Spring Flowers

Good Morning! It looks like it's going to be a nice sunny day out there. I finally turned on my air conditioner for the summer I think. So good bye low electric bills for the summer. Although they say they are not too high here......we'll see. These apartments are smaller then Carriage House but I still say bigger then most apartments.

How was everyone's Memorial Day Weekend? Mine was nice and quiet. This Friday is when my brothers and I are going up to the cematary where our parents are buried. We'll meet our aunt and uncle up there and then go out to eat. Wonder if the restaurant will have their anniversary. Last year we went up in April I think it was. And the restaurant was having their 11th anniversary. We all are fish eaters and were luck enough to get 10 pieces of smelt for $1.10 I forgot if potatoes and vegetables were included. Anyway for 7 adults my uncle only paid $25.00. Now that was a cheap meal.

I love stitching this piece. It is so pretty. I have to lay it down every so often because my eye is still having problems especially in the sun. And I live on the side the sun beams in. In a way it's nice because you get so much light compared to the apartments across the hall who have the trees. But you don't get to enjoy the fresh air or feel the wind as much on this side because there are no trees so air conditioners go on and electric bills go up. This piece will go to Quilts for Older Children and Adults. Then I think they are sending it to to Love Quilts, Brazil. There are four different flower patterns in this book and they are all so pretty. (One for each season) I think in time I may do them all.

Thank you for reading my blog and making comments. Also thank you for following my blog. I see I'm getting more followers and I appreciate that. Some people have such nice blogs and chat about almost anything and make it interesting. I'm jealous of those people, but I sure enjoy their blogs.

Well....until next time.....Happy Stitching!

A Very Quick Finish

This was one of the quickest finishes I have ever done. Especially when you consider I had to frog half the lettering because I read the pattern wrong and did it in wrong color. Fortunately it came out easy. After I had the border completely done....I discovered one of the two colors in the border was wrong. See it's the designers fault for confusing me! She used two different color schemes and actually 924 was suppose to go with 3726 or 3802 was suppose to go with 991. I used 3802 and 924 together! I almost did the lettering in 991 but discovered that and frogged half of the lettering to right color. Like I said designers fault for confusing me . That's my story and I'm sticking to it! LOL!

Thank you for reading my blog and for your comments. I really appreciate them.

Well....until next time....Happy Stitching!

Lady Bug Baby is finished

Good Morning! I finished this past about 3 hours ago. I had very little to do on it this morning. Last night I was just too tired to finish it. I'm happy with it. Of the EMS Animal babies I've done, this was the easiest and quickest to do. It was a fun stitch too. When these animals first came out and they were free I thought they were the dumbest things and I would never do them. Now we have to pay for them and I love them. When they first came out they had pacifiers in their mouths, I think that is what I didn't like about them. This one will go to one of my great nieces. It'll be made into a pillow or a blanket, or wall hanging for one of them.

Now I'm doing Housework by My Big Toe Designs. This looks like it's going to be a quick finish. I saw this pattern and I had to get it. It is so me. It just called out my name and said it was worth falling off the wagon for. And since I fell off the wagon anyway I bought about 5 or 6 or 7 other patterns. Although most of those I had someone in mind for.

Anyone watch Dancing with the Stars? I was so mad at myself last night, I fell asleep after Noah danced woke up to see his second dance and fell back to sleep again. I saw portions of last night one GMA and looked like it was good. Wonder who will win? In a way I think Amercan sentiment is with Noah, but those other two are really good dancers.

Well....until next time....Happy Stitching!

Lady Bug Baby Started

Good morning. After a few cold days we are finally starting to warm back up to 60 today and warmer as the week heads on.

I started this piece for my great niece, Aubrielle, as her mother always calls her her lady bug and has several lady bug things in her room. It's really going quite well. I am happy to have the head all finished.

Until next time.....Happy Stitching!

May Turtle Trot

Good Evening and Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there. I'm not a mother except to my cat but my brother's family took my brother, Tim, and I out to a late dinner. We went to Handsome Henry's. That's a different name for a restaurant. I got a delicious perch sandwich. There were 13 of us altogether when you count 19 month old Trice and 11 day old Ryker. All 5 of the kids did really good. Afterwards I went to my brother's with my two nieces and it was fun. So it was a good day.

Now the first picture is where I'm at on America. I'm sorry it's crooked and I don't know how to piece it together so you won't be getting the whole picture until it's finished some year.

This piece is one I sta orted a few years ago and dug it out to stitch further on. The fox and also the owl piece I'm showing next are from the same Stoney Creek book. Here is the Owl.

I also started Ladybug Baby by EMS today. That one seems to be going fast.

Remember I said in my last post I fell off the wagon. Well later yesterday I got 3 of the books I ordered. I can't wait to get the others. Like I said I probably will be having a lot of new starts.

Well....until next time Happy Stitching and hope you mothers out there had a good day.

Diamond Head is finished

good afternoon I finished Diamond Head late this afternoon! I was happy to get it done and I'm happy with it I think. It really went sort of fast considering I had problems with my eye and didn't stitch on it that much a day. Tomorrow after church I'll get out the Lady Bug Baby by EMS and get her going good. All the thread has come in now so I can get going good. I don't know why but no matter how much DMC floss I have I always need a number I don't have or ran out of!

I fell off the wagon. I ordered 7 pattern books this past week. Three of them came in today. Most of them will be done for either charity or family. But the other day someone posted a couple of patterns by My Big Toe. One was a friendship one which I'll do for a friend. But the other one is Mine! It said Housework a waste of good stitching time! I had to get it for myself. It's in the mail on it's way to me and I can't wait to get it. I really can't wait to get started on most of the patterns I ordered. I just may have a bunch of starts in my next few posts!

Well....Saturn slept most of the afternoon....I get on the computer and he's now on the floor looking at me wanting me to get off computer. Soon he'll be on keyboard. So until next time....Happy Stitching! Oh I'll post my TT pieces tomorrow.

Diamond Head

Good Afternoon! I know I said I was going to do a Lady Bug piece for my great niece. But I was looking at the May Love Quilts kids and I had to do one for this little boy. He chose Hawaii as his theme. I have very few Hawaiian patterns but I found this from a very old book. (Maybe one of the first ones I bought and never did anything from it until now.) I'm happy with it so far. I think my stitching has improved since the eye surgery even though I am having problems with the eye. (I can't wait to see eye dr. on Thurs.)

Thank you for reading my blog and for all your comments. I really do appreciate them. I love reading everyone's blogs.

Well....until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Progress on America

Good Afternoon. I made some progress on this piece. I know I scanned it crooked. Sorry about that. I thought I would have more done on it than this but my eyes have been giving me problems so it's been slow going. This morning I laid it down to do an easier piece. I'm doing Lady Bug Baby by Ellen Mauer-Strohl. It looks like it will go easy. I am trying to get ornaments done and larger pictures done for some of the great nieces and nephews. The lady bug baby will probably go to 1 year old Aubrielle.

Speaking of great nieces and nephews. No. 20 was born Wed. They named him Ryker. I know it's a little different but I've heard the name a few times and really like it. So now I have 11 great nephews (no 12 due in Aug.) and 9 great nieces.

Today is Addie's (one of my great nieces) birthday. Tomorrow she is having a big birthday party with her school friends and girl cousins at the gymnastics club she's a member of. Hard to believe she's growing up so fast. She won't be a little girl much longer.

Well....until next time Happy Stitching!

Page 6 of America Finished-12 pages to go!

Good Morning! It's early but I'm already up and about. My sister is here for a couple of days. Later today we'll go do some shopping! I need some DMC floss. I guess I'll be making a trip to the eye dr. I'm having problems with keeping my eyes open and they are a little red and draining. The eye dr. said I may have to do drops after all. I was hoping not but guess I will be.

I made a lot of progress on America the last few days. I've started page 9 but it's laid down until Friday morning now.

What is it with my cat and chewing on cords! He's really been determined this morning especially. Usually he'll try to chew on a cord if he wants me off the computer. I think he was just being naughty because Kay is here and slept on the couch last night. He likes the couch part of the night and with me the rest of the night. Last night he was with me all night. I think I need to buy a squirt bottle to spray him with water when starts chewing on a cord rather computer, or lamp.

Well....until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Back to America

Good Morning. It's a nice April day out there. We are enjoying this spring winter. Today is suppose to hit 70 for first time this year. Next week will be another cooling off, but we'll enjoy this weekend.

I have gone back to stitching on America. I am happy with the progress I have made on it these last few days. I will be finishing off this page probably next week. Then I can start the 5th page. The rest of this page looks like it will go easy as there isn't quite so much diddly-squat stitching. I call just doing 1 or 2 stitches of a color diddly-squat. There is some confetti stitching left on the page but I can deal with that.

Next week my sister will be coming to town for a couple of days. It's been a couple of months since she's been here so I'm anxious to see her again.

Well...until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Turtle Trot and a finish

Good afternoon. It is the 10th of the month and this month I have 1 TT progress for sure and since I had said the Ornaments and Flat folds would be one of my 10 projects I have finished Here Comes Santa Claus. I'm enjoying doing these smaller pieces for the kids.

Also I have made progress on the Lilacs which will go to Quilts for Older Children and adults. This piece is proving to be more difficult then I contmeplated but I have until Nov. 30th to get it done. I'd like to finish it sometime this spring or summer and then do the 3rd challenge piece.

How was your Easter? Mine was good. After church I went to my niece's house and had dinner with her family. My brother and sister-in-law and another niece and her family was there too. Christina's baby is due end of this month and she's really popping out. She's hoping to have it on our mom's birthday if not before. She has an 18 month old, Trice who is a doll. He's a smart baby too. And of course, Johnny and Katelyn were there. I played Memory with Katelyn and lost every game but one, that one we tied. Man it's humbling to loose to a 5 year-old. They also have a foster daughter living with them. So there were 4 kids and us adults.

Tomorrow I plan to pick America back up and do some work on it. I haven't picked it up in a couple of months.

Until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Spring Showers

I finished this piece last week but wasn't able to put it on here until tonight. With all the rain we are getting this week, this piece is very appropriate. It really was a fun piece to do. It is going to WOCS well actually they have it now. I'm not sure if it's going to a quilt or what it's going to be made into.

Currently I am stitching Here Comes Santa Claus by Lizzie Kate. It's a piece I've eyed for several years and thought it would be great for the little ones ornament pieces or flat folds or whatever we make some of the pieces into. I'm thinking it'll be done Friday. I haven't been doing too well on my TT pieces. But I will have one piece to show. Plus the pieces for ornaments and for quilts were part of the 10 so I'll have 2 or 3 finishes. I do plan to pick America by Mystic Stitch back up after this piece. I'm anxious to get back to it.

Well....until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Happy to have scanner working!

Good afternoon!
I finally called Geek Squad and they showed me how to get my scanner working again and made sure I had no viruses in the computer. My cat was so funny. He made sure he got as much attention from the guy. Fortunately he was an animal lover and very tolerant of Saturn, even provoking him at times.

Anyway I did this piece for my 2 year old great niece who asked for a Minnie Mouse ornament. So here it is.

I haven't added a picture of Saturn in a long time so I'm uploading one today.

Currently, I'm stitch a small Here Comes Santa piece for the ornaments this summer. It's a picture of santa skating.

I had my cataract surgery yesterday. It wasn't as easy as the first one was. It wasn't bad but not the piece of cake I expected. I'm glad it's over with.

Well....Until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Going back in Time

Good afternoon! It is raining out. Maybe the rain will get rid of the remaining of the snowbanks. Hopefully. It's been in the upper 40's and 50's even 60 yesterday so they melted down a lot.
I have a problem, my computer and scanner will not communicate with each other. I have unplugged the printer/scanner and that hasn't helped. I've gone to search typed in printers, and checked HP7520 series which usually does the trick. Well it's not. This time instead of saying no computer found in beginning it lets me do the preliminary scanning fine, but then when I go to scan it the final time it spins for a while then says No computer found. Anyway I'm frustrated. So yesterday I had my brother come over with his camera and he took pictures of my cat and the piece. And when he went to put them into the computer he couldn't do it! Frustrating! So I hope I can have a friend come over next week and reload the printer/scanner. Otherwise rather I want to or not I will be buying a new printer....Grrrr....this one isn't a year old or barely a year.

So what I've done is found some pieces that were done before I started blogging and just posting them when I feel like blogging. That way no one thinks I've dropped off the face of the earth. Oh by the way, I doubt I will be able to post my TT progress on 10th of April unless Debbie can fix my problem. I don't know if some bug got into them. Maybe I should call Geek Squad and have them see. I even tried trouble shooting and they aren't finding a problem. Anyway this piece I did a few years ago for Love Quilts. It was a fun piece to do.

What are your plans for Easter? I'll go to church and then go to my niece's afterwards. My sister is flying to CO today to see her oldest daughter and family for a week. Her youngest daughter and her family are leaving for FL Sat. His mother won some money, and with the money is taking all 5 of her children and their families to Disney World. The children are so excited. They'll have fun. They are a very close knit family all live within 5 miles of each other. I lost count of how many children but I dare say there are about 7 of them between the ages of 6 and 9. About 4 older, and about 6 younger. Okay I may be exagerrating a little but not by much.

Our church has been sprucing up for Easter. We have a new pastor and he has big plans for Easter Sunday so I'm looking forward to it. They are going to have Easter Lillies which makes me nervous as I'm allergic to them, but if I have a problem I will go to the foyer and listen back there. I don't feel like missing church because of them.

Well....Have a Happy Easter everyone! Until next time....Happy Stitching! Hopefully I will have my comper/scanner problem taken care of by then.

Here Comes Treble is Finished

Good afternoon! I finished this a couple of days ago and am just now posting it. It will go to WOCS. Now I'm doing Spring Showers also for WOCS. Once I get the umbrella done the piece will go easy. I knew the umbrella would take a few days and it is.
Not much is happening right now. So until next time.....Happy Stitching

Here comes Treble!

Good afternoon! It's nice and sunny out there. It's cooler today only in 30's but the snow is all gone except for snowbanks, and the sun is shining brightly! It's a beautiful day out there.

I started this piece over a month ago, but never finished it. So this will go in Turtle Trot as a finish Apr. 10. I laid down the Iris to do some TT pieces for now anyway, oh plus a couple of pieces for the ornaments.

I got my printer to work. I was unplugging the wrong cord. Yesterday when my brother came over and asked him to help me make sure I had the right cord. Well, if it happens again, I will know what cord to unplug.

Our church is looking so nice, neat and clean. They are planning a big Easter Sunday so trying to get the church all spruce up. Because I'm allergic to chemicals I couldn't help. They are getting rid of a whole lot of toys from the nursery and children departments. I went in there just to see if they still had toys to play with and they had plenty. What they didn't get rid of today they are donating to charity.

My sister might come back to town Tuesday, but she's thinking of waiting until after she gets home from CO and can stay a day longer. When she comes on Tuesdays she can only stay until Thurs. If she comes on the weekend. She can come Thurs. and stay until Sunday. (She works 3rd shift and works 32 hours a week so she has 3 day weekends).

Well...until next time Happy Stitching!

Progress on Iris

Good morning I think. I'm not sure. I think my scanner/printer quit on me. I was trying to print off a document and it said there was a paper jam so I don't know what I was thinking but I meant to turn off the printer (which you don't need to do) and accidentally pushed the button to copy again, and the printer shut completely down. I can't get it to restart. Any one have an idea how to fix it or do I need to take it in? So I'm not happy with myself. Can't you be allowed to make a stupid mistake in the world of computers? Guess not. So this may be my last blog for awhile until I can fix it or take it in.

Anyway here is progress on Iris by Paula Vaughn. I am so enjoying this piece.

I also am enjoying seeing the snow melt little by little. And having the days get longer. I can tell spring is coming as already allergies are coming up. I'm not the only one having a problem.

Well...I need to get some housework done, starting with dishes, then vaccuuming, clean the bathroom. Well in my head I'm doing them, so guess I better get started. Until next time Happy Stitching!

Iris Started

Good afternoon. It is such a nice, sunny day out there. It's been a nice weekend weather wise. It's great to see the snow melting little by little. Tomorrow is suppose to be 60 then Tues. back in the 40's. Forty's is still above freezing. So nice compared to a little over a week ago. Well, the sub zeros and below 20's are done for the season. We will have morning lows in the 20's according to the forecast but warm up to 40's by end of day. We know this is only March and we can still have a good snowstorm in April. Boy March is going by quickly.

I do have a case of spring fever and these Irises make me think Spring. Also makes me think Easter! I love these, they are so pretty and going pretty good now. At first I felt like I wasn't making any progress but now I am. I love stitching these. But I have a problem, right now there are so many projects I want to do. Someone sent me a graph of Mighty Mouse and someone else sent Spider Man, and I'm anxious to start them, plus a couple of other pieces. I know these Irises and the Gymnasts are going to be TT pieces, since there is no deadline on them. Whereas I do need to get more ornaments done for this summer.

Yesterday I went to Faithful to Felines to work. Remember last week I said Neeson got adopted. Well he was returned just two days later! The lady said he wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink, wouldn't use his kitty litter, he just stayed in a corner and meowed a lot. I told when she took him to give him time to adjust and she responded, "I know, I've had cats all my life." Anyway he seemed happy to be back. I really think he missed his cat friends, and didn't like being an only cat. Maybe he needs to be adopted with another cat. Whatever. She should have given him more time he would have adjusted. I was glad to see him though as he is one of my favorites.

This may be a long spring season, my sinuses are really acting up. I can't get rid of this cough for anything. I had made an appointment with my ENT earlier. Maybe I can get him to give me Prednizone for a couple of weeks, my sister said that worked on her.

Well.....until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Gymnasts Start

Good afternoon. We are enjoying great weather right now, it's going to be in upper 30's and 40's all week. The snow is slowly melting. Still has a long ways to go though. My cat is really enjoying that sun. He lays up on his cat tree or next to the patio door right where the sun can hit him.
This piece is a little crooked sorry. It will go to my niece, Addison, who loves gymnastics. Only this pattern isn't easy. It has so many quarter stitches it isn't funny. As it is I made a mistake but cannot figure out where. I hate it when that happens. So I guess I will do a little improvising.
Last Saturday some of our cats from Faithful to Felines were taken out to Petco to hopefully get adopted. They had a great day out there that day, about 8 cats got adopted. (Some of them were in foster care. But 4 from Faithful 2 Felines got adopted. Three of them were from the two room I like to do, and I just knew Lollipop, Nina, and Carina would get adopted and they did. We had one cat adopted from the shelter too. The lady came wanting to adopt a couple of other cats from one of my rooms, so they came and got me. Only neither Sunny nor Cloud wanted any part of her, but Neeson was all over her, so she went home with Neeson. So needless to say I was on cloud 9 Saturday. Especially when I heard the other 3 got adopted along with others out at Petco. Unfortunately the shelter cats don't get to go out to Petco too often.
Oh about Turtle trot this month. It didn't happen. I just got caught up in other stitching so I really won't have anything. But I have a feeling this piece will be turning into a Turtle Trot. I started it intending it to be one. It will be worked on every month. Or most months. I have an Iris piece that will also be added to TT this year. I'll start that soon. Well--until next time Happy Stitching!

A very small finish

This was a very quick finish to be made into an ornament later this summer.

Mickey Mouse finish

Good morning. This piece is hot off the iron. It was a quick finish and will be made into a flat fold later this summer. Oh I have to find the instructions for the flat folds somewhere on the internet! Now I'm going to do smaller Daisy Duck and Donald Duck. Then I'm not sure which of 3 pieces I'll work on.

They say we are not going to have any more sub zero weather here this season. Not saying we won't have snow but we know better than to even wish or think that. They say this was the coldest Feb. on record and 4th coldest winter so far this winter. We may move it. Although we are heading for a heat wave, upper teens, twenties and even a couple of thirties in the forecast. Nice.

Well, I have to think about getting ready for my Uncle's funeral so until next time....Happy Stitching!

Harpist is Finished

I'm happy with the way this turn out. It was so much fun to stitch I almost hated to be done with it. Now I'm doing a Mickey Mouse that will probably be made into a flat fold when we get together this summer.

This morning we learned our Uncle Kayle died yesterday. We weren't expecting that. He was the last Uncle on mom's side. So it was sort of ironic I finished this harpist today. I'm sure Mom, Dad, Aunt Gerri, Uncle Bill, and Aunt Jean and Uncle Kayle are hearing all kinds of harps in heaven, maybe even singing to some of them. His funeral is going to be Saturday.

Not much is happening. We are still enduring the deep freeze. Until Feb. I thought this winter was mild compared to last. Now I'm not so sure. They say it's been the coldest Feb. ever and I believe it. No wonder I'm getting so much stitching done! Well....until next time....Happy Stitching!

Progress on Harpist

Good afternoon! Is everyone staying warm and safe? Burrrrrrr it's cold outside. Around here all the schools are closed because of the temperatures being sub zero. The roads have been slippery all week.....it's too cold to put salt out, it won't do any good. Until Feb. I thought this winter was much milder than last, but then came Feb. and it's comparing to last winter! Even the snowfall is starting to catch up!

I got a lot of progress on the Harpist this week. I hope to finish it up Monday or Tuesday....depending on how much I get done on it this weekend.

Because of the weather not much has happened this week...We've all basically stayed in and hibernated it's too cold to want to go out and we've had a lot of snow. So until next time....Happy Stitching!

Happy Valentines Day

Good Afternoon! I hope everyone is staying warm and safe. It is cold outside and nasty out there. I've been staying in and stitching! I am wondering if we will even have church tomorrow if this keeps up. The wind is really blowing the snow around! It's beautiful to look out at but dangerous to be out in.

I am doing this piece for a music quilt at Quilts for Older children and adults. It's going fast for it being a Stoney Creek piece. I've had to do a lot of frogging especially her face and hair but I finally got it right. I don't think the material was going to put up with much more frogging to be honest. Her face and hair looks like it gave me problems and it really did. I've ordered the thread for the harp strings so they'll be put in next week. Only I couldn't find Balger thread, but did find Krenik so hopefully that will work fine. I believe the quilt will be going to Love Quilts-Brzil.

Thank you for all your comments to my last post. I love getting comments and reading them. I really appreciated them.

Well I hope everyone has a good Valentines Day and those getting this storm stay safe. Until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Feb. Turtle Trot

Good Morning everyone! This is the 10th so it's Turtle Trot time. This month I can show progress on three pieces. First is the progress on America by Mystic Stitch. This one I plan to do some each month. I'm happy with it so far. I know this will be in TT for the next couple of years it's a huge piece.

I got out Swallow Tail by Stoney Creek. This piece is challenging but worth it.

And last of the 3 is Friends are the Flowers in the Garden of Life A kit by Jann Lynn. This one a friend actually started it but her eyes got so bad she couldn't stitch anymore so she gave me this and several other pieces.

This morning I kitted up a music piece and will start that after I run some errands this morning.

Thank you for reading my blog and your comments. I love reading them and I love reading your blogs. Until next time....Happy Stitching!

Small Cute Reindeer

Good afternoon! I finished this piece a couple of days ago but have been busy so am just now posting it. This will be another one for the ornament collection. I thought this reindeer was so cute and he was so easy to stitch. Now I have pulled out a UFO that is more complicated. Swallowtail Butterfly by Stoney Creek. I now know why I laid it down, but it's going pretty good for now. I am determined to get to some of these UFO's this year and either finish them out or make a great deal of progress. I am trying hard not to buy any new patterns this year. So far so good, but it's only Feb.

We got my brother all moved into his apartment yesterday. We even got a lot unpacked. He's going to have to donate a couple of pieces of furniture as he doesn't have room for them. After we got him moved, him and I went up to Pet Smart to get his cat a cat tree as he is on garden level so the cat could jump on it to see out the window. I have one for Saturn and when she stayed here a couple of days back in Dec. she was on his all the time and wouldn't let him on it. We got a good deal. The tag under it said it was on sale for $39.00. So Tim jumped at that, but I kept saying it also says original price $79.00 this one has $129.00 on it. Well come to find out someone put it in the wrong spot. However they did sell it to Tim for $59.00. What a good deal, because of the inconvenience. We were happy. His cat loves it. It's different from mine. As mine has three levels all the same, hers she can hide on the second level which is what attracted us to it as she loves to hide. (It has a covering over it. Anyway we just hope and pray Tim and the cat are safe, as the Apartment Complex doesn't have the best reputation in town. But a young lady from church and her daughter lived there a year and never had a problem. Tim doesn't go out at night or anything so he should be okay.

It was bittersweet as our sister and her husband came in to help Tim move and we know Kay won't be coming to town so often anymore. I figure maybe once every three months. Then Ken (her husband) totaled his car on Thursday. (Everyone is fine, just the car is totaled) so they are down to 1 car. So that limits them too.

Well...until next time Happy Stitching!

Another ornament finish

I really think by the time Christmas gets here this year, I will be tired of stitching Christmas projects. I'm trying to average 2 a month through this summer or early fall so we have plenty to work with when we have our craft day. My nieces and nieces in laws asked me to do ornaments for the children so I am working on them. So far I have 6 done, and there's possibly a total of 20 children involved. We'll see think I'm tempted to say wait a year! We'll see what happens. Anyway, this was a cute, quick piece to do. I have 2 others selected for this month a reindeer and a sleigh which are smaller yet. I half expect to have both of them done tomorrow, depending on how much time I have.

Friday my brother moves. It's kinda sad. As so many memories of mom and dad are at that apartment complex. But Tim doesn't need a 3 bedroom apartment since mom is gone and his son moved out. And he can't afford a 1 bedroom place there anyway. I can't believe how expensive those apartments are yet they get so little for their money. They washer and dryer and maitenance service is about it. Maitenance also does the yard work and snow plowing.

We have gotten quite a bit of snow the past few weeks and another storm is suppose to come in Sunday. I've heard it both ways so we'll see what Sunday brings. The snow is pretty but I'm looking forward to spring. Once I get the reindeer and sleigh stitched I'm going to try to finish a pansy piece that is cheery, bright and colorful.

Thank you for reading my blog and for leaving comments. I appreciate them.

Well....until next time....Happy Stitching

Page 5 of America finished-3 done 13 more to go

Good afternoon! I know it's been a couple of weeks since I posted. Just not much has happened and this piece just didn't go too well on this page. It was very slow going. Lots of confetti stitching that drove me nuts. I swear half the time I spent on this piece was on horrible page 5 that's what I called it horrible page five. Well that working copy has been torn to pieces now. I'm doing page 6 and that seems to be a much easier page and going faster. I still may be laying this piece down for a couple of weeks soon though. Those colors just are not the most colorful.

My brother found an apartment. We are so happy. We were afraid he'd be homeless after Jan. 31. But he found an apartment he can afford. Now he just needs to keep his finances in line. He really hasn't lived alone until three months ago and does have mental disease.

I got to return to Faithful 2 felines yesterday. I missed my cats in rooms 6 and 7. My favorite cat, Jacy, got adopted which I was so happy. I missed her but happy she has a home. Now there are several other really nice cats that need to be adopted. Although they will live out their lives there if they don't get adopted. And they have it pretty goo there. This past week one of the volunteers came in and said there was a cat meowing to get in so the people in charge went to get it and found tape on it's back legs. Needless to say they were upset, got the tape off, fed the cat and gave it water then sent her to a foster home where she will be taken care of. Like they said even if she's chipped the people aren't going to admit to owning her. We sort of think she was dropped off there or near there.

My sister is coming in Tuesday. She's hoping to return Tim's cat to him. She took care of her while Tim was in the hospital. We're going to help Tim pack up for his move. I'm hoping to get out to Jo Ann's to get some floss. It's funny all that floss I have yet I always find numbers I don't have or low on!

Well, I'm going to go read some blogs. Until next time Happy Stitching!

Back to America by Mystic Stitch also Turtle Trot

Good Evening. I just also realized that this was Turtle Trot Day. Well----This is the only one I made progress on. I'm keeping the same TT pieces I had last year. Oh I decided not to do the America piece I said I was going to do.....It was more challenging than what I wanted to take on. So this is really the only TT piece I made progress on. My other TT pieces are. 2) the Pansies 3 Count Your Blessings 4 His Eye is On the Sparrow, 5) Strengthen me 6) was one by My Big Toe Designs I forgot the name of it. The remaining 4 I have to decide yet. So much has been happening I haven't given TT a thought.

Like much of the country we got hit hard by the winter storm. There was a huge pile up on I 94 down by Kalamazoo yesterday, involving now they say 200 cars. Conditions the last 2 or 3 days were hazardous, many times you couldn't see in front of you, the white outs were frequent. I don't drive but did have to go out in it 4 of the 5 days that were so bad. Yesterday stayed in. Compared to last winter though this winter has been good. It's suppose to clear up and warm up starting tomorrow and then we'll have a heat wave next week 20's and 30's.

I had problems with my scanner and computer a few days. Finally today I called Geek Squad and they solved the problem so I got to scan this piece.

Today would have been my dad's birthday. This year mom is in heaven with him too. We are sure they are playing golf together with some of their friends, old and new ones. So I've been thinking of him a lot today.

Well...until next time....Happy Stitching!

First finish of 2015

Happy New Year!It's the start of a whole new year. Hopefully a better one than the last two. While there were highs the last two years there were the lows.

I finished the snowman ornament. For as small of a piece it was it was very detailed and took long enough. But it was a fun stitch.

I am going to do Turtle Trot again this year. Some of the pieces will be carry overs from last year. But I am going to have the Ornaments be 1 major project as my goal is at least 1 ornament a month. Also pieces done for charity will be classified as 1 major piece too. I am thinking of adding Let Freedom Ring by Nancy Rossi (a kit by Sunset). It's going to be a major piece I can see that. I plan to start it tomorrow and see how it goes.

Well since I just posted yesterday I'll say Happy Stitching and Happy New Year!

Final Post for 2014

Good afternoon! I hope everyone has a Happy New Year.

I have to admit I'm not sad to see 2014 end. I hope 2015 is much better then the last two years. They had their highs but also had the lowest of lows.

I started this piece last week, thinking it would only take 3 or 4 days. For being a small piece it's taking a long time, but it is very detailed. I think I'll have it done sometime Friday, hopefully in the morning. The last couple of days I have been able to stitch on it more then I have the previous days.

Last Friday I went to my niece's in Rockford. We unwrapped our gifts for each other and my sister and I spent the night. Saturday I had to get back to work at the cat shelter. It was great to see the cats again I missed them. I hadn't been there in two weeks.

Then later Sat. we had Christmas with our brother and his family. It's so much fun to be around children at Christmas. They are so excited, Yes noisy, but it's fun.

We aren't sure what is going on with our brother Tim at this point. I can't go into details but he needs prayers. Sunday my sister returned home taking Tim's cat with her, hoping it would be only a few days, or end of Jan. at longest. But it looks like it will be much longer then that, maybe at least 6 months. We aren't sure. Tim hasn't been told anything yet so hopefully they'll make some decisions beginning of next week.

Now for some great news. On Dec. 28 at midnight, our niece, Amanda gave birth to their 4th child. They named her Holly. They now have Scott who is 4, Connor, 3, Emma 2 and Holly. They have their hands full and they say this is it as far as kids go. Holly is beautiful and healthy. They live in Nebraska so it will be awhile before I get to meet her. I now have 21 great nieces and nephews with 2 more on the way.

Well.....until next time......Happy Stitching.

Merry Christmas

Good Morning and Merry Christmas. Our Christmas plans got postponed today because of illness. My niece invited us to her house but my brother doesn't want to go. So later I'll go eat with some friends. I don't feel like spending Christmas alone. Last night I went to our Christmas Eve Service last night and enjoyed it.

These are two more mini pieces to be made into ornaments later this summer. My next pieces will be larger. I'd like to get 2 more done then right around the 25th of the month work on ornaments. I'm really a seasonal stitcher so we'll see.

Tomorrow I'm going to my nieces in Rockford have Christmas with them, then come back on Sat. and have Christmas with the brother that cancelled today. Kevin and Beth have really bad colds and when they get a cold they get hit. Hopefully they'll feel better on Saturday.

Well....until next time Happy Stitching!

Season's Greetings

Good Morning. I finished this a couple of hours ago. Yes I was up early this morning! I thought of my mom as she loved cardinals and loved the Christmas season. Once I got past the border it was an enjoyable stitch. This is another one to be made into an ornament later this summer.

We've had a busy week. My sister came in and help me unpack everything and rearrange things. I love it here. It's nice and quiet. Saturn really has settled in and adjusted rather quickly. He seems to like it here too.

Thursday night we had our ladies get together. We had white elephant exchange and finger food. We had a nice time. I wasn't going to go. I skipped the dinner on Wed. I just am not in the spirit of Christmas this year too much going on. But I thought Thursday night rather then sit home and feel sorry for myself, I'd go and get out and have fun.

Saturday we passed out a thousand beanie pillows around the neighborhood. The neighbors seemed to really like them. It was a lot of fun. Our new Pastor and his family arrived in so some of the people went and helped them empty out the van. It took no time to do that there were so many people.

Sunday we had our children's program and it was cute. The children did a good job. Sunday night was a cookie exchange but I skipped that. I don't know where my cookie recipes are or even if I have any Christmas cookie recipes let alone come up with 6 dozen cookies to take. I hope there was a good turnout as it really was to get acquainted with our pastor's wife, Becky.

We had my brother's cat here from Friday until last night. My brother and I were going over there to feed her but the weekend was going to be so busy neither one of us would get over there so I told Kevin to bring her here. She did pretty good here adjusted immediately. Her and Saturn did okay together, better then I expected. I was surprised though that 6 lb Purty with no claws was actually the agressor. Saturn her is 17lbs and has claws backed off. He even let her take over his cat tree which he loves. But Purty was not going to let him on it when she was there, not even on the lower level. Tim came and got her last night. I told Tim next time he has to leave for a while we'll just bring her here as she does so much better. Most cats are best left home, but Purty seems to need the human companionship and better off being brought here.

Well, time to go do some housework and then get to stitch my next project. Until next time......Happy Stitching!

Finally a finish!

Good afternoon! Finally things have settled down here anyway. I am all moved in. My sister came for a couple of days and we got the furniture in place, everything put away and even the pictures were hung. Before she came she said "Do you think we can accomplish anything because if we won't then I can't come." I told we'd get things accomplished and we did much more then I thought we would. Saturn has adjusted very well and seems to like it here. I do too, no steps to climb. The people seem to be friendly. Also I don't feel so crowded here. Even though the apt. is said to be smaller it sure doesn't seem like it. Maybe it's the way I laid out the furniture I don't know.

Now to worry about my brother. He's still in the hospital out of town. He's suppose to come home today or tomorrow but earlier they said he'd be home Mon. or Tues. and he wasn't and we haven't heard anything as of today. I may just be going to his apt. and bringing his cat here after all. Especially since the one friend who said she'd take her until the 27th leaves for CA that day, and the other got her daughter's cat as it wasn't adjusting to her daughter's dog. And it seems to be doing well with her, so unless I find a 3rd person she's coming here and I feel at peace about that.

Now on to stitching. Needless to say I stitched next to nothing the last couple of weeks so this ornament took a while but I finished it today. It's the first of several ornaments I will be doing. One of my nieces suggested to me on facebook I do some ornaments for the great nieces and nephews. Another one said we could have a craft weekend at her house this summer or early fall and make the pieces into ornaments etc. So that is the plan.


Well....until next time......Happy Stitching!

I have moved

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. Things just got crazy. Plus I found out my new apartment was ready for me so last week was spent packing etc. Very little cross stitching has been done.

My brother is in the hospital for a week to a month. We left his cat at the apt. thinking that would be best for her but she's not eating! So tomorrow a friend and I are going to take her to her house until my brother gets home. I know it's preferred the cat stay at home, but to get there every day since I don't drive is impossible. I went there Thurs. and another brother went there Friday and Sat. today she'll be left along, but tomorrow morning my friend and I will go get her. She is a very social cat. And since Aug. she was taken to Friends to felines, then my brother adopted her, my mom and nephew lived with my brother, my mom died, my nephew moved out and now my brother isn't there, she needs reassurance that she is okay. I feel it's best for Jody to take her, and hopefully my brother will be home before Jody goes to CA. Another friend will take her then if not. I'm almost thinking it would have been best just to let Marilyn take her now but I had already told Jody she could take her. I hope I'm not making a mistake.

Saturn seems to have adjusted to this move pretty well. He's checking everything out. Fortunately he is a calm cat. I really think I'll like it here once I get settled. But man was I a mess yesterday. And so disorganized. Tomorrow I'll go back and clean up and then be done with the apt. It's just a block away, same complex. Just on main level. Which I needed. I hope to find my stitching and get back to it this week.

Well....until next time Happy Stitching!

Remember this one?

I didn't do a very good job of scanning it. I dug this piece out this morning to get going on it and hopefully finish it up. It's Red Bird. I started it last December and didn't get it finished. The tree is a challenge to do but other then that I like the piece. The red bird will come in hopefully at the end of the week.

I've started packing everything up, I still need to get a date that I can actually move on. I actually started packing last spring or early summer, hoping to move by now. So now I'm getting serious about packing again. My cat isn't sure what to think he keeps meowing at the boxes. Like he doesn't like them. Most cats like to play in boxes, not Saturn. Like him, I'll be glad when it's all done and I'm over to the new apartment. Also my brother needs to move by end of Dec. Hopefully tomorrow he'll hear he got the apartment. His cat has claimed all his boxes for herself, she loves to play in and out of them.

Well, until next time....Happy Stitching!

MMMM Update #5 and last update

Good afternoon! Did everyone have a good Thanksgiving Weekend. I did. We went to my nieces in Rockford for Thanksgiving. I don't think my brother is going to let me ride with him again unless I'm in backseat and stitching! But that UPS or whatever you call those things, had him go on all the back roads, instead of the most direct route. Though 40 miles you only take 3 roads and 39 of the miles are two roads the 3rd road is only about 2 blocks! But no it had us go down this back road, that backroad, drove me nuts, and then took us through Greenville. It was ridiculous the way it had us go. Anyway we made it. We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, Addie and Nolan took over the show. My brother and brother in law both had to leave, but my sister and I spent the night at Heather's. Then Friday Heather, Kay, Addie and I went shopping. It really wasn't too bad. We had a lot of fun. Even had a CS place, very small as they sold other crafts too. I wasn't that impressed with the selection but they had their books and leaflets a $1.00 a piece. I found three books to do. A gymnastic piece for Addie, a space ship for Nolan and a religious one to do for a friend

I didn't do too well on the mini month challenge. I only got 2 small pieces done and a 3rd one about 2/3 done which will finish after the first of year, I have started another small one which should be done in a couple of days.

I will be moving in Dec. I found out for sure. I'm transferring from here to an apartment on the ground level. I'm finding the steps are getting harder and harder to manage. And I think my Neurapathy and Arthritis are progressing so I needed to move. Also we are hoping and praying my brother gets his apt by Dec. 31, as he has to be out of the one he's in by then. He had a 3 bedroom apartment he shared with our mom and his son. Well, mom since died, and Andrew moved to Holland so he needs to get a 1 bedroom apartment he can afford.

Well....until next time......Happy Stitching

MMMM challenge Progress Report #4

Good afternoon! This is my update on Magnolia Blossom, it's getting close to the finish line. I hope to finish it Wed. Then I'll do a couple of other small finishes from the same book I'm wishing I would have done this on different color material it would show better.

I just got back from my brothers. We had a turkey dinner. Yesterday after church a lady came up to me and said she had a package for Tim and I. So she delievered it yesterday. It was a turkey dinner with all the trimmings from Bob Evans. They donate a certain amount of dinners to our church and they decide who to give them to, this year Tim and I were among the recipients. I wanted it today while the food was still fresh. Besides Thursday we are going to my niece's house for Thanksgiving unless the weather is too bad.

Well until next time....Happy Thanksgiving.

Another Mini Start for MMMM challenge

Good afternoon! It's a cold, snowy day outside. A good day to just stay inside and stitch. I have Potato-Corn Chowder in the crock pot and later I'll get into some hot chocolate. We bit the bullet yesterday and didn't get hit too bad, but can't say that for today. I still say since winter came so early Spring has to come in Feb and stay until June, then summer. Fall was a short season this year so spring can be a long season. Right?

Anyway I dug out another piece for the MMMM challenge. I'm not sure the pieces I'm picking are pure mini's but as far as I'm concerned they are compared to most pieces I choose to stitch. It's Magnolia Blossom from an old Stoney Creek book a friend gave me. See I'm thinking spring already doing flowers. It seems like it's moving slower then what it actually is. But looking at the fact I've only stitched about 14 hours on it it's moving quicker then I think.

Well until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Mini Finish

Hello again! Three posts in one week is rare for me. There may be a fourth one at the end of the week as I'll show my new start then. (Magnolias by Stoney Creek). I finished Giving Thanks earlier this morning. It took a while as there was about 2 weeks I got very little stitching in. I did enjoy this piece an awful lot of backstitching but back stitching really defines the piece adds a lot of detail.

Well winter is coming. Today we have snow flurries and between tomorrow and Friday we'll get 4 to 9 inches of snow. They say the western portion of the Lakeshore counties will get the most snow. We are on the eastern side of our county.

So with that, I'm already thinking spring and chose my next two mini pieces, but being flowers by Stoney Creek. I have the Magnolia started but want to be further before I show it.

Well.....until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Happy Veterans Day and MMMM Challenge

Good Afternoon! And Happy Veterans Day to the Veterans out there. I know our family has several who have served. Thank you to all the Vets who have served to keep us free.

Rather then post tomorrow the MMMM Challenge I thought I would post today since it was a week ago I first posted. It's almost done. Since scanning it this morning I finished the girl pilgrim. So it may be done tomorrow even. Guess I'll have to find another mini design.

I can't decide if it's raining or snowing outside. Snow is in the forecast. The UP really got hit hard. Almost a foot of snow up in Marquette area. That's right on Lake Superior close to Canada. We will get snow but not bad this week. I guess next week we are due to get more. But that's in the 10 day forecast. Never trust the 10 day forecast anything can change. At least I hope it changes.

Well...anyway until tomorrow or Thursday when this piece is finished Happy Stitching!

November Turtle Trot

I didn't get as much done on Turtle Trot as I had hoped to this month. I haven't stitched any more on Count Your Blessings since my last post, so you can see that right below this post. This is progress on Strengthen Me.

I did finish those Bobcat Kittens and that was a big deal.

I have been working on mini pieces this month as I thought it would be a nice break and easier. Only problem is the first mini piece I have chosen is very detailed. I'll show a picture of that later this week.

Yesterday was our annual Harvest Dinner at church. As usual the food was great, and everyone had a nice time. We had Turkey, Ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, squash, and a wide variety of pies to choose from. I actually took Ham over the turkey, but did choose pumpkin pie even though I bought an apple pie for it. I cheated, I bought the pie from the store. There was plenty of food to go around.

Tomorrow night we are going to try to get our Bible Study Group back going after about a month of not meeting. Something always came up. This time we said if only 3 of us can go so be it we'll still have it.

Well, I'm going to finish reading blogs and maybe get a little more stitching in. Until next time Happy Stitching!

YOTA Update (Year of the Acronymn)

It's Nov. 6 and time to post YOTA progress. I will work on it again for Dec. but next year I will choose a different piece, the piece my brother wants me to start working on again (America by Mystic Stitch) I had planned to work on it a little each month this year but that failed.

Well....things are getting back to normal. My sister came to town Tuesday and left a little while ago. We finished things up at our Mom's apartment for now. Our brother will be there until Dec. 31 so we'll do the final things then. Mostly the furniture and things she had on walls etc. My brother had an appointment this afternoon about an apartment so I'll call him a little later to see how it went.

This Sunday we are having our annual Harvest Dinner at church. Those are always so good. Last Sunday was the first Sunday our new Pastor spoke since we voted him in. Catch is he really won't be here permanently until end of Dec. as they want their children to finish off the semester where they are at. So he'll be in and out until then.

Until next time Happy Stitching

MMMM SAL

I decided to join the MMMM (Mega Monthly Many Mini SAL) I just started this piece this morning so there isn't much to show on it. It's Give Thanks a freebie by Jean Parish. When finished there will be two pilgrims and an Indian holding hands.

I did work on a couple of other pieces (Count Your Blessings and Strengthen Me) a little since I last blogged but I really have not stitched much.

I think I last posted on Oct. 25. Little did I realize the chain of events that would happen just 2 hours later and the next few days. I talked to my mom on the phone around 11 am and she sounded pretty good my brother and sister-in-law were there and we thought she'd be going home from the hospital in a day or two at most. We told each other we loved each other and I told her I'd be up that afternoon. I went to volunteer at Faithful2felines at noon and planned to go up to hospital after that. About a half hour after arriving there one of the other volunteers came up to me and said "I'll finish your two rooms your brother is here and said there's an emergency." I knew right away. So we got up to the hospital and were joined by Kevin and Beth and mom was unresponsive. My sister was on her way in from other side of state, and our other brother, Kenn was just waiting for further word as he lives in MO and could only take so much time from work. Sunday it seemed like mom was trying to respond but the Dr. said no it was just part of the dying process. Monday came and we could see she was weakening and we had to decide what to do. We wanted her to go to Harbor Hospice where dad was and a nurse did come to evaluate mom. But the Dr. at Hospice didn't want to risk the ambulance ride. Well long story short we all came to an agreement the mask that was keeping mom alive would be changed over to a canula and if she was with us on Tues. then everyone was willing to risk the ambulance ride and she could go to Harbor Hospice. Also my sister spent Sat., and Sun. nights with her and I was going to spend Monday night with her. About 4:30 Kay and Tim went down to get something to eat and Kevin and I started noticing her breathing becoming more shallow. Kevin was just about to call Kay and Tim up when they walked into the room saying they decided not to stay and felt they should come up. We think that was from God. Anyway they made it up to see mom take her last breaths. She joined dad in heaven Oct. 27 at 5:50 pm. So the next few days were hectic, so much more to do than there was with dad. We had her funeral on Sat. A long time family friend and my niece's husband sang the same songs they sang at dad's funeral. And Pastor Shane drove in and Pastor Al and my brother Kenn all spoke just like at dad's funeral. I really wanted the song I can Only Imagine by Mercy Me played so my brother found the tape and as they played the song my brothers, sister, nieces, nephews and two of our great nieces and I walked in carrying a picture of mom and dad each one of us chose and placed it on the steps then they brought her casket it. It was a nice funeral.
We all miss mom but happy she's in heaven with dad and rejoicing and praising God forever. We will see them again.

Well until next time.....Happy Stitching!