How Long?

When I saw how long it had been (once again) since my last blog post, I began to wonder just what had kept me so busy. Well, as usual things are hectic around here and life tends to flow over the rim every now and then but was also that time of year again when the weather is like a roller coaster. One day will be warm and sunny then the next day will be shivering cold with overcast skies and rain. My arthritis acts up more during these times and so do my allergies. Harold has the same issues and we both feel totally void of all energy while Mother Nature plays these tricks and I get very little stitching done. If someone (who did not know about our old people ailments) were to come over to see us during these several months, they would think zombies lived here!

Hip hip hooray! Daylight Savings Time has arrived again. I miss that hour of sleep that is lost in the transition because my internal clocks just doesn't acknowledge DST but I do enjoy the longer days. My forsythia is putting out a few blooms and other trees are budding and blooming! The birds are singing constantly and loudly! It's nesting season and their songs always lift my "stuck in the house over the winter" blues! Each season and time change offer something to enjoy!

I can say I am on the home stretch with PSS Favorite Spot Sampler now! It is going to be bigger than I had thought it would be but that just means that there will be more of it to enjoy!I had so much fun stitching up Paulette's Poor Maidens and this piece has been a joy to work on also!

I had made a promise to myself at the first of the year that I would stitch at least one small each month. Here we are into the third month of year and I only had one small completed! I went through my box of freebies and smalls and picked up this one by The Primitive Hare. I first began working on my normal 18ct. Aida but I could tell immediately that it was going to end up being much larger than I wanted so I started over using 28ct. Monaco evenweave. Other than hardanger, I have not used a smaller count so this was going to be a challenge as well a teaching piece. It still needs to be finished off but I can say I am happy with the stitching on it.



I have a special box that holds patterns when they are completed and I can go through them occasionally to decide whether to keep them or share them. I just love to open this box and put another finished chart in there. My goal is to get this box as full as my stash to do box!

While I was so intent on sorting through everything, I went through my box of completed pieces. I have more than I thought and a couple I had forgotten about that need to be attended to. Several will be framed. Several will be ornament size pillows for my bowls. Several will be larger size pillows. I haven't pulled out my sewing machine in ages so I may have to use some old fabric to practice and get re-acquainted with her before going on to finishing.

My TUSAL jar fell off the table and broke. It was too much trouble to try to separate the threads from the broken glass so I just chucked it all and started over! I looked around the house for an empty jar and found this little one to use. It isn't as full as the other jar but at least I finally got around to posting a picture of it!



Thanks so much for stopping by! I always enjoy your visits and comments. Have a wonderful week and I hope you are getting some of this beautiful weather!

They Say It All

My Favorite Sampler Sayings and Quotes. Do you have a special favorite?

1. Seek Joy in All Things

2. Treat Yourself Well (La D Da)

3. There is Always, always, always something to be thankful for (Erica Michaels)

4. It was Enough (Free Pattern by Heartstring Samplery)

5. Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can in every place you can, and all the times you can with all the zeal you can - as long as ever you can. (Praiseworthy Stitches)

6. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. (AAFG by Rosewood Manor)

7. Needle small with magic power. Charmer of the circling hour. May thy various uses be ever understood by me. (Examplars from the Heart) My mother used to recite this as she would mend clothing, knit or do needlework.

8. I sigh not for beauty nor languish for wealth, but grant me kind providence virtue and health. Then richer than kings and more happy than they. My days will pass swiftly and sweetly away. (C Street Samplers and Little House Needleworks)

9. No joy I covet. No riches I want. Ambition and beauty are nothing to me. The one thing I beg of good heaven to grant is a mind independent and free. (Carriage House Samplers and The Scarlett House)

10. There is an eye that never tires. A God who never sleeps. He knows the secret of each heart. A watchful eye o'er us he keeps. (La D Da)

Plus one (11). How I love the samplers of old. The wonderful stories they must hold. A name, a date, of twiming thread. Who knows the path their lives led. (ByGone Stitches)

Thank you for dropping by! Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart!

Plans

Thank you to everyone who missed my blog postings during my absence the past several months. Now I am trying to catch up on my blogging, reading other posts along with catching up on leaving comments, stitching and of course housework which was left to suffer the consequences

After all the mild weather, we had one night of winter. Snow and some sleet. No accumulation to speak of but the snow was pretty coming down. We weren't too happy to see the sleet and our deck was a sheet of crunchy ice but it melted off quickly. No harm done. The next day, we went right back into the milder more tolerable days.

I was hoping to be finished with PSS Spot Sampler by now but Mr. Arthur I. Tis came for a visit and my hands haven't been very useful lately. He's not welcome but he always pops in around this time of year to remind me that I'm no spring chicken anymore! Definitely not a good guest and one I don't look forward to seeing!

I went back to the doctor about my weight. He is sending me to a specialist but in the meantime he has prescribed ice cream, donuts and other sinful foods for me to pig out on. My appetite did return with a bang about a month ago and I feel like I just can't eat enough! I have enjoyed my binge of snacks and DH taking me out to some of my favorite places for my favorite meals. I go to bed feeling like I will burst. I am gaining but it is a slow process.

Over the next few posts I will share some pictures of the new stash coming to stay with me and keep my other stash company. I went over my yearly limit but I have been good and stayed under my stash buying limit the past several years and considering how crummy the past few months have been, I need some pampering! Good enough reason.

I know. I know. I said no more large projects this year until I get some WIPs finished off but how could I resist adding these two beauties to my stash. Besides, I will be the first to admit that I make wonderful stitching plans at the beginning of each year but they are soon nothing more than just another list to toss out because I see something I love or a design in my stash that I had forgotten about. Poof go my well thought out plans.

Elizabeth Hancock by Little House Needleworks. Yum. I can't find anything I don't love about this sampler! The design is beautiful, the colors are perfect and the verse is one of my very favorite sampler verses!


Hannah Tingey by The Scarlett House. I love the verse. Perfect for my future nature wall. Who can resist those two wonderful stags with those large hypnotic eyes! Tanya did a wonderful job reproducing this piece! I will have to do some re-charting for my Aida fabric since the words are over one but for this lovely, it will be worth it!


Both images are from the designer's website. I hope they don't mind my borrowing them. Thanks so much for stopping by! Stay safe and warm!

Has it Been That Long?

I have been MIA from blogging for a lot longer than I realized. A lot has been going on around here since December. Too much. I have tried to keep up with reading my usual blogs but no postings for myself or leaving comments on others. I have ignored my challenges to date. Life hit us hard this year and a lot earlier than expected. I feel like we were left behind in the race.

2011 went out with what I thought was the flu and 2012 came in with it. I just cherished the moments I could drop into my chair and let my poor weak body go limp. I thought I could nurse myself back to health. Bad idea. Maybe it's been the dreary yucky weather. That's always a good scapegoat. DH had a near brush with going to the hospital again but a few days off work with some rest took care of the problem. DH and I both have a lot of problems with allergies during the months of December, January and February so that could be a big part of the problem. We have had everything around here so far this winter from colds to strep throat and lots more!

Before I got the nasties, I did finish up Parson Brown and will have a picture to share after I get some energy back! I had not done any stitching since finishing up PB and finally picked up a small freebie by Daffycat. I just love it!

I couldn't wait to start PSS Favorite Spot Sampler! It has been kitted and ready since my birthday back in December. I finally picked it up to start on. A slow start with all the sickness around here but a start just the same. I have a stack of more smalls set out to do over the year. Not really how I had planned my list of stitching for the year but que sera.

Now, I have a problem. I know I have always said that I preferred framing my finished goodies but after going to my LNS last month and seeing all the scrumptious pillows, I am having second thoughts about some of these items. Of course the smalls will be little pillows placed in a bowl but there are a few others I can vision as larger pillows taking their place of honor on the dining room bench but I can also vision a special winter wall. Woe is me. Decisions. Decisions.

After all my stitching plans for this year, I finally made a biggie. I already have several large WIPs and anymore before finishing these would only cloud my mind so for now, I plan to stick with smalls and medium size designs (while working on the WIPs in between). No sense in clouding my mind more than it already is!

I'm not big on Valentine's Day which lets DH off the hook with no worries and February is always a dreary hard month for me. My mother's birthday would be this month and I try to get past the day (and entire month) as quickly and best I can. For a short month though, it sure does seem to drag on. We never know if March will bring an early Spring or a late snow but we can count on those longer days that come with Daylight Savings Time. A sure sign that Spring is just around the corner.

I decided to take a day and clear out my stash. I have so many that I know I will never get around to working on. They are lovely but they always take a back seat to other designs when I go through it all. No sense being a hoarder and feeling guilty about not working on them. Besides, even if I were to ever to finish them all I have no idea where I would put them! It's time to be strong and just do it! Plus that gives me a guilt free conscious to add a little bit of new stash every now and then! Speaking of which, I just placed my first order for the year. Mainly smalls since I really don't have that many.

Which brings me to several questions. How do you store your patterns? Size? Designers? Theme? Also, do you collect certain patterns, theme or designers? I realized that I collect about everything but I never considered myself a pattern collector (even though I have enough to open a small store) but I have recently noticed there are several designers and themes I insist hanging on to no matter what. Another collection is born!

Our winter has been milder than usual this year which to me is a blessing because I always dread the sleet and ice which is more common around here than a pretty snowfall. I had a nice surprise yesterday when walking outside. My Japanese Red Maple tree is budding. It's always so pretty and a real spirit lifter to see those tiny red buds covering the branches but on the other hand, it is not uncommon to have some really icky winter weather not long after the trees begin to don their Spring wear.

Enough rambling for now but I had alot of lost time to catch up on. Thanks for not giving up on me and stopping by to visit.

Happy New Year!

This is the same post I make at the end of each year with a few changes here and there to suit the time of my life. It may get old to some but it works for me.

A New Year is right around the corner! A brand new clean calendar! It's up to each one of us what we do with it. Each year I make the same goals with a possible extra or two tossed in for good measure. I prefer to use "goals" instead of "resolutions" because I feel that I am taking already important things in my life and putting my focus on strengthening them.

1. To make an effort to learn something new every day. The joy of knowledge is indeed a blessing no matter what you choose to learn.

2. To make time for myself. It's amazing what 15 minutes sitting on the deck with a hot cup of coffee and watching the birds can do for my soul. A little time each day to refresh my spirit is all it takes.

3. To take time to appreciate each day. Too often we forget to see the beauty around us and take the simple things in life for granted. My continued goal is to look with my eyes but to see with my heart. To simply enjoy life and all that is a part of it.

4. To enjoy my family and friends. I am lucky to have each and every one of them in my life. I have been blessed with so many online friends and each day I am grateful for each one of you! My online stitching and blogging friends are a very important part of my life!

5. Organize and Simplify! Two key words I always yearn to make a part of my everyday routine but often lose focus on. Organize doesn't mean I have to go on a cleaning rampage each day. It just means I need to get my life and things that are a part of my life in some of manageable order so that I feel comfortable instead of constantly overwhelmed. Not putting things off until the last minute can contribute greatly to this cause! Simplify! Just what it means - plain and simple! Stop making a mountain out of a mole hill, do what I can and leave the rest, don't volunteer for more than I feel I can handle or feel will stress me out!

6. To Remember. So many people have come and gone from my life over the recent years and I want to keep their memory alive.

7. To keep my faith alive and strong.

8. The past several years have been horrible for us and have only continued to get worse. Changing things will be hard and will not happen immediately but I am determined to get our lives on track again.

9. To Forgive. Things happen that cause hurt, anger and resentment but often the people who cause these emotions don't care. We are the ones left with bitter feelings that only mount up and make us more and more miserable. I will let the past remain in the past and let go of these feelings so that I can move on with my life.

10. To use kind words and practice patience more often. I will try to live by the good old standard saying "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

And of course the New Year just wouldn't be complete without a few just plain fun goals!

1. Take more trips. Even day trips can be fun.

2. No pressure. Keep the fun and joy in stitching. This is why I started in the first place! I actually have several special projects planned for this year but will keep them a secret until I start.

3. Work on some WIPs I have been neglectful of. Each stitch on them brings me a little closer to a finish!

4. I also have a lot of freebies, smalls and magazine patterns I have been wanting to stitch.

5. Take more pictures.

Have a safe New Year's Eve! Thanks for stopping by! Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Taking a Moment

I was asked about a comment on my last post. If I enjoyed smalls and pillows, why did I stop doing them and only stitching larger framed pieces? Good question and very easy to answer. When my boys were younger, they would use my smalls to throw around the house at each other while playing. The pillows were often used when they would crash on the couch for a quick nap. I always felt like I was trying to rescue my tiny treasures and then I would end up cleaning them over and over again so I decided framing was the safe bet answer and I sort of got into a habit with it. Boys!

I was going to start Favorite Spot Sampler over the weekend but decided to put a few more stitches in Parson Brown by NFF first. He was sitting in my basket and begging for a little attention. I have actually gotten quite a bit done on him in the past several days. I did change several colors just for the sake of my decor. I hope to have him finished by the end of the year then I will pick up Favorite Spot Sampler. I can just see Poor Maidens, Parson Brown and Favorite Spot Sampler in a group together! I'm not sure how I will finish them yet but I can cross that bridge when I come to it! It's been a busy several days with no camera time but I will get a picture of it soon to post!

I knew I would fall behind on my daily blogging but my intentions are good. Thanks for stopping by again. I always enjoy your visits and comments. Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Morning After

Thank you to everyone for the sweet and special birthday wishes. I had a very nice day. DH and I had a few left over errands to take care of and then it was time for some birthday fun!





First we went out to lunch for a super sized burger. Then he took me to the LNS and I picked up several items for my stash! The Green Santa and Black Santa by BOAF and Favorite Spot Sampler by PSS. After I saw the Spot Sampler finished off at the LNS, I knew I would have a new start this weekend so I came home and got everything kitted up for it.



I had yet another realization. I love samplers, no doubt and I certainly don't want to give up on them but I also love smalls. I used to do a lot of smalls. I enjoyed stitching them and finishing them off. They are fun, quick and satisfying. I love baskets and bowls filled with wonderful things. I enjoy stitched pillows, too. I have been working on bigger pieces and only framing. Time to spread my wings again and savor it all!

This is Christmas week and I'm sure everyone will be holiday busy! Enjoy yourself and the season! Thanks for stopping by again.

Short and Sweet

Our weather has been really wonky for the month of December. We have gone from freezing temps back up to early Spring like weather. Then it has continued to bounce around.

Today is our errand day. Grocery shopping and more. Since tomorrow is my birthday, I want to get everything finished off today so I can do whatever I want on my day.

I hope everyone has a lovely day. Thank you for stopping by! It's always nice to get a visit from my friends!

It Was Bound To Happen

I have decided that I have too much! Too many lists, too many plans and way too many ideas rolling around my mind! These are all good things but when they begin to knock heads with one another it can get very confusing and frustrating! So, it's time to downsize the clutter in my mind! I am keeping my 2012 challenges and several ideas that I just like way to much to turn my back on. That's it for 2012 plans!

I knew it would happen sometime during the month. I missed a day of blogging! I just hoped that I could hold on a little longer and post each day but life happens. The past several days have been busier than usual and I was finding the time just to check my emails. Oh well. I did good for awhile and I can still shoot for more regular posts.

DH is on Christmas vacation and will have the better part of the month off. I am so glad to have him home. Just having him around is calming and makes the world feel right.

I hope everyone has a wonderful December day!

Surprises!

Seems that I am posting later than usual today and will probably be so the rest of the week. Finals week for DS so he is using the main computer a lot more than usual.

When I posted yesterday I thought it was going to be just another ho hum day of trying to get these computer programs straightened out again. When DH got up, he asked if I found the package he brought in. Package? What package? After I saw the return address, I tore into the cardboard delight! It was just what I needed! A tin of Edgar's yummy Christmas candy! I don't who was more thrilled - me, DH or our two bottomless pits! Thank you again Edgar! If you have never visited his blog, you must stroll on over and see his beautiful stitching!



While going through some Christmas ornaments, I came across several special ones. The gold Elvis. Tacky in it's own way but it was a joke gift from my Dad one year. I have always loved Elvis and my dad liked to tell a story of when I was about 4 years old. I was so terribly in love with The King back then that when I heard his music, I would run through the house screaming his name then in a fit of exhaustion I would throw myself on the floor and just sob. lol. A little dramatic but hey, I was in love! lol. No picture of it because the camera refused to focus on it properly. I guess Elvis was wiggling his hips too much! lol.

The second ornament was another gift from my dad. It's a Hallmark ornament that looks like a radio. When you press a button, my dad's recorded voice sends us his Christmas greeting. I tried to hear his voice but the batteries were dead. I remember his voice. Strong and vibrant but I wanted to actually hear it again! DH went out and picked up some batteries after I had expressed my dismay. Now I have a part of my dad with me for the holidays again!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day and finds their own suprises that will bring a smile!

Not Much

In keeping with my December bloggiing challenge, I will make a post this morning. I do wish I had alot of fun things to write about but unfortunately.....

I spent the better part of last night working with some programs on our computer that just don't seem to want to co-operate and I am still feeling frustrated because of it! I will try again today.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday with lots of holiday joy.

Looking Back

Sunday, December 10, 1950

Top News Headlines This Week:

Dec 10 - 1st black American awarded Nobel Peace Prize - Ralph J Bunche Dec 10 - Ralph J Bunche (1st black American) presented Nobel Peace Prize Dec 11 - Baseball owners vote 9-7 not to renew Commissioner Chandler's contract Dec 11 - Hindemiths Concerto for clarinet, premieres Dec 12 - 16th Heisman Trophy Award: Vic Janowicz, Ohio State (HB) Dec 12 - Baseball owners vote to drop 4-year old bonus & high school rule

Top Songs for 1950

Mona Lisa by Nat King Cole Goodnight, Irene by Weavers with Gordon Jenkins,
Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy by Red Foley I Can Dream, Can't I? by Andrews Sisters,
The Tennessee Waltz by Patti Page, The Thing by Phil Harris,
The Third Man Theme by Anton Karas (also Guy Lombardo) If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake by Eileen Barton, All My Love by Patti Page Harbor Lights by Sammy Kaye

1950 Prices

Bread: $0.14/loaf Harry S. Truman
Milk: $0.82/gal
Eggs: $0.70/doz
Car: $1,750
Gas: $0.27/gal
House: $14,500
Stamp: $0.03/ea
Avg Income: $3,815/yr
Min Wage: $0.75/hr

People born on December 10
1952 - Susan Hallock Dey Illinois, actress (1st Love, Partridge Family, LA Law)
1830 - Emily Dickinson Amherst MA, poet (Collected Poems)
1914 - Dorothy Lamour [Mary Kaumeyer] New Orleans LA, actress (Road to Bali, Greatest Show on Earth)

On TV in 1950
Time for Beany Truth or Consequences The Alan Young Show
The Ed Sullivan Show The Burns and Allen Show

Hot New Toys in 1950
Little People Clue

(taken from www.dmarie.com)

A Christmas Legend

The Story Of The Christmas Robin

The Christmas night was extremely cold and a cold breeze blew constantly into the stable where Mother Mary lay with her infant, Jesus. The fire in the stable, the only source of heat for the baby, was about to go off and all that Mary could do was call the surrounding animals for help. She asked the sleeping ox, lazy donkey, horse and the sheep, but they were either of no use or just refused to help. Suddenly, Mary heard the flapping sound of wings. A robin had heard Mother Mary's cry for help and had flown to the stable to help her out. The robin flapped his wings hard at the dying embers of fire until the fire was rekindled and became bright red. He fanned continuously, flapping hard so that the fire never went out and kept the baby warm. To ensure that the fire stayed alive, the robin used his beak and dropped some dry sticks in the fire. This caused the fire to rise abruptly and it burnt the breast of the bird. Despite the burns that he received, the bird didn't bother and continued fanning so that the infant could be kept warm for long enough to sleep comfortably. Mother Mary heartily thanked the robin for his efforts and tenderly looked at his breast that was now red with the burns and blessing him for his deed of valor and selflessness.

Rethinking the Plan

I have signed up for two more SALs listed on my sidebar. After I looked at the list, I got a little bit jumpy. What have I done? I pulled out the stitching list that I made for 2012 and looked over it. It is a long list but I have to remember that it's just a list. Not a promise written in blood.

I am confident that I have figured out what I will be doing and how I will work the rotations. For now, I feel like it's a good plan.

WIPocalypse 2012 - I will work on The Mother's Tree a week a month until finished then pick up another WIP.

Oldest UFO - I will work on AAFG by Rosewood Manor a week a month until finished.

Elizabeth Hancock - I will work on this piece a week a month until finished.

TUSAL - No problems. No worries. Just a picture once a month.

LHN Ornament - This is more of an incentive to get me working on some of these ornaments I have wanted to do as I can. This is a No Stress SAL so I won't stress out!

These will be my focus pieces for now. As I said before, I know I won't be able to resist the new start bug every so often. I went through my stitching basket, cleaned it out and set up everything I would need when I am ready to begin!

Thank you for stopping by again! Have a wonderful day!

Bizzare December Holidays

December is . . . . Hi Neighbor Month, National Stress Free Family Holiday Month, Bingo's Birthday Month, and Read A New Book Month

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December 1 is . . . . . National Pie Day and Eat A Red Apple Day

December 2 is . . . . . National Fritters Day

December 3 is . . . . . National Roof-Over-Your-Head Day

December 4 is . . . . . Wear Brown Shoes Day

December 5 is . . . . . National Sacher Torte Day

December 6 is . . . . . National Gazpacho Day and Mitten Tree Day

December 7 is . . . . . National Cotton Candy Day

December 8 is . . . . . Take It In The Ear Day

December 9 is . . . . . National Pastry Day

December 10 is . . . . Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales

December 11 is . . . . National Noodle Ring Day

December 12 is . . . . National Ding-A-Ling Day

December 13 is . . . . Ice Cream and Violins Day

December 14 is . . . . National Bouillabaisse Day

December 15 is . . . . National Lemon Cupcake Day

December 16 is . . . . National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

December 17 is . . . . Underdog Day and National Maple Syrup Day

December 18 is . . . . National Roast Suckling Pig Day

December 19 is . . . . Oatmeal Muffin Day

December 20 is . . . . Games Day

December 21 is . . . . Look At The Bright Side Day, National Flashlight Day,

National French Fried Shrimp Day, and Hamburger Day

December 22 is . . . . National Date-Nut Bread Day

December 23 is . . . . Roots Day

December 24 is . . . . National Egg Nog Day

December 25 is . . . . National Pumpkin Pie Day

December 26 is . . . . National Whiners Day

December 27 is . . . . National Fruitcake Day

December 28 is . . . . Card Playing Day and National Chocolate Day

December 29 is . . . . Pepper Pot Day

December 30 is . . . . Festival Of Enormous Changes At The Last Minute and

National Bicarbonate Of Soda Day

December 31 is . . . . Unlucky Day