hey Sara, if you are reading my blog, your stitchery piece is done!

For my other blog readers, Sara is my niece. Last year, my friend in Texas started a cross-stitch designing business called "Of Generations Past". I've been helping her stitch some models over that timeframe. She sends me the chart in pdf format and I stitch it here and mail it back to her! I really enjoy being part of the process. I get paid in Starbucks cards - which I love!! Well, many many years ago, I wrote a Halloween poem. And my friend turned it into a cross-stitch design! I stitched the model.... She sent it off to Hoffman Distributors and they agreed to sell it to shops who might want to carry it! I was so thrilled when the first copy sold. And then was even more thrilled when more of them sold! I was so touched that people wanted to spend money on a poem I wrote. I feel like a published author - LOL! I give much much credit to the fun colors my friend chose for the wording. I framed the model and have it here on my wall. My niece Sara loved it too. So I've stitched it for her and will mail it off soon!

And the Winner Is!!

The winner of the CHS chart is - ta da - Lynda! Congrats! Please contact me with your mailing info and I will get the chart off to you soon! I need to get a mailing envelope first! Linda

Book It!

I love bookmarks of various types. For years, I've been collecting them. One of my favorite items to use for a bookmark are postcards. I favor using these in my hardback books. For my paperbacks, I like the magnetic type they've come out with as they don't damage your pages like some of the metal ones do. I always try to match up the bookmark to the cover art or the storyline... (yes, I do have too much time on my hands - LOL!) Here are some of the latest magnetic ones I've found. (If you click on the picture, you will be able to see them better....

Give Away Time!

I'm having a giveaway of this chart by Carriage House Samplings. It is called "Miss Lila's House". If you are interested in a chance to win it, please leave a little comment to this giveaway posting. I will pick a name and announce the winner on April 8th! Make sure you leave an email address so I can contact you if you are the lucky chosen one!

Do Not Adjust Your Set OR....

your eyes...

Yes, some of the letters on this sampler are "upside down".....

I posted (quite awhile back) about the possible meanings of this, including one being that Mary may have been writing in code - or... that her younger sister had taken over her sampler and did it wrong.... When I finish stitching it, I will retell you all that is said about this adorable piece.

Little Things....

can really improve my mental state! I was reading one of the blogs I read and saw where she had updated her laundry area. I didn't take any "before" pictures, but suffice it to say, my before was 20 times worse than hers was - LOL! When I got home from work, I decided to clean and freshen up my area a bit. It is a laundry "closet" in my kitchen. Because my dryer vents into that area (for various reasons we cannot vent it anywhere else), all of the lint gets all over everything! I threw out tons of old cookbooks and cookbook pamphlets (those ones they sell at the check out line). They were wet from all of the dryer heat and filled with lint. I cleaned up the cookbooks I kept (which are the ones I use all the time)... I hung a few little items on the wall - the santa and the "smile" sign (which is really a photo holder that I got for a dollar at Michaels)! The photo holder hangs right on the nail in the wall! I already had a little hanging basket to threw my lint into (that I clean out from the front of the dryer). Then I bought a cute Easter basket to hang above it and this is where I'm keeping my dryer sheets now. And I bought another Easter basket to put my laundry soap bottles into. I cleaned off the shelves of all the lint that was all over them. I am going to do this every month now to keep on top of it.... On the wooden shelf where I used to store other cleaners and bleaches and stain removers, I put a lantern with a candle in it (for show only) - and then yesterday I bought the little pot of colorful zinnias to put next to it. I can't have them out too far on the shelf as the clothes come from the laundry shoot within inches of the shelf! I had the dishtowels and dish rags just sitting on the shelf, but I found two baskets that I had here - cleaned them up - and now I have one for the towels and one for the rags! I also plugged in a little nightlight by the washer and had that turned on while I was doing laundry last night. Made it a bit easier to see in there and gave a nice "glow" to the area while I was washing and drying away! Just tiny changes that don't add up to much when you look at it, but if you could have seen it before, you would know why it has made a huge change for me every time I open those closet doors!

Historic Reproduction Samplers....

are a love of mine. However, this one is making me a bit "hysterical"... If my eyes are not permanently crossed, or actually fall out before I'm done stitching the one over one section, it will be a miracle. A miracle I tell ya! I've decided to not worry whether the letters and spacing of them are perfect. As long as they all fit within the border and are readable, I'm good to go!

The Weekend....

arrived yesterday. I was more than ready for it! I did a bit of housework and then my husband and I zoomed down to Occoquan - the quaint little town near me that I love to go. I visited a few of my favorite shops - picked up some cute little items to decorate some areas around my house - partook of the yummy goodies at the shops that were having open houses - looked at all the fun new spring items...

Then we went over to In Stitches - the needlework shop that always grabs tons of my money! I was so blessed to be able to find three charts by Primitive Needle. As many of you know, Lisa - the designer for Primitive Needle was swept away in the flood waters on March 1st. I'm sending her family all my thoughts and prayers as they go through this devastating loss. I opened the packages last night when I got home and thought about her hands folding the charts and slipping them inside..... I started stitching on them right away and cannot wait to have them on my wall. Every time I look at them, I will think of her. I did not know her personally, but from what I've heard and read, she was a lovely person who loved her family and doggies dearly and enjoyed life to the fullest.
Something we should all remember to do - every day....

Linda & Skip's Anniversary Skit....

Happy Anniversary, says Linda to Skip...
Skip says - when....
Linda says - today...
Skip asks, what is the date?
Linda says February 19th
Skip asks how many years have we been married...
Linda asks - how much is 1974 from 2011?
Skip says - 114 years...
Linda says - sounds about right
Linda then says - 37 years of wedded.... (big pause) here... uh, bliss
Skip and Linda laugh really hard...

The end....

Sunday Morning....

A nice hot mug of International Coffee, a few crisp crunchy cookies, some uninterrupted time, and this wonderful, sink your teeth into, lose track of time.... book.... Ahhhh, bliss...

Random Friday Focus....

Shy Philomena.....

I went to my LNS last Friday after my dental appointment and fell in love with this samplar. She is by "Examplars from the Heart". However, like a big dummy, I didn't get her due to the fact I was spending too much money already. I was thinking too that I could always order her at some point in time from my favorite online shop. However, my favorite online shop does not carry designs from this designer! I was soooo upset that I did not get her. So today, I rushed back over and delight of delights, she was still there and I grabbed her up. All the way over in the car, I kept repeating, please still have some charts left, please please PLEASE! And my pleadings were answered. I got the linen to stitch her on and am planning on doing just that right after dinner! Shy Philomena is now mine!

Random Friday Focus....

Red and Black...

I love stitching "one color" samplers. I find it very soothing, especially on those nights when my eyes and mind are weary, but I still want to stitch... Here are two I have in progress (please ignore the wrinkles!) The red one is Quaker Samplings I by With My Needle. I'm stitching it in DMC #816. The black one is Miss Mary Mack by La-D-Da. I'm stitching it in Crescent Colours Blackbird. I'm hoping to get these two finished and on my walls in the next six months! I'm hoping, we shall see...

Random Friday Focus....

Tick Tick DING!!

I started a "kitchen timer" exchange with some women I know from a yahoo group. The challenge was to get something, cute, unique, funny, whacky - whatever.... The one I got was just perfect! I'm always using measuring tapes for my knitting and my cross-stitch - so this one was right up my alley! I am getting a big kick out of using it already. Sometimes I set it for no reason - just for fun - LOL! Sorry for the horrible picture - no matter what I tried, I couldn't get it to show up well. But it is a little measuring tape that comes out - that is how you set the time...

Random Friday Focus....

I'm Totally Addicted

to coffee mugs!!! I now have 34 of them.... and I blame it all on Starbucks! Every time I walk in there, which is about twice a week - the mugs just pull me over like we are magnets clinking together - and wham, there is another coffee mug in my cupboard! Here are my latest two additions....

Hello, my name is Linda....

and I have an addiction to starting new projects!

Knitting projects:

2 scarves
3 dishcloths (for gifts)
a pair of fingerless gloves (soon to be two pairs as soon as I get more yarn)....
1 hat (soon to be 2 hats, as soon as I get more yarn)

And..... 25 cross-stitch projects!

I know there are others like me out there - come on, fess up!!

Random Friday "Focus"