Merry Christmas

Dear stitching friends,


Merry Christmas to all!

We have spent a very pleasant day here today and yesterday celebrating. Mike was off work yesterday so we had our family dinner on Christmas Eve. It made for a more relaxing day today.

We were able to visit via Skype with my sister and BIL and their family today, so that was fun. We also exchanged several messages with Mike's brother and his family. Their children are still pretty young, so they were up before sunrise looking for their gifts from Santa. I remember those days well. Now we all were gathered at the leisurely hour of 9:30 opening presents at our house...

Mike left for work around 2; then we have been relaxing the rest of the day.

Finished my current book, then started another one. Tried on my new pajamas...think bedtime will be early tonight.

Hope all of you had a pleasant Christmas holiday. I will be returning to work on Thursday. Vacation time is ending soon....

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Snow!

Hello stitchy friends!

I didn't think I would get another post in before Christmas. But I wanted to share some snow pictures with you. We got hit with a blizzard last night...I know I had secretly wished for some snow before Christmas, but this was over the top.

I'm not sure how much snow we actually got, guesstimate around 5". But the wind!! Man, it howled all afternoon yesterday and all through the night! Gusts as high as 50mph. So, I woke up to a winter wonderland for sure.




This is a view of our yard north of our house. I haven't ventured outside yet, just have taken some pictures from the windows. My hubby works about an hour away from where we live. So, he left for work a couple of hours early yesterday, and took an overnight bag with him. Good thing, because he did make it to work, but had to spend the night at the hotel there. The interstate he travels on was closed by IDOT sometime last evening.

Our son has a new job near where his dad works. He works first shift, so he tried driving home last night. He ended up getting stuck in a snow bank about 15 miles from home. Luckily a good friend of his got his 4 wheel drive truck out to pick him up about an hour later... So, needless to say he was about 4 hours getting home instead of one hour. But I was so relieved no one got hurt.

The library is closed today. But, I am on vacation until the 27th. Our power went off at least 6 times last night, but it would come back on. So glad we had heat and power throughout.

I did do some stitching last night. Today, I hope to bake some rusks. I am waiting on my yeast to proof now. We will go out and shovel some paths later.







Take care friends.

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Christmas is just around the corner....

Hello Stitching Friends.

We are watching the skies for snow tomorrow. But it sounds like the heavier snowfall amounts will be Northeast of us. We will most likely have a green Christmas.

Like all of you I have been busy preparing for Christmas. Things are coming together tho. Shopping is done and presents are wrapped. I still need to do some baking for our family and some to give away.

There are no words to express the sadness from the awful event in Connecticut. Our thoughts and prayers are sent to those grieving families.

I haven't found the time to sit and stitch very often lately. I did take a recent picture of where I am with Reindeer Roundup.




It has been a fun piece to work on.

We had our cross stitch group stitchers party on December 10. It was extra fun for me this year because my niece hosted the party at her part-time Illinois home. (She resides in California most of the time). And then, my sister from Minnesota was at our house with her husband for the weekend, so she was able to join our stitchers party as well. I forgot to take pictures that night. Next year I will have to do better! We all made an ornament to exchange. In all the years we have been doing this, we have never had a duplicate. But this year took the cake...we had 3 duplicates...
"Fa la la" which was sold as a small kit with tuck-away pillow. Designer may be Bent .creek.

I received this ornament




My friend Susie stitched it, and I love it. It is hanging on our tree. I stitched 'hot cocoa' by little house Needleworks. My sister was the recipient. It was one of the monthly charts from 2012.




Our tree has many stitched ornaments on it, some stitched by me and others by friends and family.




Mike, Holly and I have been sharing a nasty cold. ny-quil has been my night-time ritual for several nights. We are all tired of it and ready for it to leave.

My sister brought me a beautiful new stitching bag...




Sorry the picture is kind of dark. She has used the prettiest red fabrics!
the fabric in the top right corner is a window with a cat looking out. (she knows me well).... She also embellished it with some pretty antique buttons.

Well I hope all of you are finding some stolen moments of peace and reasons to find joy each day.

Happy stitching friends!

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Thanksgiving

Hello Stitching Friends.

I am up early here this morning.  Getting ready to put the turkey in the oven.  We are having an early dinner, since Mike has to go to work this afternoon.  But, I wanted to post and wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for all of you online stitching friends, you have truly enriched my life. 

Hope you find some quiet time to spend doing what you love the most! 

RAK received

Hello stitching friends!

I just have to share the lovely surprise I received in the mail today.

I am a lucky recipient of a RAK from Andrea.




This is such a pretty ornament.



She even included a handmade card. I feel so lucky to be a recipient of her beautiful stitching and finishing!!

Thank you Andrea.

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Foggy night

Hello stitchy friends.

I have been busy around here today. I've done a major amount of laundry... Then I had some help from Holly to help rearrange furniture in our living room.

I washed the curtains in the living room and Mike washed the windows. So we have a much cleaner house for the holidays.

I am ready to start Christmas decorating. Although I am going to hold off until after thanksgiving.

Tomorrow I will have to spend some time in the kitchen doing some advance work before the big meal.

I have also done a major clean out of my needlework fabric. I pulled all my Aida cloth and have stored it in a separate container. How many of you still use Aida cloth? I am curious. I don't use it any more.




I thought I would share a picture of a couple of favorite pieces that are framed in the living room.

Also I will have to share a cute picture of our only male cat, Simon.




I have done some more stitching on 'reindeer roundup'.




Well it is getting late and I should be heading off to bed soon.
Happy Stitching!

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Happy Dance

Hello stitchy Friends,

I am happy to report Rest and Be Thankful is finished! I was getting close last night, so I stayed up late and put in the last of the back stitching. I haven't had a chance to wash it and press it as yet. I will post a picture after I have.

So, I sorted through my stitching bag this evening. I put the floss away from that project, and put some other charts away that are more fall themed. Then I looked through some my basket of newer charts and pulled Christmas themed pieces.

I have one ornament kitted up ready to start.



I will probably start this soon.




I also have a small start on a Prairie Schooler piece. 'Reindeer Roundup'.

I have this coming week off work. So I hope to start doing some Christmas decorating after Thanksgiving. We will have Thanksgiving dinner here at home. I will be cooking. Mike and the kids are good about helping with the last minute details.

I still have to go to the grocery store for a few items necessary for the meal. Our son especially, wants the same favorite items on the menu. He's ok with me adding something new, but not replacing. Ha!

Well guess it's time to wrap this post up for now.

Happy stitching!

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