Lighthouse Start

Good Afternoon! I started this piece a couple of days ago and it's really stitching up fast. I love working on it. I love doing beach scenes, especially Lighthouses. So where my friend Sherry saw the pattern of these two lighthouses I jumped at the chance to do them. This is the first one of the two. They are in the same book as the beach chairs were in . This piece will be finish 27 towards the 50 challenge and the next lighthouse 28. I'm getting closer and closer to the 50 mark! I've made it further this time than any previous attempt so I think I'll make it to the end this time.

Today we had a pork barbeque after church. I had every in tension of going but I got no sleep last night. For some reason things seemed awfully noisy around here. So I slept until 9 and didn't even get out of my pajamas until after 11. I just had no energy. So for lunch I made my own barbeque and pretended I was there. For some reason I don't make the best barbeque. Not too great at chicken either.

Tuesday night we are having our Secret Sister exchange. I made a piece a few years ago and framed it and it still looks very nice so I'll give that to my SS as her gift. It is a design by Britter Cup called Believe in the Lord.

Thank you for your comments to my posts. I love getting them. I love reading everyone's blogs too.

Well....until next time Happy Stitching!

Beach Chairs finished

I just finished these about an hour ago. They were a quick stitch when I worked on them. I have kitted up my next piece. A friend of mine saw 2 lighthouses in the same book as this that she liked so I said I would do them for her. I love doing Lighthouses anyway. I remember as kids we would go down to Lake Michigan and walk the pier. I can remember the lighthouse was always a calming site.

I have a prayer request. The 15 year old daughter of some friends of mine ran off with her 18 year old boyfriend who is not a good influence on her and is known by the police. Pray for her safe return. The police are looking for the couple.

As much as I loved Buffy and Whiskers, Saturn is turning out to be the cat I always wanted. He is so loving, and yes getting spoiled. The other day we had a really bad storm in the morning. He was so funny, he has this tall piece of furniture, he jumped up on it and every time he heard the thunder he would reach up and try to grab it. It was so funny.

Well....until next time Happy Stitching!

A New Start

This is a different sort of piece for me. Not because it's a beach scene but because of the bright colors. I just wanted to do something easy and cheery, and something pertaining to beach. My next two pieces will be from same book. A friend of mine asked me to do a couple of lighthouses from it. I love doing Lighthouses and they look average, not hard, not real easy so I'm going to do them.

Yesterday I got a nice little surprise, I was going up to the rental office to make arrangements for them to just take rent out of my check once a month and I ran into my sister-in-law and her dog Sam and her mother. Beth's mother lives in same apartments I do for now. She has Alzheimers so they are moving her to assisted living when there is an opening. So I went for a walk with them.

I've cut down to 2 cans of Pepsi a day and it really hasn't been that hard. I'm loosing weight at it too so that's a plus.

Well....until next time Happy Stitching! Someone is pushing me out of my computer chair....any guesses who?

Well I know this is short but I'm going to have to go. So until next time Happy Stitching

A Quick Finish

I decided to find some easy sea life pieces to do and that way get closer to the 50 mark I'm almost half way through now. I think this is piece 23 or 24. Next I think I'm doing a couple of chairs on the beach that says Wish you were here underneath them.

It's summertime and when I was young basically the summer was spent on the beach. And every summer I want to do beach scenes in honor of those days. I remember we had so much fun on Lake Michigan and there are so many other lakes around here, we were always at some lake swimming.

Last Sunday we went to my brother's house. Because he's out of town this weekend he wanted to have us over for Father's Day. This time it was just my parents and brother and sister in law and I it was nice.

This weekend I offered to help my niece with her garage sale but since I don't drive, she'd have to pick me up and it's about 40 minutes away I doubt it. Besides I'm sure Addie would have other plans for me.

Oh did I tell you our Food Pantry got $1,000 donated it by our Women's Chamber of Congress. They had a Dancing with the Stars event and the proceeds went to area food pantries. Last year we got $500 so this was a surprise to get that much. We also got a lot of food for the US Postal Service Food Drive. Yet it seems like we always need food. Somehow I need to go shopping again.

I discovered I was loosing weight without trying so I decided to start trying and by cutting down to two cans of Pepsi a day. Except I haven't lost any more weight since I started that last week. Maybe in time. I do do exercises too but may increase them. If it weren't so hot out I would go for walks but it's too hot.

Finished Butterfly

I finished this butterfly yesterday. It was more detailed than I thought and took longer than I thought it would but it was a fun stitch. I now have a smaller piece Seahorses by Stoney Creek going. It's from Seaside Fantasies. It seems to be going rather quickly.

Later this afternoon I'm going to my brother's. We're going to celebrate Father's Day today I guess. Although I don't have a card or anything for him, I'll get it this week.

Anyone else watch Food Star or Design Star? I like those kind of reality shows. I also like Amazing Race. I haven't really liked any of the others. I think I have my favorites picked but it's still early in the program on Design Star and Food Star is probably almost half done.


Well...someone is kicking me out of my chair so guess I will have to go. Until next time Happy Stitching

Progress on Butterfly

I'm almost done with this piece. It would be nice if I finished it tomorrow but it may be Monday. Not sure I will work on it much on Sunday. If anyone knows who the designer of this piece is I'd love to know. It was sent to me to do for a special quilt and the person did not know who designer was. She didn't know if it came from a blog or where. I thought it came from a foreign magazine as it said Septembre 2010 on it and the way September was spelled made me think it was a foreign designer.

This is going to be one warm weekend. I keep seeing these posts on Face Book "Welcome Back summer....." I think we're happy to have summer around here. My sister is going to be camping here in July so I hope it's a nice week and we can spend a lot of time down by the Lake. I can remember spending hours at the Lake with our friends. So many great memories.

Boy I wish I could think of something to chat about but I can't so until next time Happy Stitching

Presenting Saturn

I finally got some pictures of my sweet little Saturn. So I just have to show him off. He looks larger than what he is although he is 11 pounds. The Vet says for his built he is a perfect weight though. He was so easy to fall in love with, he is such a sweet natured cat.

Oh I have to tell you a cute story about my great niece Addie. Yesterday my sister (her grandma) told her that Great Grandma had only one leg, the other one was wooden. So she went to Day Care today and told her teacher "My Great Grandma has a wooden leg." When the teacher asked how that happened she said "She got an infection in her leg and they had to take it off." So her teacher thought she would ask one more question to see how Addie would respond. So she asked "Where is the leg now?" Addie says "Jesus needed it so it's in heaven with Him!" Too cute. Out of the mouths of babes.

Well....I'll post a picture of the butterfly progress probably on Friday so until then....Happy Stitching

Another new start

I actually started two pieces since I last posted. The one, Magnolia Wreath will take a while so I'll wait to post that one, but this butterfly is being stitched for Quilts for older childer. It's monochromatic and a nice break from the pony and the magnolias. I chose to use DMC 209 for color choice and I love it. It's so pretty.

Our weather has cooled down a lot. They said we would reach 68 today, I'll be surprised if we reached 58! Although it seems to have warmed up the last couple of hours. The rest of the week is suppose to be beautiful!

Saturn has adjusted very well and is getting spoiled. Some day I'll get pictures of him to post. I can't find the battery charger to my camera, my sister took a few pictures but has to mail them to me yet maybe next week. He sure is a sweetheart. He's the best of both Buffy and Whiskers. He isn't interested in human food at all so it's nice to have a cat who isn't right there begging. Although the last few weeks of Whiskers life he didn't beg, he just got on the chair and looked at my food but didn't really want it. I really miss Whiskers though it's hard to get over loosing him after 19 1/2 years, but Saturn has created his own special spot in my heart. I just wish I could get him declawed but because he is al
most 11 months and is 11 pounds my Vet won't do it. She says it would be too hard on him so I'm not forcing the issue.

Speaking of Saturn he is kicking me off the computer. I guess he wants the chair back...he's had the chair all afternoon!

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

Brown Pony Start

I started this piece a couple of days ago. Now that the head is finished, it is going faster. This piece has a lot of browns in it but it's fun to do. This will go to a little boy at Love Quilts who chose Farm Animals as theme of his quilt.

I can't believe how fast this year is going. It's already coming up to Memorial Day Weekend. Anyone have special plans for it? At this point I don't. But anything can pop up. Hope everyone has a happy and safe Holiday Weekend. It's going to be a warm one too. Good weekend for those going camping.

Well until next time Happy Stitching!

Music Speaks is Finished

I woke up way to early this morning so finished this piece off. It was a fun piece to do and probably will be framed next year and given to one of our Pastor's for Pastor's appreciation in Oct. 2013. All 4 pastors and their wives are good in music.

Now I'm doing a Brown Pony for a little boy at Love Quilts who chose Farm Animals as theme of his quilt. I'm getting a lot more stitching time in now that things have quieted down a little. Things are almost too quiet.

This Wed. is our last BSF meeting until fall so our group is having it's final fellowship. I hate to see this year end, it was a good group of ladies I was with this year. I've been in it 3 years nows. It's actually a 7 year Bible Study, then you are a graduate, but they are adding
Revelations to the study in 2015 not sure what book they will take out.
Revelations will be real interesting since there are so many different interpretations of the book.

Last week our Food Pantry at church received two large gifts. One was a money gift from Dancing with the Stars (our city's version of it) and the other was from a Food Drive the US Postal Service had. That one really helped a lot and the money from the Dancing with the stars will help a lot.

Speaking of Dancing with the Stars anyone else watch it? I'm not sure who I want to win. All 3 couples are so good and all 3 deserve the win. I am sort of pulling for Petra and Don only because Petra hasn't won the trophy yet where as Mark and Cheryl both have. I'll be happy whoever wins.

Well since I'm basically kicked out of my chair (I'm sitting on the very edge) I'll go do some stitching. Until next time....Happy Stitching!

Friday Progress Report

I had a little more time to stitch this week so I got quite a bit done on Music Speaks. There is a quite a bit of confetti stitching on it so that's why it's slow going but I am enjoying it.
It has been a relatively slow week this week so not much to report. Little things have come up but nothing to write about.

Today I am going to spend mostly stitching I haven't done that in a long time. Saturn is pushing me off the computer chair so guess I better go. Why does he want the chair when I get on it? Well until next time.....Happy Stitching.

Music Speaks-Progress

I haven't had much time to stitch on this this past week plus when I do stitch Saturn is making himself known by playing with the material or the thread. I forgot what a challenge it is to stitch with a young cat. Since he is 11 lbs I can't really call him a kitten. He turned 10 months this past week.

Last Saturday we went to Addie's 4th Birthday Party. She is such a little sweetheart. As soon as I got there she ran into my arms with a big hug. (I wish I could drive, I'd visit them a little more. Of course she had to make sure we had our pajamas with us and made us put them on immediately. She showed me her new puppy, Cheerio. What a bundle of energy she is. And I thought Saturn had energy! Not compared to Cheerio.
My nephew, Bryan and his wife and 17 month old son made it in from Chicago area. And of course baby Nolan was there and was just starting to walk. By the time I left he was walking across the room. He is one determined baby. We had fears Addie would be really making sure Nolan knew she was boss when he was born, but I don't know, Nolan gives her a run for her money. He determines to do something, he does it. He is so cute. Of course Addie's and Nolan's aunts, uncles, grandma and cousins on their dad's side was there and most of them were 5 or under so it was a noisy but fun afternoon.

I went to Kohl's this past week and going back there with my mom and brother today. I am so happy I dropped one size for sure maybe two. I like loosing weight! Now if I could just break this Pepsi habbit.

Well....I'll until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Another new start

This year I'm on a role, if I keep this pace up I will have about 40 finishes this year which will be a first. But we'll see if I reach that yet. I only had two finishes in April but it was not a good stitching month.

I started Music Speaks a couple of days ago. I am enjoying this piece. There is a lot of back stitching, but I think the piece is so pretty. When I'm further along you'll see it come to life more.

My sister is going to be in town tomorrow and part of Sat. I'm hoping to do some shopping tomorrow, but it depends on how or mom is feeling. Her heart is acting up again and she's not feeling real good.

Saturday my sister's grand daughter is having a birthday party. She turned 4 on Tuesday. Everyone has to wear pajamas! Wonder why my brother in law decided to let his Ass. have the day off and he work instead (LOL). Our dad isn't going either.

Well...there isn't much new so until next time Happy Stitching!

Song Birds are Finished

I finally finished this piece. Boy if it could talk, it would have a story to tell about all that went on while stitching it.

Today we celebrated my mom's birthday at my brothers. Their two daughters and 2 grandchildren were there. Johnny and Katelyn stole the show. They bought Johnny a Police Car to drive when he is at their house so he and Katelyn rode in that a while. Plus Johnny played 3 songs for us on what I forgot what you call the instrument. You put the music on it and then pluck the strings it tells you too. For only be 5 he did real well we could easily tell what the songs were.

Saturn and I are getting to know each other pretty well. He kicks me out of my chair when he wants it. He also likes to tear kleenix apart just like Buffy use to. He is bringing so many memories of her back. Yet he is cuddly like Whiskers, so he has the best traits of both those cats.

Finally it is starting to warm up again. Unfortunately the tulips in Holland MI bloomed way to early and now almost all gone and the tulip festival doesn't start until later this week. But it's great to be getting the warmer weather back and see the sun again.

Well until next time....Happy Stitching

Song Birds Update

Well...... I didn't get as much stitching done this week as I had planned but that's okay. I forgot how hard it was to stitch with a kitten around. They like to "help". LOL. But the last couple of days I did get some stitching in to see the progress. Hopefully it will be done early next week and I'll find something else to stitch then. Or may go back to the Wedding Bells.

Saturn has adjusted very nicely. He settled right down after the first 24 hours. He reminds me a lot of both of his predecessors. He likes to help me make my bed like Buffy did, he purrs a lot like Buffy did and gives hugs and kisses like she did Yet he will get on my lap like Whiskers did, and jumps like Whiskers did. He is definiately more people friendly then either Buffy or Whiskers. He likes to greet anyone who comes through the door and make them his friend where is Whiskers hid, and Buffy if she liked you she greeted you, if she didn't she attacked you or hid. I'll never forget when I lived in GR the city inspector came by for their annual inspection with the housemanager. I was at work....Buffy was alone. They went out on to the deck and Buffy would not let them come back in. They had to flag down another tenant from the building who was going to their car, throw him the keys and have him unlock my door to distract Buffy. The manager was laughing when she told me about it. She said the Inspector laughed so hard about it and had never had a cat do that before. He said I was safe anyway from burglers or anyone breaking in. He is a bigger eater than Whiskers was. We are getting along just fine. Like on Whiskers he lets me know when it's time to get off the computer, only he pushes me out of my chair, whereas Whiskers rubbed across my feet. Saturn seems to have a nicer personality, my family just loves him. He is about the size of Buffy and while Buffy was obviously a gray tiger, Saturn is orange and probly some tiger in him by some of his markings. Well enough on my 3 cats.

Tuesday Addie turns 4 years old. They are having a birthday party for her next Sat. At her request it is a pajama party. My mom and I are going, my dad passed. They also just got their new puppy last Saturday. Heather says Addie and Cheerio immediately became best friends. However, Cheerio seems to think 10 month old Nolan is a toy for him, so she has to watch them constantly or Cheerio is grabbing onto Nolan's shirt, or pants and trying to drag him off. Nolan is needless to say afraid of the puppy. Give him a couple of months, he'll fight back.

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

Finally an update

Good morning! It's been a while since I have posted. A few things have happened since I last posted to my blog. Plus Untill two or three days ago I didn't stitch a whole lot. Here is a picture of Song Birds and what is done on it. It's progressing quite a bit now.

I had to put my precious Whiskers to sleep on Monday. After about a week of eating very litttle and just not being himself I took him to the Vet prepared to have to put him down. While he still was fairly active and used his kitty litter a little he just wasn't himself. The Vet said it was kidney failure. He could have done a couple of tests to make sure and some IV's but how long would that have lasted and I did not want him to suffer. But it broke my heart.

I had to get another cat right away so we went to Pet Smart and this cute little orange and white kitten was making himself known even when I at first chose another cat that was 2 years old but when we got her out she really didn't respond to me. Saturn responded right away rubbing himself against me, playing and wanting my attention so I applied for him and got him on Wed. He is orange and white, short hair, looks like by his tail and other markings he may have some tiger cat in him and is 9 or 10 months old. The Humane Society (where Pet Smart got him from) said he was a stray and brought in to them last Oct. They put his birthday down as July 8 but neutered him in Feb saying he was 8 months at the time so I'm thinking he's 10 months old. He is adjusting very well and has definitely made this his home. He's already discovered if he wants me off the computer he jumps unto the back of the chair and slowly gets in my chair and nudges me off which he is doing right now. He also is a bigger eater than what Whiskers was, I feed him twice a day and both times his dish was empty. He weighs 9 lbs 7 oz. Whiskers at max weighed 7 1/2 lbs so he is a bigger cat. He is definitely creating his own spot in my heart.

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

Start of Song Birds

I hope everyone had a nice Easter. We did. We went to my niece Christina's house. They have such a cute house. We thought it was just us and my brother and sister in law, but they invited Jared's family and some friends who were not from around here and had no family around here. The friends had the cutest and sweetest baby. I don't think we heard him cry at all the whole time we were there. We had a nice time, a little noisy but fun.

I don't know if I told you but my niece, Heather, and her husband had to put their 13 year old Lab down a couple of weeks. She just got so she wouldn't eat and had a hard time moving. As hard as it was for them as Triscuit was a beautiful and nice dog. Their two children could pull her tail and she would just walk away. They went looking for another Golden Lab right away, and found one. Addie (their almost 4 year old daughter) named her Cheerio. They get to bring her home April 21.

I started this piece the other day. It's called Song Birds by Diane Arthurs. I love working on this piece. The first bird is almost done. I hit a snag so I'll lay it down for tonight and tomorrow correct the error or improvise. I have to figure out where the error is. So far I haven't figured it out.

This is a hard to believe story but it's true and it will be a happy life for the animals involved. After talking to some people off and on about their dogs Humane Society and Animal Control decided to take what they thought would be 60 dogs from these people. They were originally dog breeders but things got out of control somehow. Anyway all the dogs plus 12 cats and 2 birds and the couple lived in a small 2 bedroom house. Animal control got there took what they thought were all the animals, the owners said there were more in this room, then more in that room. Anyway there turned out to be 350 dogs. (Pomarainians and Shit Zhus for the most part). All the animals were well fed, almost all of them were healthy, only one needs on going treatment but will be fine. Needless to say though the dogs were filthy and matted, and were filthy. They got volunteers together and all dogs were given baths and brushed, given hair cuts. They are all expected to be up for adoption in a few days. People are already calling about them. The cats and birds will also be adopted. So it will be a happy life for them all. As far as charges being brought against the couple, they are deciding. The couple loved the animals, fed them and did try to take care of them. They may just be charged with having too many animals I don't know.

Two or 3 weeks ago our church found out Jim had cancer. Jim was a janitor at our church and a real character. No matter where he went there was laughter plus you were on your toes as you never knew what Jim would say or pull next. Last Thurs. Last week Jim and Jackie went to the Dr. to see about his options. They were told in 3 weeks he could start chemo and radiation. Thursday at our Board meeting Pastor told us Hospice was called, not because it was the end but just for comfort measures and to give Jackie some help. Sunday Pastor told the church Jim had 24-48 hours to live and he was at a Hospice House. About two hours ago Jim died. We feel so bad for Jackie, Jim was her rock. Jim and Jackie lost their only son to cancer about 10 years ago, plus several of Jackie's sisters died one right after the other 3 or 4 years ago. Jackie isn't in the best of health herself, Jim was the healthy one. So our prayers are going out to Jackie and her daughter and son-in-law, and children and their daughter-in-law and her two sons. Everything happened so fast for them.

Today it actually snowed outside! I thought we were done with that. But it didn't last. Freeze warnings are out through tomorrow morning. Too bad as it's been so nice the trees, and flowers are budding. The tulips in Holland are already out. They stored some away so they might be able to save a few of the tulips.

Thank you for reading my blog and the comments. I really appreciate everyone. I love reading all your blogs and their are so many great stitchers out there.

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

Poppy Pair is Finished

I finished them earlier this afternoon. They will go out in the mail next week to my friend and she'll frame them for her daughter. I hope they like them. The flowers are the colors they asked for but the greens are not bright. I really don't think there is bright green floss out there. I'm sure Karin will make the flowers out though. She is legally blind.

I started my next piece, Song Birds by Imaginating. I'm also wanting to start a Thonmas Kinkaid piece. I have a few of his patterns. I was sad to hear on the news he died a day or two ago. He was a good painter. I loved his paintings.

Anyone have plans for Easter. We are going to my niece, Christina's house. It'll be the first time we've been there.

Hope everyone has a happy Easter. Until next time Happy Stitching!

Almost to the Finish Line

This week I haven't stitched quite as much as usual as I've been majoring on getting the apartment clean. A room a day but some rooms will take more than one morning. My asthsma and vertigo don't let me spend much more than 2 hours a day cleaning but it's enough to see the difference. Plus I have a cat who when he decides I need to get in my chair and hold him, really lets me know. I'll use any excuse to get out of cleaning won't I? But Whiskers is 19 1/2 and I know the reality is I won't have him that much longer so he gets whatever he wants while I have him.

The Easter Egg Hunt was a success. We had so many kids turn out the eggs were all gathered in 10 minutes I think.

My niece and her husband had to put their sweet dog Triscuit down last week. Brian got her before he even met Heather so it was especially hard for him. She was the sweetest dog, they have a 3 year old girl and a 9 month old baby boy and she never even growled at them, if they got too rough, she just walked away and try to go to the garage or basement to get away from the kids. They are looking for a new Golden Lab puppy who Addie has already named Kerrio. Where she came up with that name we don't know, but we like the name. (That name is better than some of the names she came up with for her baby brother.)

Our weather has cooled down quite abit, more seasonal for this time of year, but at least no snow!

Well----until next time Happy Stitching!

Lots more Progress

I love how this is coming together. For being a Dimensions Kit it is so easy and fast moving and so much fun. I didn't think I would enjoy it so much because it is so bright but I am. I am hoping Karin will be able to make it out. (She is legally blind and multi-handicapped).

Tomorrow is our Easter Egg Roll at church. I'm hoping my brother and sister-in-law bring Johnny and Katelyn. Since their parents have been on a cruise the last week I'm sure they are really missing them, and Kevin and Beth will need to keep them busy. There parents will be home in a couple of days though. Melissa earned the cruise by selling so much Jewlery.

Once we get through today it will start warming up again. I think it's safe to say winter is over. Monday I'll start my spring cleaning. Each day I'll tacle a different room. I'll start with the kitchen since I started tackling the stove this morning.

Well...until next time Happy Stitching!