Number 100!

Wow - when I started this blog back in the summer 100 posts seemed so far away. I wondered if anyone would ever read it or if I would just be talking to myself (I do a lot of that!). I appreciate all the comments you leave. I may not respond to each of them personally, but I do read each and every one of them and they bring a smile to my face - and some days, I really need that!
So - with my limited computer savvy self, no fancy number generators were in use this morning, just plain old pencil, paper and scissors. After I numbered each comment (I've been keeping track!) I put a number for each one in this little basket and drew out number 51

which goes to Esther Sunday from her comment on post # 91.

So, Esther dear, send me your mailing info and I'll send the Peace ornament to you one day next week - whenever I can actually make inside the post office during business hours. I hope you enjoy the ornament as much as I enjoyed stitching it.
Yesterday was a perfect day for Canton. The weather was great, not too many people. I picked up a couple of things. Linda - yes, there was a lot of holiday stuff. In fact, the only things I got were holiday decor. I'm sure you will see it before the end of the holiday season - I have to show pics of something! LOL
I'm off to do some Christmas shopping. If I know myself - and I do - I'll do a lot of looking, then come home and make another list and go back next week and shop again.

Off to Canton

Just a quick post before I run out the door. A couple of errands then, unless something changes in the next 90 minutes, I'll be meeting my friend Sherry and we will be heading to Canton. This is post # 99 so hopefully tomorrow I will have time to make post # 100! I have a lot on my to do list for tomorrow so it might be a late in the day post. I will be giving away the Peace ornament so this is your last chance to post a comment if you want your name in the drawing. Be sure to leave an email address if you don't have a blog so I have a way to get in touch with you. I leave you with a parting shot of tree #2. This is my little Lizzie Kate feather tree - you will note there isn't a single stitched ornament on it - that is because I haven't stitched any for it yet! Hubby made all kinds of fun of my little tree when I bought it last year, but I'm rather fond of it. It really isn't as wonky as it looks - that would be because fat me was standing on the kids little step stool (you know the ones they have when they are two so they can reach the sink to brush their teeth? I still have it sitting right outside their bathroom - not that one of my 6' boys need it!) so I could get a picture of it sitting on top of the computer cabinet in my teenie tiny little office.

I haven't forgotten I still owe you the story of the leaning Christmas tree - I will try to get to that this weekend when I have more time.

Okay - I'm off!

Have a great day!

Christmas Motif Sampler

Here is the finished ornament that I showed earlier when I finished the stitching. It is by JBW Designs. I think it turned out nice - and I am keeping it for myself! It might be the only one I get to keep for myself this year.

I finished the stitching on a gift last night (still have to assemble it) but I can't show it yet as she sometimes visits here. I will try to remember to get a picture before I wrap it so I can show it after Christmas. I still have a pile of things to get stitched before Christmas and the tree is the only decor that has been unboxed so far. I still have the fall decor on the front porch!

Mr. Fix-it - aka, middle child, figured out the problem with the leaning Christmas tree (operator error) and it is now standing straight. I'll share that story and picture in a later post. (the tree skirt is still in a box somewhere in the attic)

Ho, ho, ho.

Well, I'm getting there. Here is the tree at 12:15 this afternoon.

Yes, I know it looks a little drunk. After several attempts to get it straight I decided to get it decorated then move it back to where it will stay and then get it straight. Every time I would get it straight then touch it again it would move! I'm trying to get myself out of that 'OCD' thing I have with how things are done and not stress about it so much. Normally this baby would sit here for a couple of days and I would play with the branches until I had them all shaped just right, but I decided to just go for it and get it decorated today. Now that I see these pictures, I see that the lights need some work. Or maybe I just need to re-arrange some ornaments.

This is the first box of ornaments to go on the tree. There is just so much that OCD stuff you can whip out of the girl at a time. All of these came out of (and will go back in) their original boxes, I did put them all in a basket, then go back and do hangers, instead of unboxing one ornament at a time, putting a hanger on it and putting it on the tree. It did seem to make the process go a little faster this way. I always do all these type ornaments first, then the stitched ornaments, then the last thing to go on are the glass icicles. I got myself a little out of order as Brian wanted to do his ornaments this year (he wasn't here for Christmas last year) so I skipped his box and got everything on the tree except for his ornaments and the icicles. (he went to do a little shopping this afternoon) As soon as he gets his on, I'll finish up and call it done. After 5 hours work, this is what I have so far. I took 6 pictures and this was the best one of the bunch. When I get it completely finished, I'll try to get one that isn't blurry.

I'll work on the rest of the house later. I think this is enough for one day.

My Christmas Tree

Yep - there it is, on the bottom of that stack of boxes (which, btw is two deep and you don't see the top of the stack - and there is more on the other side of the door). I had thought I might at least get it downstairs yesterday and start shaping it but not only is it still right there at the bottom of that stack, the curio cabinet that has to be moved out of the corner is still in the corner. In other words - no progress yesterday! Nope, none. Well - I did throw away the little pumpkins that were starting to turn green. Oh well. I'm not going anywhere until late this afternoon so maybe today - but don't hold your breath.

I am supposed to go to a wedding this afternoon. One of my best friends daughter is getting married. It has been sunny and warm here - we have been running the a/c - until a couple of days ago. This morning it is wet and 37* with a 90% chance of rain. Did I mention this is supposed to be an outdoor wedding? It ain't looking good.

Think I'll go stare at that curio cabinet again. I stared all day yesterday but it never moved. hummm.

Turkey day fun

As usually happens when we all get together, I take the camera, then I don't get many pictures. I wanted a picture of my three boys together (the last one was 2 Thanksgivings ago) and one of the four kids - yes, I still think of then as kids, together (my 3 boys and DIL) but it didn't happen. Maybe at Christmas.
We usually have holiday dinners at my sister's house. We all live in the same town (myself, my sister and my parents - I have a brother in Arizona) but my sister's house is the largest and out in the country so it isn't as crowded when we all get together - plus, after lunch the guys can get in some practice hitting golf balls.

L-R Hubby, Jason, Dad. I'm guessing there are more than a few balls in the pond.

Brian helping Jason pick classes for next semester.

and Mr. You aren't really going to take my picture are you? (Timothy) He takes after his mother and HATES to have his picture taken so it is a pretty rare thing to get one where is isn't in motion - hiding from the camera. Today I am debating whether I want to move furniture around in order to put out Christmas decor or not. I may have to think about that through another cup of coffee.

Gobble Gobble

Humble gratitude

I got this little piece in an exchange over on the OOE boards last year and I finished it off into this little stand up.
So many of you nice people have kept coming back, and I have just kept on complaining and I really don't intend for this blog to be about that. While I may be in the middle of my own little pity party I thought I would take a moment to stop and say that I haven't forgotten that I am blessed, and I am truly grateful for that. I have a wonderful husband who works hard to provide for us, (and if I complain about him now and then, well, I have enough time invested here that I have earned that right!) I have three smart, healthy children that have grown into fine young men. (and if I complain about them from time to time, well, I've invested a lot of time there too) I have a wonderful daughter-in-law. I have a roof over my head and food on my table. While there may be things that I 'want' there really aren't things that I 'need' that aren't provided.
So, thank you for continuing to stop by to read - I'll try to be more cheerful.
Oh - and this is post # 93! It is possible (ha, ha!) that I could reach # 100 by the end of next week and be ready to give away the Peace ornament! I'm not above bribery.

Ladybugs and bumblebees, again

But this time they are framed! I 'think' I am going to hang them in my bathroom but that means moving some plates around and I just don't have it in me tonight. Just haven't felt good the last week or so. Not really anything I can put my finger on - but enough about that.

I just love the way this piece turned out - sorry about the crappy picture. I'll try to get a better one when it is finally hanging where it is going to hang - at least for awhile! (meaning until I get bored!)

I'm not going to worry too much about the whole holiday decorating thing. Either it will get done or it won't. Timothy will do the outside - that is his thing. Maybe when he gets started on that, I'll get enthused about the inside. If not, oh well. If no one else makes an effort to get it done, oh well! We may just have outside decorations! If it comes down to it, I can always pull down one of those skinny one-piece trees and throw a few ornies on it at the last minute w/o a lot of fuss. I have at least bought a few gifts - no wrapping paper and haven't even thought about cards. I'm not stressing over it - I just don't care this year.

bah humbug

Thanks so much for the birthday wishes for baby boy. We took them (Jason and DIL, Ashley) to dinner last night and had nice visit. He seemed pleased with how the play went, but glad it was over. Actually, I think he was just glad to have that weave out of his hair. His scalp is a little worse for the wear and his hair a little thin, but such is the life of an actor!

Despite the fact that I have been stitching Christmas ornies and looking at Christmas decor in magazines and on other peoples blogs, I have no desire whatsoever to decorate my own home for Christmas. I usually put my tree up over Thanksgiving weekend - and I usually pretty much do up the whole house. Most every room has something Christmasy in it. Maybe it will come later - maybe not.



This is one of the French Country charts from JBW Designs - I am going to make it into an ornament. I have the perfect piece of fabric for the back of it that I got at the quilt festival. Wonder if I will have a tree to hang it on this year? Bah humbug.

Happy birthday, Jason!

My baby boy is 21 today. It doesn't seem possible. I was thinking about it as I was watching you on stage Friday night - how you would get on the floor with your GI Joe and Ninja Turtle figures and make movies with the video camera. Wasn't that just last week? I'm always amazed that anyone can get on a stage in front of a theatre full of people and remember 2 hours worth of dialogue and all the 'technical' stuff that goes along with it. You make it look so easy. I can remember when you couldn't remember where you left your shoes - wasn't that just last week?
I treasure the memories I have of my children as babies but I am also very proud of the young men they have grown to be. I treasure each and every new memory we make together. However, they will always be my babies, and Jason, you will always be my 'baby boy'. I love you. Mom.

Cute stuff!

Got this pin from Margo yesterday. She makes these out of old hinges, aren't they cute? I just thought I needed one since they look like crowns and well, I am the Queen, aren't I? (remember, I do have the sticker on the back of my van!) LOL We had a nice lunch - she even brought me a candy bar - Dove Dark Chocolate, now is that a good friend or what? We just never seem to run out of things to talk about.

Lots of busy things to do today, then we are going to see baby boy in As You Like It. Hope that link works, it is supposed to be the press release for the play. He probably hates me calling him 'baby boy' since he will be 21 in two days, but he will always be my baby boy.

Have a great Friday!

Peace

Okay - I told you I would show you a picture of the completed ornament that I'm going to give away in post # 100. If you remember in post # 76 I told you that for every comment between that one and #99 I would put your name in the hat for the drawing and on post #100 I'll announce the winner. You don't have to have a blog to post, but if you don't have a blog, please leave an email address so I know how to contact you if you are the winner. I'll do my best to get to post 100 before it gets too far into December! I guess it is technically possible to get to 100 before the end of November but not likely - some days I just can't get around to posting.

Thanks so much for the lovely comments on my yard conservatory and my mosaic window (and bedroom wall). I am so pleased with them both - Linda did such a wonderful job. If you haven't stopped by her site you really should - take a look at her 'girly office' trust me, it is even better in person!

Bonus window

This is my 'bonus' window. I had one single pane window so I had Linda mosaic it to hang on the wall in my bedroom. This one had to either come from the window in this room (my tiny office) or what is now the boys bathroom since I think those are the only windows in the house that were single pane. I may someday move it elsewhere and put a mirror in it (it does still have the glass in it), but for now I like it where it is. Didn't she do a great job? I just love it.

I really am doing some stitching - not that I am getting much finished, but I am stitching! I do have the ornament for the 100th post giveaway finished and will show a picture of that soon.

Lookie what I got!

From this. . .





to this!




Can you believe it?
I picked up my yard conservatory from Linda yesterday. Isn't it wonderful? I took those old windows to her and she worked her magic on them. When we replaced the old wood windows in our house several years ago I saved a few of them, not having any idea what I would do with them - now I wish I had save them all! (there had to have been at least 50 pieces!) And to think every time hubby cleaned out the garage he wanted to get rid of them but I just knew the right project would eventually come along. When I saw these cute little houses that Linda builds I knew that was it. She was so kind to use my old windows for my little house. She looked around my picturetrail site at pictures of my house to see what colors I like and she could not have done a better job if I had been standing over her watching each and every piece she put in. I just love it! And - with it on this corner of the porch, I can see it from my stitching chair! How perfect is that?
I haven't decided what plants will go in there so for now I re-located an ivy from the living room - I hope it doesn't decided to all of a sudden take a cold spell around here!
My friend, Sherry, went to Linda's site to look at pictures of my little house and found one for herself while she was there. She got the yellow one with the rooster on it. She picked hers up at the same time I did but she hasn't sent me a picture yet. Sherry doesn't have a blog yet, but I'm working on her!
Off to stitch and look at my little house!

Glass knobs

I just love old glass door knobs. I would love to have them all over my house but I don't have any actually on any doors. Instead, I have this wooden bowl full on my coffee table in the living room. Margo said I should post a picture on here and I told her I thought I already had but I can't find it so I don't know where I posted that picture.

I think I am going to stitch for awhile. Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Hello Mr. Scarecrow!

Isn't he cute? My middle son colored this scarecrow when he was in kindergarten - I think. Couldn't have been much past that, maybe first grade. There isn't a date on it, but it was pretty early.


He used to spend lots of time out in the workshop with his grandad when he was little. They liked to work on wood projects together. Grandad decoupaged Mr. Scarecrow onto a piece of board and he has been hanging around here ever since - most recently on the back wall of the garage but I thought he would be good on the front door for fall so I hope he isn't too heavy for the two hooks he is hanging on. So far, so good! Grandad passed away in 2000 and this cute little boy is all grown up - he is 23 now. Don't you love how something as simple as a child's drawing can bring up such wonderful memories.

I had lunch with Margo today. After lunch we hit a couple of antique stores here in town, then she headed back to Tyler. Shopping is so much more fun when you have a friend to talk to! Thanks for driving over today, Margo!

More quilt show goodies

Saturday morning we had breakfast at the hotel - we needed lots of stamina for power shopping! Took the bus over to the convention center. Sherry ended up going back to the hotel early in the afternoon with a headache (but not before she had done a good bit of shopping) I guess all the dyes in the fabrics aren't good. I had a bit of one myself, but not as bad as Sherry's I did have to back out of several booths that had lavender in them - not good for my migraines. Anyway - Sandra, Sarah and I stayed and shopped some more. We managed to make it down every row and back to the beginning to hit the first couple of rows again. Sarah had seen a book she wanted to go back to get and we went back to the Silver Needle booth again. So - here is the run down on what I came out with on Saturday.

9 fat quarters of fabric

1 yd of muslin

1 Pine Mountain Pillow Kit - Stockings Were Hung

1 pkg Pink Pearl head pins

Needleboxes, Etc. - Mini Treasure box kit, Heart Sewing Case kit, Victorian Needle box kit

Bird Brain Designs - Traditional Redwork ornaments, Snowman Redwork ornaments, Winter Snowman Bluework

Plumcute designs - Words of Wisdom, Seasons of Baskets (Sherry bought that one for me - isn't she sweet?)

Plum Creek Collectibiles - Friendship Garden

A Quilters Dream - With Good Cheer (punchneedle)

The Good Life - This Isn't Dirt You See . . .

The Prarie Schooler - Pins & Needles, Country Wise.

Whew - I think that's it!

Sherry was feeling better by the time we got back to the hotel so we stitched a bit, then went down for dinner. What we had was good - when we finally got it, but that poor guy was having to be host, waiter and I think cook too! I don't think there was anyone else working that night. We weren't in a hurry and enjoyed the company so it was okay. We went back up for more stitching and chatting . We managed to stay up a bit later Saturday night and thought we were doing okay time-wise Sunday morning until we realized that the hotel clock automatically reset for daylight savings time! Yikes! Who would have thought that? Here we had been taking an hour off the time all morning! We managed to all get dressed and checked out with time to spare. Hopefully we will get to go again next year. In the meantime - we have the get-a-way in March to look forward to!

Party girls

Friday evening after we got all checked in and the car unloaded - trust me, 4 women can haul a lot of baggage even when 'packing light'! We took the shuttle over to the quilt show. We knew we wouldn't have a lot of time, but thought it would give us time to preview so we could make a game plan for Saturday. After we walked through the exhibition side we - some beautiful stuff hanging up in there, we made our way to the market side. Over 1100 vendors the show book says! My, my! We only made it up about 2 or 3 rows Friday night and I thought I did pretty good - bought these two small zipper bags. I hadn't seen any that size before (5" x6") Also got "Snowflakes" by Little House Needleworks and "Gingerbread Cottage" from Country Cottage Needleworks. I don't think there is much these two come out with that I don't like. When we got our tickets for Friday night we got show books and went ahead and got tickets for Saturday so we wouldn't have to stand in line for that. So far my stash haul has been pretty tame, don't ya think?

We headed back to the hotel (again on the shuttle bus - the car didn't leave the parking lot again until we left on Sunday!) Since we had a late lunch we just snacked on stuff we had and skipped dinner. We went through our bags of stash and chatted. We were all out by 10:00pm. Aren't we a bunch of wild party women?

Happy Birthday, Ashley

Whew - what a weekend! We had a blast, but it is good to be home! Missed seeing the kids by about an hour but we will go to Nac next weekend and take them out to eat for their birthdays - Ashley's is today - she is 21! Baby boy will be 21 in two weeks. This picture is Ashley and Nicholas last Christmas. If I had been home this weekend I would have taken a new picture of her. Anyway - Happy Birthday, Ashley!

Now, back to the stitching/stashing! We finally left town around 9:30 Friday morning - I know, we planned to leave around 8:30 but best laid plans and all - besides, we really didn't have a schedule to keep! We made it to Houston - well, Spring right about noon and made a stop at 3 Stitches and did a 'little' shopping there. I picked up the 3 Bent Creek snappers I needed to catch up on the red thread series, (not that I have started stitching any of them yet) some charms for an ornament I've already stitched, a package of 'pin gems' - 'for the well dressed pin cushion'. I also got a pair of orange scissors to go with my (Lizzie Kate) Acorn Scissor Case (which I haven't stitched yet) Sandra made fun of my orange scissors all weekend, but I didn't care! LOL The last thing I got at 3 Stitches was a pair of the new Rose Gold Dovos! I can't get a good close picture, but they have 'Victorian Treasure' engraved on the blades.

We all got a new 3 Stitches tote bag with our purchases and we are all paid up for the March retreat. I'm sure Pam is 'thrilled' that we are coming back! She probably put dunce caps by our names when we left! I think we were in there about 2 hours. We had lunch then checked into the hotel and took the shuttle bus over to the convention center. We knew we would only have a couple of hours but we thought we could go through the exhibition side then spend all day Saturday shopping. Well, we whizzed through the exhibition side and made it down the first 3 or 4 rows of the market side by the time the show closed.
I'll save those purchases for tomorrow! I need to sort out what I have and get some laundry done!

Road Trip!

I'm going on a road trip! Three of my girlfriends (Sandra, Sarah & Sherry - none of them are bloggers) and I are going to Houston for the weekend to go to the International Quilt Festival. Sandra, Sarah and I went last year (Sherry couldn't go last year) and we had a blast. We only spent one night last year and decided that just wasn't enough so we are staying two nights this time. Yep - I'm leaving the guys here to fend for themselves!

Be back sometime Sunday.

Have a great weekend!

Totes

Do you have tote bags? I have tote bags here - with tote bags in tote bags.

I have tote bags on top of the book case in my little office (see the green one hiding behind the blue one?)


I have more tote bags hanging on the door to my office. I have a thing for tote bags. (couldn't tell, could ya?) This is not all of them - we won't go there. Some of them I've bought, some I've gotten for free - door prizes, freebies from magazines and such(like the brown and blue one on the door which is a fav and just happens to match my luggage! just a fluke, but a good one!) Some have been gifts - everyone knows how I love totes (and scissors - you can never go wrong with totes or scissors!).
I almost never leave home without a tote if I'm going more than 30 miles or so and hubby is driving.
At least one of these totes - maybe two - will be making a trip tomorrow. I'll tell you about that in the morning! I will tell you that hubby won't be making this trip.
Until tomorrow! Have a great day!