Back Again

 Last week was an off week. I did not have a fever nor felt physically ill in any way. I just felt blah. No energy and even picking up my stitching felt like a major chore! Maybe it was all that awful pollen we have had floating around in the air this season! We had a little rain but not enough to wash all of it out of the air! Our red jeep looks like a lime green jeep with red undertones! LOL

The Grumpy Ol Gazer helped me out with my new organizing system. I love my new storage boxes but something was missing. Oh yeah, my craft storage unit! It had gotten old and just did not work right so out it went and I ordered a new one to replace it. Now everything is just right! I also brought out a smaller basket to keep my current stitches by my chair for easy access.

 

Boy, family history can be exhausting! I am still finding quite a bit of new information and am finding things that I had put aside to work on later on so that is like more new info all over again! I have gotten up to my 12th great grandparents on certain sides and to the Grumpy Ol Gazer's 13th ggrandparents!!  That is a long ways back in time! I decided that I am going to give our Family History several days a week until I get caught up again.

 

Since my last post, we have had a few more dr. appointments, a lot of errands and I got the first of my vaccines after waiting the allotted 3 months since my last infusion! As for my shoulder, this guy wants to do surgery and I just don't know if I like that idea! It doesn't hurt as bad as it first did and I can use it to a certain extent. I have a few more questions and maybe even get another opinion.

 

I pulled out all of my WIPs. OMG! I didn't realize that I had so many! And yet I keep ordering more! LOL. I am embarrassed but I have never let that stop me! I have 2-3 new charts I recently ordered and received that I keep debating on starting. I think I will hold off until June before I pull them out though.

 

Since my lost blog post, I ordered Songbird Sampler by Artful Offerings along with the threads. I have plenty of fabrics so I should be able to find something that will work!

 

I started another SAL with an IG pal. O My Bird by Teresa Kogut. Thank goodness this one will be a s-l-o-w stitch with no plans of finishing up until Mother's Day 2022.

 

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

I Need Dull

 September is almost over?? It feels like it just started!! Like I said before, once Labor Day rolls around the rest of the year flies by! I have not accomplished as much as I had hoped for this month but October is still open and waiting! The last week of September will be spent running around to dr. appointments and getting tests done. The past two months have been so busy and extremely stressful so I am ready for a nice long month of DULL.

 

I was able to get some more stitching done on AAFG. I should switch out my WIP weekends between AAFG and Mother's Tree.

 

I have started on one sampler that I had pulled. I saw a finished piece that another person had done and I fell in love. I have had the pattern, fabric and threads. I just needed the inspiration! I have several simple ideas on how to "make her my own" which I will share as I work on Harriat Brown by Stacy Nash. She is being stitched on 18 count Aida in Beige by My Vintage Needlearts from Etsy and I am using GAST Mulberry threads. I have not been this excited about a sampler in a very long time! I plan to take my time and make sure I am happy with everything I stitch into her!

 

I have another sampler ready to start on after I finish this one. I have changed the colors around to suit my personal taste and I may change one or two more things in it. Maybe I will be able to share a picture before the end of the year!.

 

I have made my grocery list and considering the Fall weather that is upon us, there are a lot of homemade soups, stews and other comfort foods. Of course Monday is our pizza night, The local market has all their pizzas half price on Monday and they are GOOD!

 

Good News #1 (it's about time!). I have mentioned that I shop at two stores mainly because one carries some items I need or like that the other store does not carry. Lately it has become too much for me to walk that store so I was going to change completely over to the store with pick up but (big surprise) the walk in store is getting ready to to do pick up service so I will be able to get those items after all!

 

Good News #2. Our new refrigerator is scheduled to be delivered next week! About a month a head of time. I just hope I don't end up with another headache after that last bad delivery experience!

 

Until next time may you have simple day and an uncluttered heart.

Cooler Days and Samplers

 Thanks to my dr and his magic injections, the bursitis flares have finally stopped! Of course, I am following his orders about "doing a little then rest". I don't want to get the flares mad and start up again!

 

While doing some much needed grocery shopping, I noticed the bakery section of the store had started to put out their holiday pies. I am not big on many pies but they do make a mean apple pie! Heat it up, use a sprinkling of cinnamon and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. YUM! Luckily, no one else here has discovered the secret to making this pie so delicious

 

We may actually get a Fall season this year! The weather has already started to turn cooler and sweaters are being pulled out for morning and evening wear! We still get a few days with warmer temps but nothing hot enough to knock your socks off! It may get chilly enough later this week to turn the heat on at night! My kind of weather!

 

Too many SALs and WIPs for me to wrap my brain around right now. The WIPs are really no problem since they are weekend designated only.  I used this past weekend to finally pick up my stitching again. And since I was waiting on some threads to arrive, I made it a long WIP weekend! I decided to work on And A Forest Grew by Rosewood Manor. I did not get as much stitched as I hoped to before the hand cramps started. Put it away but tomorrow is another day!

 

After having several really crummy months I decided to treat myself to a new start. I pulled 5 that I have had my eye on. No, I won't do them all at once but I don't plan to tell or show what I am working on until I get a good start so as not to jinx them!

 

Most of my framed pieces hang on the walls in no order. I decided earlier this year that I wanted a theme wall of outdoor pieces. You know - birds, other backyard critters, plants, trees, ect. In my mind, it will be stunning! I already have two pieces up on it and working on more. Guess what wall AAFG will hang on and why I am so anxious to finish it!

 

I am still pretty tired and slow from so many bursitis flares all at once. I have been taking it nice and slow for now and probably will through the end of this month.

 

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

After the 4th

I am slowly getting more done on my current stitch! The Bee Skep by BBD (in the Agnes Platt Strawberry Sampler book). The bees in this chart were not Aida friendly so I will use some bees from a different design. I am using 18 count Aida in Caramel Creme by My Vintage Needlearts over at Etsy and most of the colors are from the called for list. A few changes here and there out of necessity.

For such a small piece, it is really taking me a long time to stitch it. What with the Grumpy Ol Gazer being in the hospital. Then getting him back home and settled in with home health care. A few personal issues that caught me off guard and that house! Beautiful but very painstakingly tedious! Plus I have had a few ehhhhhh days. You know, the ones where you feel ok but just don't feel like tackling any projects. I am hoping I can finish it up before my infusions begin.

I found this old WIP one day while sorting through some drawers. I can't even remember the year I started it. It had to be after 2005. I did start it with the intention of dedicating it to my FIL who had recently passed in 2005. There isn't much left to do on it so I may just take this in as my infusion project if I can gather everything I will need to work on it.  I have most of the threads except for remainder of the border so I may leave that off. I will see how it works out. If I should happen to finish this up before my infusions are over, I will probably take in Never Enough Thyme by the Goode Huswife to finish. As a matter of fact, I am thinking that I may just take my WIPs for my infusion projects for a while!

A few trips to the grocery store. I found some clementines! Be still my heart! They are very seasonal and not available year round so when I find them, I am in heaven! A few trips to the doctor and pharmacy. Pretty ordinary for us. Once in a while we may venture out to get some ice cream at the drive thru and eat it in the parking lot. A haircut every other month. Once or twice a year we may venture out to our favorite steak house for an eat in meal and go to the home center to pick up plants or other needed items that can not be ordered.

A lot of people are working on Jolly July aka Christmas in July stitches this month. I usually do at least one Christmas stitch a year but I did not get any holiday pieces done last year. This year, I only have one I want to do so I have pulled it, ordered the threads and I plan to work on it. It may not get finished for several months but I will have a good start! Her name is Mary Ann Hutton and she is by The Scarlett Letter. I doubt I start her this month but she on my Top 20 list.

My list of TOP 20 to stitch in 2020 just may roll over into next year. I doubt seriously I will be able to finish them all this year but they are among my favorites and definitely a priority! I really wonder where I will put them all!

I wear my mask like a good girl when we go out in public but I prefer to go out early in the day before the heat gets too bad. Otherwise, I do have difficulty breathing good with the mask on. I haven't said anything about the events here in the US with the monuments being destroyed and so much more. Destroying these statues will not change history or make it go away. History is there for a reason. To help us learn and grow stronger. It is not be ignored. Enough said. This is a happy blog and this is how it will stay!

Until next time may you have simple days, an uncluttered heart and stay well.

Short Again

We had a busy week going on. Between the two of us, we had a handful of doctor appointments plus a few errands. Luckily my grocery shopping had already been taken care of. That rash finally cleared up and I am not scratching like a dog with fleas anymore!

Our woodpecker is back. I have mentioned him before. He is the one who likes to peck on the house. Not the gutters but the house! And he pecks on the section which leads to our bedroom wall right above the bed so early in the morning we get awakened by tap, tap, tap above our heads! LOL. I keep trying to tell him that I bought a house just for him but he won't use it!!

No stitching this week. I put a special book in my stash drawer and it got stuck. I tried to open the drawer without tearing up the book and tore up my hands instead. They need to rest and heal awhile.

I have several SALs and/or Clubs that will probably be weekend work so I won't count them into the final decision and tally. Also I have several WIPs that I want to make myself work on at least one day a week until finished! Good intentions again!

I think that's enough. Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart!

Stitching Along

Last week we had weather temps in the mid 60s but we also had a tornado touch down. Luckily it missed us. Two day later the weather was 33 and snowing again!! Talk about some wonky southern weather!

One more infusion this round then I am finished until July unless somethng happens. Fingers crossed!

I promised an update on Virtuous Woman this time and here it is! I have been taking her to infusions when I go. Sometimes I get a good bit stitched and other days I only manage a small amount of stitching along side of a good nap. Unfortunately the frogs followed me to infusion! All taken care of now! I have been working on her at home some too. I am planning to frame her so I am not sure if I will tweek her any,

I also have another update on Quaker Bluebirds aka Redbirds. This piece is really hard to put down but it does seem to ge going slow

I have struggled for years with the way I stitch. I like to do one piece and get it finished before moving on but I have always envied stitchers with rotations. Vonna aka the twisted stitcher mentioned on Fiber Talk about a new rotation method that she is going to try. It sounded very interesting and not so overwhelming.I may give it a try but nothing major

How many WIPs do you have? Do you dream of starting a new start while workng on an current piece? Be honest!

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Hello Again!

Another hot hot hot week! There were several days when the humidity was a bit lower but not enough to get excited about! LOL. I don't think we even have Spring and Fall anymore. Several weeks of the seasonal weather and then we jump right into Summer or Winter!

Here is a new update on Creation Sampler by Words of Praise. I am loving it although I did not get in as much stitching as I had hoped. I want to get this piece finished up so that I can decide on my infusion project, get everything together and get a head start on it.  I was able to get several more designs kitted up over the week. I like to have everything together and ready to start on but it never fails I will choose a design to work on that I don't even have the threads for yet!

I went through my stash over the long weekend and this past week I pulled out some WIPs that I have tucked away in drawers. I had started on Marianne Wenn a few years ago and was looking forward to working on her some more. I found the chart and the threads but the WIP was GONE!!! I looked in all of my usual hiding places. No Marianne. Ah ha, there was one last place I had forgotten about and there she was!

I pulled her out and instantly remembered why I had stopped stitching on her. I did not like the fabric. I had accidentally stitched on the back side of the fabric (the front side was mottled) and did not notice until I was too far along to frog it all out. I was trying to decided whether to pick up where I left off or start new on fabric I really like. With some advice from my stitcher friends, I have decided to start new.

I found several other WIPs that I will share in a later post. I was able to get several sampler designs to add to my stash as well. Ann Pegg 1877 by The Scarlett House and Summer Beaming Forth by Blackbird Designs. I don't even fight the urge or make excuses anymore. It's a losing battle! LOL

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Happy October!

Fall has arrived this weekend in the South. The weather has said that the warmer temps will return next week so far now I will enjoy the crisp cooler days and flannel pajamas at night. DH has been working those odd hours again that totally throw my internal calendar out of whack. I don't get a lot of stitching accomplished when he works these hours so I don't have any new progress photos to show off.

Every now and then when I become over envious of everyone's beautiful stitching on linen, I will pull out my 28ct. Monaco fabric to practice on. I keep hoping that one day my eyes will miraculously develop perfect vision again on their own whim and I will be able to turn out the same stunning work on this beautiful fabric. Oh, I'm not complaining because for so many years I unable to stitch at all but it can't hurt to try every so often. Right?


OMG! What was I thinking! I got it all set up and ready to put a few xxxxx's in. I went cross eyed in no time flat and had blurry vision for over 10 minutes. DH kept looking at me funny and finally asked why I was blinking so much! Maybe after I eventually have eye surgery I can try again but not now! So, I will visit blogs and drool over everyone's masterpieces on linen. As for me, Aida has been with me since the beginning and I can still count (literally) on it.

What WIPs do I have in my basket now? Marianne and The Mother's Tree are my current ones. The ones I saw alone and forgotten are A Weary World Rejoices by Shakespeare Peddler (which was nearing it's end when I set it down & pictured below) and AAFG by Rosewood Manor (which I have been working on for about 5 years now. OMG!) It might even be a good center piece to put into an A&E wall. I am about half way finished with that one. It's a fun stitch but it does get tedious.


My neighbor and I love to watch the hummingbirds during our daily chats out in the yard. She has several feeders and her yard is always full of the little friendly ones but I don't have a feeder this year and I miss them terribly. The other day, she came knocking at my door with a present for me! A hummingbird feeder. How sweet of her! Now I can drink my morning coffee on the deck and enjoy their flights! Below is a picture of my first visitor!


I played around with my pincushion collection, wanting to show them off as showcase worthy as possible. I found an old glass cookie jar, empty in the cupboard and decided to use it for now. My favorite one is an old red velvet like material. It was my first pincushion as a new wife and has been used over and over until it is now soft, faded, worn and stuffed with memories of quilting, last minute repairs on an item before someone left for school or work, homemade Halloween costumes, crafts for school projects and much more. Even though the others are also loaded with pins, I always reach for this one first. Some things just feel right.


Thanks for stopping by! Your visits and comments make my day brighter!

Dropping In

It's another Monday. Nothing exciting happened over the weekend. As a matter of fact, the weekend was full of headaches. Our main computer got zapped by a nasty, nasty bug and we spent the majority of our time trying to find and retrieve files. Not fun! Things have turned upside down around our place for awhile but I am hoping all will be back to usual within several weeks so for now, I don't have a lot of stitching to report on or show off.

Over the weekend, I decided to take a trip through my past blog posts. I saw a lot of birds, nature photos, scrapbooking endeavors, trips we took and stitching. I couldn't help but notice that although many of the projects had either been finished off or still in WIP mode, there were a few that I had not picked up in a long time. They were just sitting around, waiting for some attention. What a waste of my time and their potential finished beauty! So I dug them out, kitted them back up and have them in my basket of growing WIPs. I may need to find another basket to house them all until they each begin to finish off! I don't even want to list the total number as it makes me mad at myself for letting this happen! When I first began stitching I would never, never, never let this happen. I would start one and work on it until it was finished. Of course, back then I didn't have all these wonderful designs to choose from either so I'm not complaining!

How many WIPs and UFOs do you have? *wink*

With everyone posting pictures of their new or familiar established pets, I was feeling out of the loop. Should I post a picture of some of the regular visitors to my backyard kingdom? Then I saw Edna sitting all by herself on the chair. She is such a good ol' gal and never complains. A quality worth appreciating. She doesn't look especially happy about anything but she always catches my eye as I walk by and gives me reason to smile. I fluffed up her dress and spread out the skirt all nice and pretty for a picture. Who is to say that she didn't enjoy the much over due attention?

Thanks so much for stopping by! Your visits and comments always brighten my day. Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Nature Tells it All

The trees are beginning to bud which means one thing. We are going to have one more ice storm or a big snow! It seems whenever our trees begin to bud early this is what happens. Some people use Farmer's Almanac to check the weather, others just use the weather forecast. I use the trees and birds! You can always tell if inclement weather is on the horizon if the birds are dashing around almost in panic looking for food. *updated to add* The weather has confirmed that we will get a winter mix today meaning they just don't know for sure how much will be snow and how much will be ice!

I picked up this little table top trunk for keeping some of my WIPs in between working on them. Not really what I was looking for but I couldn't find what I wanted and this was on sale.

Besides the two charts my new LNS has ordered for me, I placed an order for several items online. I am trying to keep it down to a minimum and several are older designs I am finally getting around to adding to my stash. Of course, fabric was a must even though I seem to have more than enough for the moment. On my last visit to the LNS I picked up A&E by Primitive Needle which I have been wanting. I will introduce other things as they come in.

I have my own little yearly goal list and so far, I am doing pretty good despite all the unforseen "life happens" interruptions. I will be picking up A Mind again soon for her week of stitching. I would like to finish up my present WIP first though. I am about half done. I had to make a DMC run over the weekend because this piece really eats up the thread with all the frequent color changes.