Saturday, September 27, 2008

SATURDAY IN THE SEC

Here we are. David, Michael, Rose and me. In our usual Saturday places in front of the TV, waiting for our team to kick off. It's been a great day so far: Ole Miss beat Florida/Tebow. In this neck of the woods NOBODY likes Florida. It will be the grandest night if Tennessee will beat Auburn but that's not likely. LSU plays Mississippi State and the same time our team plays-and hopefully beats- Georgia.

I'm working on "Love Story". I want to have it finished by the first of the week. Three years is long enough to spend on it. I paid a visit to my LNS today and picked up Blackbird Design's "Buttons and Blooms for The Cure". Don't plan to start it just yet.

It's sad about Paul Newman. But 83 years is a great lifetime and he sure lived it to the fullest. He will always be the most handsome man to me. And to have a 50 year marriage in Hollywood is a record.

Friday, September 26, 2008

FINALLY!!!!

























I began this "little" project in 2004, completed the stitching in 2007, and put the final construction stitches in place this morning. It's "Elizabeth R: A Sewing Case" by Fancy Work. It's been so long that I don't recall what type of fabric except that it is linen and the thread is silk by somebody. There are many little gold paillettes scattered about all the sides.
I absolutely HATE to do backstitching and a great deal of this was backstitching. But because Elizabeth I is the woman in history that I admire the most, it was, for the most part, a labor of love. The motifs are actual motifs that were on her dresses.

The large medallion on the black silk is actually a medallion from my wedding gown (4o years ago). So are the three buttons and the pearls. The small straight pins on the burgundy velvet are from my mother's old tomato pin cushion. I thought that after this much time I should make this REAL personal. Plus the fact that it will belong to one of my granddaughters one day.
The instructions for putting it together were complicated. I finally tossed them and did it My Way. Once I did that it fell together quickly. Instead of using 5-that's right, 5) layers of felt between the top two pieces I cut it to 2 between top and bottom. Some pieces were necessary to make it almost like a pin cushion.
It was a fun project. Would I do it again? Not sure.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

ROSEWOOD MANOR


It's here! It's here! "Family Reunion" by Rosewood Manor is now in my hands and so is the fabby (Cashel, 28 ct. Platinum, as it calls for) and all the DMC colors are pulled. I'm trying desperately to wait until tomorrow to begin. The design and colors are what I expected. The designer suggested finishing the piece and the adding names. There are several alphabets given and more than one set of initials and even a whole name may be placed in a spot. Surprisingly there aren't that many colors but the one that are are very soft and a little dusty. It's large.

The needle case is coming along. I ended up having to glue the cording on because the joining seam was so wide my stitches were showing. I hated to do that but I couldn't handle little black stitches everywhere. Tomorrow I should be able to put the bottom part together.

If you haven't checked the site yet, go to needlework sites on the right side of my blog. Look for ''Tempus Fugit". It the most beautiful stitching site. It is in French but has English translations. About the second page or so begins instructions for the most beautiful needle wallet. It's on my list for maybe year after next. This lady does beautiful work-even finishing work. It's just lovely to look at.
See ya'll later.......

Monday, September 22, 2008

THE END OF THE DAY






I started to call it the remains of the day but I think that's been taken! It's dusky outside and that means it's time to settle in and do some stitching. I've convinced myself that I can finish "Quaker Christmas" by Christmas, so we'll see.

I'm going to my LNS tomorrow to pick up some charts I've ordered. I hope "Family Reunion" from Rosewood Manor is there. I've wanted to do that one since I saw it. It's a great way to honor family members that have gone on.

I started the finish work today on something I started in 2004. It's "Elizabeth R: A Sewing Case" by Fancy Work. Most of it is in back stitch, which I HATE and a little cross stitch. It's done is silk thread on French linen. A very pretty piece. The few little gold paillettes on it were very expensive-and worth it. The fabric used to back it is dupioni silk. I guess one reason I've been so slow in putting it together is that the directions were a little detailed. When I slowed down, thought it through, added my own touches, it wasn't so bad. I should have it finished in a day or two. I even added a medallion and some pearls from my wedding gown. The idea behind the design of the needle case is that the motifs on the case were actual designs from gowns of Elizabeth I.

I've really been watching Rose these days. Losing Pepe has brought it home how old and fragile she is getting to be. She's been a part of my life for so long. She was probably 10 or so when the picture at the top of the page was made.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

A QUIET SATURDAY


It's the end of the day here. Just a lot of football and stitching. John finally made it to San Antonio where the rest of his family is. I think they have some catching up to do. And I know he has some laundry ready and probably would like a good drink of water. He said a couple of days ago the water in Houston was not drinkable.

We watched our team beat Arkansas-handily. Lord Saban did a great job. Florida took care of Tennessee. We were hoping LSU would take Auburn to the woodshed but it doesn't look like that will happen. The highlight of the day was Michael being here for the Big Game and the amount of stitching I got done: some of my Bright Needle ornies and a few more stitches on "Love Song". Almost finished on that one-finally. And "Rhapsody in Blue" is at my LNS waiting on that start.

Tomorrow is church day and my music is all organized and ready. Since this game is a read dud I think I may go to bed and read-I've started Patricia Cornwell's Book of the Dead. I'm not sure what I think of it yet. It seems different somehow. Oops. Auburn just scored again. LSU should be in total shock.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

PEPE


We've not had a good day here. We've lost a little friend.

Many years ago son John and his wife Laura adopted two little furry friends, Garbo and Doogie. Two adorable Llhasa Apsos. Eventually they had two more little furry babies of their own named Pepe and Rose. John and Laura adopted Pepe and David and I took Rose.
Rose has been my baby and best friend for almost 15 years just as Pepe has been for John and Laura. He watched as they welcomed Bradley, Grace and Ann into their family and later the furball Annabell.

Eventually Pepe and Rose began showing their age, perhaps Pepe more than Rose. Last night Pepe went to sleep and he didn't wake up this morning. I spoke with John as he was making a place for Pepe in the yard. It's still bad in Houston: no water, no ice, no electricity. His family is still in San Antonio and he will join them this weekend. A sad reunion, I think.

I believe that our little friends go to Heaven just like our other family members. So Pepe is there, waiting for the rest of us. Murry is scratching him on the nose with his little finger like he did to all the family animals. Miss Wilson is spitting at him. And Sweetie is sitting to the side looking down her nose at it all. Tommy is grinning, remembering the time he crawled up my leg because I paddled him with the paper.

I hope I have Rose for awhile longer. Today has given me pause. She had her hair done today and the groomer put a pink bow on her. She's not the pink bow type. Think I'll go take it off now and put it in the drawer with her other bows. Maybe give her a kiss.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

CHECKING MY STASH


I bought a feather tree at Hobby Lobby this weekend that I thought would be great for the acorns I stitched a couple of years ago. Bad idea. Then I remembered a kit for some little Christmas ornies I added to my stash a few years ago-2006, to be exact. I pulled the kit out and sure enough, there was the tree pictured on the front. I've finished five of them-there are 24 in total. It takes maybe and hour or two to finish one of them. Maybe, just maybe, I can finish them by Christmas. The pattern calls for NPS but I've pulled DMC and Anchor to stitch them. The front cover looks like bright thread so that's what I'm using. The kit is by Bright Needle.

It's been a beautiful day here and there are no blips on the radar for tropical storms. PTL. We still have HUGE piles of rubbish out front of our houses and blue tarps everywhere and will for awhile. Patience is what we all need now.

"The Closer" is one of my favorite shows. Last night was the season finish. Boy, what a finish and no clue until the opener in January. Poor Sanchez!

Monday, September 15, 2008

RAIN AGAIN?

It looks like rain again. I'll know for sure when I hear dripping into the pan in the bedroom next door. We still don't have a tarp. And part of the limb is still sticking from the roof. Oh well, some things I can't fix.

Here's something neat to try. I made it for the first time Saturday night and then made some corrections last night. It has a stange consistancy and isn't very good when it gets cold but is wonderful while hot. It is GREAT served with a little Bluebell vanilla ice cream on top. The second time around I added 1 Tbs. more sugar and a little more vanilla extract. It also occurred to me that Splenda could be substituted very easily. Here goes:

CAKE IN A CUP ( I use a large mug)

Mix: 4 Tbs flour (plain, not SR)
4 Tbs sugar (more is better)
2 Tbs. baking cocoa
1 egg
3 Tbs milk
3 Tbs oil
Chocolate chips (optional)
A little vanilla extract

Mix dry ingredients and add to mug. Add egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add chips (if using) and the vanilla. Mix again. Put mug into microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high. The cake will rise over the top of the mug. Don't panic. Let cool a little. Pour onto plate if you desire. This will serve 2 if you want. It is wonderful with vanilla ice cream.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

A QUIET DAY-AT LAST


Sunday is a day of rest unless you're a church musician. But most of us around here had a day off last week so it was a welcome experience to be back at the keyboard today. I sat the wrong way in the 8:30 service and messed up my back so I slept the whole afternoon, went to choir practice this afternoon and now am at home anxiously waiting for Masterpiece Theatre. The Inspector Lynley Mysteries have been playing the last few weeks. He is a character created by Elizabeth George. He is really Lord Atherton, who has chosen to be a policeman. His partner is Inspector Barbara Havers, a sloppy from-the-other-side-of-the-tracks savvy woman and I just know that some day they will discover each other (that way, especially since Lynley's wife has met an untimely demise).

I' m showing you a picture of a piece of needlework I started early in 2005. It's "Love Song" by Fouroaks Design. It's going slowly, probably because it's all one color and very boring sometimes. I'm almost finished-just a little bit of the left border to do. I'm showing it to you because of its history. In the upper right hand corner is a little remembrance of Katrina. In the lower left is my thoughts to Gustav and Ike. I actually stitched Gustav's name in the border as he was coming ashore-before we lost power. I'm hurrying to finish it now in case another storm decides to form. Maybe he or she won't come this way!!!!! I'm actually going to do the companion piece to this one which is called "Rhapsody in Blue".

Tomorrow I have a recipe to share-a really strange one, but an interesting one. It's a Chocolate Cake In A Cup. I made it for the first time last night during our ball game. We won-ROLL TIDE!

Until tomorrow, ta.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

ALL IS WELL IN HOUSTON!


We have heard from John. By phone, no less. He is okay. There is a tree down in his yard, no glass broken, no power (of course!) but other than that, all is well. He said he had never heard a house creak so much as theirs did during the storm. I thought I worried about the boys when they were small, but that was small stuff. It was really rough managing my thoughts last night, knowing he was alone in that BIG MOTHER HOUSE (as Michael calls it). When they are small they are usually within your sight and touch. When they are adults they abide by their own thoughts and actions and you can't change those thoughts and actions even when you know they're making a mistake. That's when faith steps in (and happy pills!).

It's even harder when the TV is on and you watch what is going on: winds, water, fires. Add to that the fact that you yourself just went through the same thing the weekend before. I'm glad we did it during the day. It must be horrific at night when it is totally dark-no electricity, no communication except by battery-powered radio. And knowing your family is miles away in San Antonio. Hats off to you, John. You've grown into quite a man. I love you.

Friday, September 12, 2008

GO AWAY, IKE!


He's heading for the Texas coast but is giving us grief way over here. The wind has been blowing and it's raining. The rain has been coming through the hole in the roof left by Gustav. We need to get a tarp over the hole because it will be a while before we can get it repaired: too many people ahead of us. This will be a good day to stay in and do some finished on needlework. The chocolate box will be finished later today and I'll hopefully get some pictures downloaded.
In the meantime, I'll stay busy so that I won't worry about John too much. I guess he's decided to ride this one out. He's supposed to make landfall some time during the night.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

AGAIN!

It's happening again. Hurricane City. Only this time the Bad Boy is going after John and his family in Houston. They were here last weekend because the house in Prairieville hasn't sold, it took some hurricane damage and had to be repaired. Now the new house is in danger. Thank goodness Laura and the kids have gone to San Antonio. It doesn't make me feel too much better to think that John is riding it out in Houston. But he will be there to help Laura's parents if they need it.

My guys at Sunrise Assisted Living did great during the storm. Apparently there are some commercial-type generators installed there and they kicked in immediately. They never lost power and never did without hot meals. Some of their family members even came there to stay with them during the storm.

Today was the seventh anniversary of that terrible day the towers fell. I had the feeling that, except for television commentators, no one really remembered. I did. I will never, as long as I live, forget that day. And I pray to God that it never repeats itself.

It's getting late here now and I want to stitch a little bit before I call it a day. I also have a project that is just a couple of hours being finished-the chocolate box thingy. I need a couple of things from Hobby Lobby tomorrow and it will be done. Stupid me did a real dumb thing: I forgot to order checks. So......before I go to HL I will have to go to the bank, write a counter check for cash then go to HL. Does that not rank with the all time dummies??? That and paying the extra fundage for having the order rushed. I think I'll go to bed on that one.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

BLAH BLAH BLAH


Here it is, nine days after what's his name blew in and out and I'm in a total funk. I re-ordered my happy pills a little while ago because right now I don't want to deal with anything. Maybe by Christmas. Ha! I did stop by my LNS and saw an old friend ( she's not old: I've just known her a long time.). And I got my nails done. New color: "Vodka and Caviar" by OPI. Sounds like a good idea to me!

I came home and started putting together some Christmas ornies I started MANY years ago. I have this thing for Christmas trees. I want one in the corner of my living room that will stay in place all year long. The ornies will have to be ones that I've made myself. Okay. I know it's a little off. But it's .......creative? Christmas trees are just happy things to me.

DH is out back burning brush from the storm. We lucked out twice on Ike. He's not coming here and as of this morning it looks like he's not going towards John and Laura and the kids.

Well, "Law and Order" is on and since it is one of my favorites and since I have such a thing for Jerry Orbach (yes, I know he's a goner. I can still dream.). I should go to the LNS for a night of stitching but I'm just too lazy tonight.

Mindy, haven't heard from you lately. Hope you're doing better.

Monday, September 8, 2008

A WEEK AGO TODAY

I had this silly idea of doing a minute by minute record of Gustav but that's a dumb idea. He's gone now and is just a bad memory. Come to think of it, there were some pretty good memories. This is a great city. We have a great mayor and a wonderful governor (neither of which I voted for but will next time). The citizens of BR came together and supported each other when needed. And there were people from all over the country who came here to work to make our recovery just a little easier. Some here still don't have electricity and some kids still aren't in school but there were very few fatal catastrophes. Some of us (me!) discovered that we could survive with much less than we thought. Never again will I ever take some of the small things in life for granted- ice and Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper! And books can be read and needlework can be done by flashlight. After all, Abe Lincoln educated himself by candlelight.

I'm not sure I said a lot of prayers. I think I may have trusted God from the very beginning and just got busy. After the branch went through the ceiling we had to move pretty fast to keep water from flooding the bedroom. And the day after the storm David and I rode around our neighborhood and realized we had very little damage compared to others. I misplaced one of my cameras and will sooner or later find it and will have those pictures.

My family knows I'm phobic about snakes. One of my neighbors let it slip that David and Michael killed a 4' copperhead in my driveway Friday while I was driving around looking for a bank. That morning David and I had had a ROUSING argument about putting up the front windows . They have no screens and I reminded him that just a couple of weeks ago we had had two "visitors" on the front porch. And just the Sunday before Gustav he had killed one in the bush beside the gazebo. I'm going to enjoy my "I told you so" time. I have a LONG memory.

Rose was a trooper. She's nearly 15 now, and is almost blind and deaf. She handled the trips between here and Michael's well and is now settled back in her chair in the bedroom. She paced a lot on Monday. I think she sensed what was happening.

Now we're facing Ike. The saying here is "Take a hike, Ike". I hope he does. But if he doesn't, we'll make it again. I worry about John and his family. They live in Houston and it looks like Ike may take a westward turn. I heard on radio this morning that this one could be like Rita. That one I won't forget. Laura Gautreau and I had been in London for two weeks. We had another two days of our trip. We were going to Windsor Castle. Just by chance we heard a delayed broadcast of US news, PTL. We had to leave a day early and were sitting in a plane on the tarmac at Ryan Airport (Baton Rouge) when she hit. Rock n' roll!!!!!

I posted some pictures on my Kodak site. Again, I have some more somewhere-ones of my neighborhood. Hopefully I'll find my camera-it's my best one. Go to www.Kodakgallery.com.
The email address is rolltide1969@cox.net and the password is rosecottage. It's easier to see the pictures if you use slide show.

For all of you who prayed for all of us, we thank you. Never doubt the power of prayer-spoken and unspoken. I remember in his sermon on the Sunday before Gustov (BG, to all of us), Bro. Colin said that God had the power to snatch him out of the water if He so chose. He didn't and there were reasons and lessons for us to learn. Not the least of which is that He is in control. Nothing happens that He doesn't will to happen. So come on Ike, we're ready!

Monday, September 1, 2008

NINE AM-9/1/08

There's a magnolia tree by the side of the house next to the den. Not a big one-tiny little trunk. It's bending and bowing but hasn't broken yet. There's a single bud on one of the top branches. It's right in my line of vision when I look out the window. It's become my guiding light. As long as I can see it I know the tree is still standing and we're okay (we're in bad shape when it comes through the den window!). It's a little lighter outside and we're getting some pretty strong gusts.

Michael is still waiting to see where he will have to go. He will be notified when winds die down to 40MPH. That could be awhile.

David is walking around wearing his golf visor. Can't figure that one out. Rose is sound asleep-an advantage of being mostly blind and deaf. And my beaten up old houserobe and my cross stitch are keeping me company.

Big gust now and the tree is REALLY bending. What a day. And it's early still
He's here! We left the outside flood lights on last night. I woke up off and on during the night and looked out the window to see what the trees were doing. David woke me up with the news that we are under tornado watch. The mayor is on air right now giving last minute instructions. You know, the stuff about downed electrical lines, caution with generators. We are prepared-learned a lesson from Katrina.

It's fairly light outside now. It's very windy and is raining off and on. I'm sitting here doing my thing and David is pacing like a tiger. Jim Cantori on the Weather Channel says we have about 2 hours before it gets really bad.

Once again, prayers are welcome.