Long Extended Weekend

I had all of the kiddlets here at one point or another this weekend. It was nice for me since I was able to find some one-on-one time with all four of them. This does not happen very often!

With the 21yo DD up at Fort Drum (about 80 miles from home) I see her less and less often as she is starting to spread her wings and soar. She is enjoying her job and has settled into a routine (something that she sorely needed).

The 19yo DD is trying to spend some time with her bf. She will have very little time over the next few weeks. She started her internship for Dental Hygenest.  I expected her home around 5:oopm, but she texted me to letme know that the dentist had asked her to stay for an emergency visit. I was impressed that he put this much trust in her after only one day. When she finally did get home she was glowing and exhausted. LOL I would be dead if I had been on my feet for 12 plus hours.

The 16yo DS actually had this evening free. And to top it off, he actually had a conversation with me! I almost passed out! Teen-aged boys always have been a mystery to me.

The 14yo DD texted me after school. (She lives with her father) She wanted to tell me about her day...I wonder if there is something in the water around here???? We texted back and forth for over an hour (Again...be still my heart!!!!) We actually talked about "things" and did not get on one anothers nerves...We are definately to much alike at times. I think that the texting is a good way for us to communicate...Makes us think about what we are saying...No heated exchange of unintended words.

The SM (Sweet Man) left early this AM to return to his education. It makes the house really quiet when he leaves. He will be done with his Bachlors in Mechanical/Production  Engineering in May and we are both ready for graduation. ?He had a short day today, but tomorrow he will be in classes from 9-9, what a schedule. Even with breaks it is a long day.

Me...I spent most of the day sipping Tea and stitching as my ctitters lounged about the house. I have finished more of the snowmen blocks for the wall hanging but am being lazy about posting the pics. I promise I will have them up tomorrow.  For now it is off to slumberland.

First block stitched

I finally got my DS to get the scanner hooked up correctly so that I could scan my finished blocks. This is the first one that I have finished for the redwork wallhanging.

I really like how this block came out. All total I only spent about 4 hours doing this stitching. It amazes me how calming doing the outline stitch can be.

I am now working on the same block only this new one is in blue. There will be more pics as I continue to work on the blocks

Peace, Tina

long day

I spent the better part of my morning sitting and waiting at the Syracuse VA hospital. I knew that it was going to be a LONG wait so I went prepared. I have been working on redwork blocks for the "Snowfriends" Quilt, designed by Lynda Howell,  from the Nov/Dec issue of Quiltmaker magazine. I get to combine two of my favorite pastimes together into one (three) lovely wall hangings.

I absolutely LOVE my snowmen! I finished up one of the larger blocks and my doc was actually so nice as to tell me how much she liked my work. It is amazing to me that so many people are stitchers (or married to them). I have had so many lovely conversations with people about my work and what they are working on, are going to start, and what they have just finished. I love it.

You are going to have to wait for a pic of my finish (I have an actual WIP...LOL). I got home after noon and snuggled into my recliner and started to stitch another (the same???) block but in blue this time. I want to make three of the quilted wall hangings...one red, one blue, and one in color. I have my work cut out for me.

I should be in bed right now, but my arms both hurt. I got 2 shots...H1N1 and pnemonia. I'm greatful that I am able to get these, but at the same time I wish they wre not necessary! Ah, Well, my health is the most important thing. I need my strength to stitch.

Sweet dreams,

Tina

My First Biscornu

Well, I finally finished my first Biscornu. it is many small squares that I filled with DMC varagatied purple floss (number unknown) Blackwork patterns.

Each one is an experiment going from very little fill to dense fill.  Each of the squares is 14x14 squares on 14 count Adaia (did I spell that right?) so each is one inch square. The finished size is aproximately 5x5 inches and 1 1/2 inches high.

The buttons are a small green topped with an even smaller light purple.

As we begin 2010

I borrowed this from another blogger...and unfortunately I can't relocate it..if you know where it came from let me know. I thought that it was a great way to lookforward into the new year. So, with no further ado...

As I begin 2010……


I'm feeling… a sense of anticipation. I am looking forward to more blogging, taking part in some of the swaps and contests, and “meeting” more people in blogland.

I'm seeing... SNOW. It snowed again last night and the cars have about ½ inch covering.

I'm thinking... how nice it will be to snuggle under the afghan I am currently crocheting

I'm appreciating... the warmth of my home. It was just a year ago that my furnace died and now I have a lovely wood fire in the furnace and my whole home is comfy and warm. Also the fact that I have both my refrigerator freezer and my chest freezer full of food. It wasn’t all that long ago that I was wondering from day to day what I would be feeding my family.

I'm cooking... scalloped potatoes and ham the leftovers from last night’s dinner with our neighbor.

I'm planning... to begin stitching the blocks for “snowman collector” in lovely blues and another in reds

I'm reading... Nothing at present. I need to make a run to the library.

I'm wearing... A tee-shirt and sweatpants…comfy and cozy all the way!

I'm creating... Peaceful spaces in my home and lovely art to hang in my spaces.

I'm hearing...The Barrett-Jackson auto auction on Speed. It is a rerun, but my boyfriend is a lover of cars…There are a couple that I wish I could afford to bid on…. anyone have a '68 mustang in red?  LOL

I'm enjoying... The antics of my teacup Yorkshire terrier, Jack, as he tries to tear his “daddy”, my boyfriend, from his studies.

I'm sharing...My life with the best kids and a wonderful man.

Peace and blessings, Merry part

Tina

Some end of the year finishes

Since my last post, I have been extreamly busy with the prep for the holidays. Between Yule, Christmas and now New Year invites I also had to get things ready for my brood here. I love the time spent on getting things ready, but am pleased to now sit back and relax for a few days before the New Year begins.

Yule  (Winter Solstice December 21) was spent with my oldest DD. We made cookies and began in ernest to get the meals ready for the day of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Christmas Eve was spent at home with 'the Brood'. We opened all of the presents that we had for one another. For the first time ever all of the kiddos had purchased a gifty for momma (aka ME). I love each of them and was plesently suprised by how much thought went into each of them.

I want to share some of my finishes for the year with you.



This first one is of a blackwork butterfly that I have been working on. The patterbn is from Stitches Magazine. It is one of 16 that will be placed into a frame and hung on the wall of my family room.

This is one of the "twin" angel that I made for my neighbor Ms. Liz. She wanted one for herself and one to give to her daughter-in-law. I was very pleased with how they came out. The only parts on them that were not had done were the head and hands. Those were purchased online. I hand sewed the dress, underskirt, and sleeves and hand beaded the cuffs just at the edge of the lace. The wings were made by shaping some "pipe cleaners" and sandwiching them between two pieces of gold tulleand using my sewing machine to satain stitch over the formed wings.

Thats all I have for now. I will be working on some new projects over the next few weeks and finishing up some of my WISP's that I have had hanging around.

May you all enjoy your Christmas goodies and I wish you health and happiness as the New Year begins.

Feeling Blue

Well, since I last posted I have completed several small cross-stitch items. I will post some pictures once I get to the store for batteries.

It is amazing that I keep finding myself up at midnight watching the shows that I DVR'd. The Martha Stewart Christmas show was on Fine Living the other night. I love to watch her at work...If only I was as organized as she is. Sigh....some day. For now I will have to enjoy my creative clutter. I do need to get everything all picked up so that the tree can be hauled down from the attic.

I have been putting it off. I am having a hard time getting into the spirit of the season. I think that it has a lot to do with the cold, wet, blustery weather. It has been gloomy. Last Tuesday it did snow about 4 inches. It looked like a glistening jewel when I got up. By mid afternoon it had started to rain and by eaving all the snow was gone. We ended up with icy roads and a few downed tree limbs. Tis the season.

I am going to have to give myself a kick in the kiester. Time to get over the gloomys. This is a time to enjoy and celebrate. I need to remind myself of all the good things that I have.

So here goes: My Happy List

I have a warm and comfy home.
I have a wonderful Boyfriend who cares about me.
My Children are healthy and (usually?) happy.
My car runs and has a new muffler (ah the peaceful hum of the engine is sweet).
My parents are coming from MN to spend part of the X-mas holiday with us.

Hmmmmmm...This should not be so hard! I will need to start posting some happy thoughts. I am going to shoot for one happy post each day for one week. It is a beginning that I hope will lead me to a happier place before the real holiday hits me.

I sound so whiney. Ah well...I am determined to turn over a new leaf and be more positive.

Merry Meet

Tina