Finally Perhaps I Should Retire is Finished

I put the finishing touches in about an hour ago. This will go to Cross Stitchers for Charity, It's going on a PM Boy quilt done on Blue for any boy. I don't think the children have been picked yet for the girl or boy quilt. Next I will be starting a Teacup for CSFC Teacup quilt. I have my next few projects selected now, so that will bring me closer to the 50 mark! They are: Tea Cup, a small Christian piece, Four Angels each with a muscal instrument, (I'd like to count it as 4 different projects but they are real small and all going on one piece.) Also I want to do a piece I did a few years ago called "Give Thanks" by Gloria and Pat, a couple of Christmas pieces, and finish up a UFO Christmas piece, the Eiffel Tower, and another Precious Moments piece being done by Cross Stitch Addicts. This was one of my Nov. goals to finish this piece. I won't be finishing The Teacher though so that goal will not be met.

Speaking of 50 challenge how is everyone doing on it? So far I've been good. But if I don't start picking up speed on these projects, I will not make it to 50, maybe change it to 25. Wonder if I can do that.

I can't believe it is already middle of November. Soon we'll be gearing up for Christmas! I don't think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Our family is getting together at my brother's house for Thanksgiving. Ninuth (the exchange student living with them is going to make a Korean dish too. She's been warned though not to put in any hot spices.
Well, Until next time. Happy Stitching

For Those Who Serve

Since today is Veterans Day here in USA I thought I would post this piece I did for my nephew about 4 years ago. But first a little about Jake. Jake is the most Patriotic kid I ever knew. He decided when he was very young he was joining the Army. He joined ROTC in Jr. High or High (as soon as he was old enough) and signed up for the Army when he graduated from high school A few months later went to boot camp and in Jan. 2002 was deployed. Jake was shot in a Military Training accident. It shattered his left hand. At least he wasn't killed. The Army and Red Cross were great they made sure a line was set up so my brother could talk to Jake when he was in hospital in Germany, then when he went to Walter Reed Hospital Tim was able to see Jake a couple of times. For two years Jake stayed in the Army both hoping things would work out for Jake to at least still serve but unfortunately he ended up leaving. He's going to college now to be a Civil Engineer .
Tim had asked me to do a piece for Jake and I did two of them. One was a made into a pillow with the Liberty Bell on it. The other I found after he was shot called For Those Who Serve. Because of copyright laws I can't put the verse on. I can telll you it was a Jannlynn kit and I got it at 123 stitch.

An update on the Food Pantry. We start our Food drive somewhat tomorrow though it probably will not get going for a couple of weeks as next Sunday everyone will be bringing food for our annual Harvest Potluck. We meet with the Director of Love Inc. on Tuesday morning. We have changed the room to the basement, which is much more convient. It's in the SS Office which at first I wasn't happy. I really wanted this other room but after weighing the pros and cons the SS office it is. The Supt. is on the comittee and it was her idea to move it to the office. She said she can clean out a lot of the cupboards and her husband can make more shelves if we need it. It is a locked room and really will work out quite well. It even has an open window we can have those in wheelchairs stay right there and we can hand them their food through the window if needed. Or we can just lower the plank and roll them up the two steps from elevator to the office. Plus it will be a very safe location for us and not out of way at all. We are getting more and more excited and anxious to get it going!

On the stitching front I am plugging away on Perhaps I should Retire. Hopefully it will be done Monday. Well...until next time Happy Stitching.

A few more stitching hours

On The Teacher. Right now I am wondering if she will ever be done. I love her dress but it is a lot of work. This is progress after 92 hours. I may lay her down for a few days next week to finish up the Precious Moments piece.

We got a good start on getting our Food Pantry started. We had a food drive at Adventure Club last Wed. and quite a bit got brought in. Last night the Elders voted to let us go through with the Pantry. They also are giving us a bonus I wasn 't planning on. The Christmas Love Offering will go to us. So we get to do some serious shopping for the food pantry too. I want to go shopping but I want Diane and Mary (the other two on the Comittee with me) to be there as they know how to find good deals and I don't. I'm hoping a store will have real good canned food sells about the time we do the shopping. If not, well Diane especially will know how to look for the deals. I'm excited now. We have Mary's husband building shelves for us and our Pastor to the Seniors gave up his office for us. He used it very little anyway. Can you tell I'm excited. This is something I've dreamed about for 5 years and finally get to see it come true.
Well, until next time Happy Stitching!

Goals for November (Stitching)

Hopeuflly in November I will finish The Teacher and the Precious Moments piece Perhaps I should retire. I also will hopefully get out Santa of the Forest and get that further along to finish up in Dec. I would like to do a small christian piece to go on a quilt for a new and fairly young widow. Her husband was killed in a farming accident leaving her with 3 young children. Perhaps another PM piece for Love Quilts and a Teapot for CSFC will be done. I don't know. That's a lot of stitching for me. If I get The Teacher 3/4 of way done and finish it up in Feb. I will be happy. Well we'll see. Until next time Happy Stitching!

Pieces done towards the 50 challenge
1) Always Room for one More
2) Boo
3) Teddy and Pumpkins
4) Serenity Heart
5) Bathing Puppy
Long ways to go yet! But 1/10th of way there.

Happy Halloween

This little Halloween witch and I are just stopping in to say Have a Happy and Safe Halloween! Enjoy the little trick or treaters tonight. That is something I miss they don't allow trick or treating in our apt. complex and I use to love seeing the children in their costumes and giving them their candy. Now days you have to be careful so most apt. complexes around here just don't allow it. A lot of people take their children out to the mall or to parties.
I did this piece several years ago. Not even sure where I found her. I think a magazine but not sure on that.

This Past weekend

This past weekend was supper busy with my sister coming in to town on Thursday. I waited until Friday to see her. We went shopping Friday to our favorite clothing store (Kohl's) and then to the mall to another favorite (Penneys). I hate shopping for clothes but really needed some winter clothes and was very happy with the outcome. I managed to get a slack outfit, plus another pair of slacks and 4 more tops. So it was successful. Then we ate at our favorite Chineese place at the mall. They give you so much food all three of us split a meal I'm not kidding. Then Friday night we went with Dad out for Pizza and joined some friends from church. Saturday we left Dad home again, and went out to eat with our sister-in-law, her two daughters (One is 7 months along)we can't wait for the baby to be born! My sister's daughter came in to town to join us and also the Ninuth, who is exchange student living with my brother and sister-in-law. Ninuth is catching on to the English language and talking more now. At first she was so shy. She fits in well with our family and we will miss her when she returns to S. Korea in late May or early June.
Needless to say I didn't get much stitching done. I did get the heads of the children done on The Teacher and she is moving along a little faster now. This picture of the Kitty in Pumpkin is one I did about 4 years ago. With Halloween being tomorrow I thought I would put it on my blog. Well until next time Happy Stitching!

Busy few days

I haven't been around much lately mostly because it's been busy here. Finally today I get to stay home until tonight so I can go see more blogs. I don't have an update on The Teacher as I haven't stitched that much on it. I am working on the boy's face and hair and taking me forever. I hate doing faces and hair and that is always the hardest and slowest part of the piece for me. Do you have a part that consistently slows you down?

Recently I have discovered a few blogs from Finland which excited me as my dad's family is from there. We don't know a lot about my dad's family except by some articles and pictures we found in our Family Bible which my brother has now. It's totally in Finnish. I don't speak Finnish but can figure little things out and really enjoyed seeing the stitching on these blogs. My dad's family came from Western Finland in a seaside town. (No wonder we love fish!) I have enjoyed everyone's blogs I've seen so far and bookmarked quite a few. I could spend hours here easily just browsing through all the Cross Stitch blogs and some of the animal ones.

Yesterday I went out for breakfast with some friends. We go once a month but because of the weather yesterday, we only had 4 of us show up, usually we have about 12 show up. There was "black ice" yesterday morning so that may have scared the older ladies away.

My sister is coming to town tomorrow from the other side of the state. She has to work tonight so will be here late tomorrow. I'll see her Friday, and we'll probably go shopping. I need some winter clothes and need gloves. My winter clothes are getting old. We were at Kohls lst week and I complained about the prices the whole time. Two days later was a sale but didn't make it out there then. There is another sale starting tomorrow so we'll go again Friday. And although it's only October, we've had quite a bit of snow.

Well that's it for now. I'll try to post a picture of The Teacher tomorrow or over the weekend. Until next time.....Happy Stitching!

An UFO bites the Dust!

Bathing Puppy is now completed! Hoorray! I never thought I would get her done. It is so cute though I will definitely do more of these children in the future! Now I have The Teacher back out to stitch more on her. I do not want her to turn into a UFO even though there is no deadline on her. This makes 5 pieces done toward the 50 challenge and 45 more to go. It'll take me a couple of years at the rate I'm going!
It's been a busy few days so haven't been around much. Yesterday our Sunday School Class had a hotdog, hamburg fry at some friends house. We played Bible Trivia, Bingo and some of us played Dominoes after that. It was fun. Of course I didn't win any of the games, but that's life.
Thursday night I went with a friend to a dinner for Wycliff Translaters. The dinner was okay. I don't like steak and the green beans were not cooked long enough. But the mashed potatoes were fine, and the apple pie was delicious. The program was really good and interesting. Quite a few from our church were there.
Today I got up at 5 am because I had such a bad toothache fell back to sleep at 7:30 and didn't get up until 9:30 when my ride to church knocked on the door. I was so embarrassed I didn't answer the door. I'll go tonight. It's Pastor's Appreciation Sunday. Did I get a card for any of the Pastors I forgot too, so hopefully this week I will. Better late then never.
Well....until next time Happy Stitching!

Question of the Week and Update on Bathing Puppy

Vash had this week QOW "When you stitch do you which direction do you go? Do you /// then \\\? Are you right handed or left handed? Does that affect the way you stitch?" I /// then \\\. I am right handed and I really don't know if it affects the way I stitch I never thought about it.
I am posting a picture of Bathing Puppy. I hope to finish her off this weekend then go back to The Teacher.
Tonight I am going to a dinner. I guess it's for some book organization I don't know. The lady that invited me said the lady asked quite a few from church to go so we'll see. I hope it's informal I don't want to dress up. I plan on just wearing slacks.
Does anyone watch Dancing with the Stars? I do. I like some of the Reality Series like Dancing with the Stars and Amazing Race. I thought it was great having both couples in final two return. We wondered how they would handle Sarah's departure, call an illiminated couple back, end a week early, or just have no one eliminated this week.
One of these days the newness of blogging will wear off and I won't blog so often!

Well my laundry is waiting for me. Until next time Happy Stitching!

New Stash

Thanks for your comments to Prayer of Jabez. I appreciated the kind words. I really enjoy reading everyone's blogs.
What is it with me and my hand in car doors this year? I am not kidding my hands are getting me into all kinds of trouble. In March I was standing by the open car door with my hand on it concentrating on our mother who was walking towards the store, and Lisa (my brother's x wife but still close to the family I guess) didn't know my hand was there, slammed the door shut with two of my fingers in it. The one really got hurt bad. I went into the store a bloody mess, but they were so nice and did try to wrap it up good. I went into several other stores after that and the finger was still bleeding so I was careful to have paper towels wrapped and not touch a thing. Finally 4 hours later decided to go the Dr. Then a few months later we were taking an elderly man home from church and he slammed my hand in the door. I didn't even realize my hand was there until then. It took a few seconds before my dad realized what happened. Roger was still talking away unaware of my screaming. Finally my dad got the attention of another man, plus 2 very young boys saw the whole thing happen and they all ran to the door to open it. I traumatized the two little boys barely 5 and 7 years old. Then a 3rd time was with a cuboard at church. I cut myself but no big deal. Then yesterday I went to the trunk of my brothers car and slammed the trunk on the corner of my thumb, I was able to rip it away, of course tearing the skin. Went into the house and into bathroom and said to my parents, "Crumble Jets! What is it with my fingers and cars this year!" After seeing I was fine and dad bandaged up my thumb my parents and brother made fun of me, of course I was making fun of myself too and laughing. Mom called Lisa and told her. So Lisa came over and gave me a rough time too. She just lives across the street now. Well so much for my saga of car doors and trunks and my fingers. Last night I had nightmares of my arm being caught and being dragged by the car because my dad or brother didn't hear my screams!
Remember when I talked about getting two new kits and wondered if they would make me start all over on the 50 challenge? Here they are? See why I couldn't resist them. The puppy and kitten the store tag is on but you get the idea. Sorry about the bulb flash on Angel and the Lamb but you can still see it good. The Angel and the Lamb will either go to the Nursery at church or go to one of our Pastors for Pastors Appreciation. The Puppy and Kitten will go to Love Quilts, or Cole's Quilts, or to a friend. Maybe 2 of the 3.
Yesterday we went to the Mall and I got a new phone. My other one only worked half the time. Also went to Jo Anne's and got some material and floss. I forgot my floss list and tried to go by memory. Out of 20 floss skeins, only one was on the list. Grrrrr. Oh well...
On the stitching front I laid The Teacher down to finish up the Bathing Puppy by Bessie Pease Gutman. It should be done early next week if not before. Then I'll go back to The Teacher.
Until next time.....Happy Stitching.

Cross Stitch Gifts

Do you have a piece you gave as a gift that really stands out? Please tell me about it what one it was etc. This piece was by far the hardest piece I ever did and caused me a whole lot of tears. Even when it was framed problems arouse. I have since learned my problems with this piece were nothing compared to others. It's the border that drives everyone crazy. The lettering and picture were great to do. All 3 Pastors and wives liked their pieces and other gifts I've done were well received, but there just was something special about this one and the couple's reaction to it. They still have it hanging in their room. The reaction Pastor Nate and Kate had and the fact they still appreciate it really made it all worth while. I was really glad I stuck that piece out. I told the Pastors in 10 years I'd do it again. Pastor Nate went "In 2013 we can have another piece." Yea but you have to stay that long. We now have a new Senior Pastor as Pastor Brian and Ellen moved to Upper Penisula, so I'm thinking of doing it again for Pastor's Appreciation Oct. 2008. If I can do it in 2007 I will. But the last project I planned 2 years in advance and found pieces I thought were ideal for each of the Pastors at that time.
Until next time. Happy Stitching!

Go Tigers

Okay I'm not a big sports fan but I am caught up in Tigermania and let the Tigers roar into the World Series. It's been a long time since Michigan could really brag about any of their sports teams. Well maybe Red Wings but I am NOT a Hockey fan. Since my brother and his family live in St. Louis I think it would be nice to have the Cardinals go against the Tigers.
On the stitching front The Teacher is going like gangbusters. I also am pulling the thread out to finish up Bath Time before I lose the Color key again. By finishing up Bath Time that gives Deb a chance to catch up to me on The Teacher. We are doing it as a SAL (no she doesn't have a blog here as far as I know anyway). She didn't get to start until yesterday so I'll be nice and slow down. Besides I could use the break.
Thank you for your comments to my Welcome Friends piece. I was starting to feel like not too many people were reading my blog and what was the use as I really wasn't getting many comments like other sites were. I saw my blog on a few blog rolls and that excited me. I can't complain about not being on too many blog rolls because I haven't even figured out how to post a blog roll. But there are several that would go on if I could. I really enjoy reading everyone's blogs and am spending far too much time here!

How is everyone doing on the 10, 25, 50 challenge. I only have 4 projects done. I have a long ways to go. My finished projects are
1. Always Room for 1 more. Precious Moments piece
2. Boo (Ghost and Pumpkin done on black aida)
3. Teddy Bear & Pumpkins (also Halloween piece)
4. Serenity Heart for a little girl at Love quilts.
My two WIP's are
1. The Teacher by Butternut Road
2. Perhaps I should Retire (PM piece done on blue aida for Cross Stitchers for Charity)
UFO's I plan to finish up
1. Bath Time by Bessie Pease Guzman
2. Christmas Wish by Sue Hillis
3. Santa and the Forest by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
4. Rhapsody in Blue by Four Oaks Designs
5. Light Of Peace by Thomas Kinkade
Pieces I plan to do
1. Angel piece for girl at Love Quilts
2. Eiffel Tower for Love Quilts
3. Sunset over Miami
4-10 5 Winnie the Pooh (Eyore, Piglet, Tigger, Winnie the Pooh and I forgot the other one) cicrling around a birth announcement to be done for my niece expecting her first child. Her mother will make it into a wall hanging.
Those are it for sure. Well enough for now. Until next time. Happy Stitching

Favorite CS Piece

First Whiskers says Thank you for the Birthday Wishes. He had a good day on his birthday. He was boss. (Isn't he always)

I was thinking today about Favorite pieces. Do you have one that you did and it just stands out. For some reason this one is my favorite of all the pieces I did. It was so much fun to stitch. I did it several years ago. My mom wanted a Welcome piece to hang in their entry way so I did this one and loved it. I'd like to hear about your favorite piece.

I'm not big on Sports but I am caught up in the Detroit Tigers right now. After having so many rough years, they are well on their way to Worldchampionships. All they have to do is beat Oakland A's today and they will be going.

So much for our fall follage. The leaves have fallen pretty much off the trees around here. Which that was forecasted. Oh well....maybe next year. Can you believe someone was actually surfing on Lake Michigan yesterday! Dangerous thing to do with those winds and the waves!

Well, please tell me about your favorite cs piece. Until next time Happy Stitching!

The Teacher

I was going to wait until next week to show another picture but decided to do it today. I really am happy with how she is progressing. Only I did make a mistake so am having to improvise rather than take it all out!. That's what I get for doing so much on one side and not doing the whole piece together. I tend to do part I least like first and get it over with. But that doesn't always work.

The food pantry is a go but I can't tell the church until after the elders meet first week of November as there are a few final details to sort out plus they want to give us their guidelines. So I'm happy. Now Mary, Diane and I have to get together sometime between then and first Thurs. of Nov. We may do just what we did last time just meet before our own board meetings then go to our Board meeting.
I'll give Pastor the plan just before the Elders Meet. I was going to Chairman of the Board but since he is my Dad, I'm being asked to go to the Pastor as he'll be more objective.

Today is Friday the 13th. I'm not superstious though so I just deal with it. It is raining today, we have had snow. And we are under high wind warnings but what else is new there. We're use to highwinds!

Well until next time, Happy Stitching everyone!

Happy Birthday Whiskers

Today he is 14 years old. I'm not sure today is his exact date of birth. I got him when he was about 10 weeks old. Vet figured he was born around middle of Oct. So I just made Oct. 12 his birthday.
Last night we had Adventure Club again. I just love working with the children. This year we have a pretty good group of kids. I just wish we had more kids as this is such a great outreach program. Last night the Gospel was clearly given like my brother said about 3/4 of the children went forward. Sometimes I think they do because their friends do. The little girl I dealt with just wanted to pray about a problem she had. Tonight our elders meet about the Food Pantry I am hoping to get going. To start we will only have it for people in our church, plus those who are in Teens, Adventure Club and Life Points Programs if their is a need for food. We are going to allow walk-ins as we feel the need to outreach but we want them to at send their children to Adventure Club. It's something I've been concearned about for a while and see it a great Outreach program.

On the Stitching front, someone did send me the Dmc numbers for Bath Time so I hope to get that out in the next week or two and finish it off. Right now The Teacher is going like gang busters so I can't lay it down. I'll show a picture early next week you won't believe how fast it's going!

Oh I purchased Nautical Sampler from someone hoping I can do it for Love Quilts. If I can't for some reason will I have to start all over on the 50 challenge or because the intention was there and it is second hand not brand new it won't count against me? Well until next time Happy Stitching.

Has anyone seen this one

It's new by Alma Lynn and it is so cute! I must remember this one after I fulfill my 50 challenge. But in meantime I thought I would see how many of you I could tempt! LOL!
It's a couple hours later I'm asking for help on Bath Time by Bessie Pease Guzman. I have the pattern but lost the color key. This is a UFO I wanted to finish off. Does anyone have the color key and can just tell me what DMC numbers are in it. I can figure the rest out Thank you.
Only 2 more days and it will be Thursday! Snow is in our forecast. Not delighted about that but delighted it will be cold enough to freeze and I won't feel so crummy!
Well I better go get dressed and sort out my laundry get that going! Happy Stitching everyone!

The Teacher

I really am pleased with how fast this is moving along. I've only worked on her about 12 hours and she's going much quicker than I expected she would. I probably will give it to one of my nieces. I have 2 of them that are teachers. Well one is teaching one is on maternity leave and probably will not teach again for a few years.
Our weather is suppose to turn cold Thursday and I'm counting the hours down. Just knowing the cold air is coming is making me feel a little better. I am so tired of feeling so crappy. But this has been a hard fall for a lot of people with allergies so not just me.
Only problem with it turning so cold we will miss out on the full beauty of the fall season. The trees are just starting to be pretty. I live in an area with a lot of trees and beautiful in the fall.

I did not fall off the wagon

I ordered a couple of things from The Stitchery Today. One was an angel and a lamb which is out of stock but will be in mid month. The other was a kitten and a dog about Friends. I plan to stitch the Angel and Lamb for the Nursery at our church. I think those little ones would love that. It will take a while to stitch up but I will do it. The other piece I'll stitch up for a friend. Now to get back to stitching on The Teacher. When I have it further along I'll get a picture of it. On the side I'm doing a Precious Moments piece of a little boy changing a car tire. As usual once I get pasts the face and hair it should be smoothe sailing. For some reason I do not like doing the face and hair that is the hardest part of the piece for me. I found it to be true on the PM piece and finding it true on The Teacher. Anyone else have the same problem?
For some reason I am having a problem with my camera shutter. It doesn't always open all the way. I thought it was the batteries at first but I changed the batteries, that wasn't the problme. I had my brother look at it today and he said sometimes it will cooperate and open all the way other times it won't. Oh well.... That makes me want to get a new scanner but not yet. Not until after the first of the year.
I got my new glasses today so I can see the stitching better. I can't believe they make that much of a difference but they did. I even can distinguish between some symbols. Well I'm going back to stitching and pestering Whiskers. Happy Stitching Everyone.

50 challenge

I was wondering how everyone was doing on the 50 challenge. So far I'm doing okay. I'd like to know how others are doing. I saw a couple of pieces in The Stitchery Catalog I really want to order but I will hold off. Something about wanting to save my money and with Christmas coming well....
Last night was another good night of Adventure Club. I just wish we would bring more kids in. We use to have so many more. Those kids are in the Teens program now.
After church last night I delivered the quilt and pillow to baby Tina. She seemed to really like them. She really liked the pillow as she could carry it. She did notice the clowns, the duck and a bike on the quilt. It was a Circus themed quilt done by Cross Stitchers for Charity.
Today really looks like it will be a nice day out after so many cold rainy days. I can't believe Oct. is well underway! This year has flown. Well Happy Stitching everyone.

Serenity Heart

This went real quick once I got the upper right corner done. I ripped it out about 10 times! It will go to Katie Rose at Love Quilts who chose the colors pink and purple for theme of her quilt.
This brings to 4 pieces done towards the 50 challenge! Now I'm doing a Precious Moments piece called I should Retire. It's a little boy changing the tire of a car. It will go to a boys quilt done on blue aida we are doing at CSFC. Happy Stitching everyone!