Summer's Appearance

Hello stitchy friends!

I've been doing a little stitching today between other chores and errands. I am ready to be done with Melicient! But, I am getting to the more interesting parts at the bottom.

I've also been cleaning the extra room we gained when our son moved out. I got the windows washed and clean curtains hung up! It looks much better. I've also hung some stitched pieces on the walls. :)

It was hard to capture the whole wall arrangement in one picture. Sorry the pictures aren't better. David is supposed to come home tomorrow to help his dad install a new window in our living room, so when he's here I hope I can get him to bring my big bookcase and desk in this room from our storage shed. I'm ready to finish putting this room back together. I plan to move our desktop computer/ home office and some of my books back in this room again.

I am having difficulty trying to write this post, Annie is trying to insist on helping...

Sure she looks innocent now... I just shooed her off my lap.

It's hard to believe we are approaching the end of June soon. The weather has been strange, but it sounds like heat and humidity will be making their appearance this week. The rainy Spring weather we've had has brought a bumper crop of mosquitoes. They've been bad enough that you don't want to sit outside very long.

Just taking Harry out to do his business leaves you with a new bite or two....

I have to share news of a great new book I finished the other day...

"Looking for Me" by Beth Hoffman. It was soo good, I hated to see it end. The authors first book was out last year, "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt". It was excellent as well. So, if you're looking for a good book to read, I highly recommend these!

Happy stitching everyone!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Weekend recap and more

Dear stitching friends,

Summer is finally making an appearance with some warm temperatures. It's beginning to feel like a Midwest summer. We were busy celebrating Fathers Day yesterday. Both kids were here plus an 'extra child'. One of Holly's friends. Mike had a great day with some thoughtful gifts from the kids and we all enjoyed some good food at home. I made potato salad, a baked bean dish, deviled eggs then for dessert we had fresh strawberries and ice cream.   David grilled pork chops and brats on the grill. I had intended to bake something for dessert but ran out of time.

Then in true family fashion, the guys decided it was time to light the brush pile in the backyard and get it burned up. After a couple beers these ideas sound like fun...

The boys thought it was great. I thought the fire was kind of large....but it all worked out fine.

We had fun taking some pictures and this is one of the few of all of us together.

I have not had much time for stitching it seems. We've been busy taking Harry for his evening walk, then I've been going to the gym a couple times a week with Holly. It cuts into my evening time after work. But I know it's good to get more exercise.

Harry has adjusted well in our family. He still surprises me that he can be in the yard with us without his leash and be trusted to stay with us. Our former dog would have been off like a shot when loose, and wouldn't come home unless you rounded her up by picking her up in the car and bringing her back home. So, this calm behavior by Harry has taken some adjustment. A welcome relief actually.

Here's my progress on the Melicent Turner sampler

Sorry for the crummy picture. It's my third retake... But you get the idea on where I am. I'm a little tired of stitching letters. It will be nice to move to the motifs at the bottom.

Mike and I travelled to Minnesota last weekend to visit my sister and brother in law. They are in the process of condensing two households into one. They are vacating their house of 31 years and moving permanently to their house near St. Cloud. We moved some things back to Illinois for David and Holly.

I will have to share a couple pictures of my sister's craft room. I am envious of all her space!

She will die when she sees them, and say I should have waited until she had it all straightened up...

We spent a little time up here working on curtain valances for our house. I think they turned out good.

As you can see, Annie is inspecting them...

Guess I will close this post with a photo of Harry.

Happy stitching everyone.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad