Thursday, December 16, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY


JANE AUSTEN

Monday, December 6, 2010

Yep, that Kindle is something else! It goes with me just about everywhere. Even to church: my Bible is on it. There were so many choices of translations and most of them are free. Classics are free, too. And since I sit through two sermons on Sunday.......well, you figure it out!  I'm little by little downloading books by my favorite authors and re-reading some of my favorites. This little thing holds 3500 books plus I can go on the internet and google to my heart's content. It also has a couple of dictionaries in it and I am highlighting and, hopefully, increasing my own vocabulary.

Now for stitchy stuff. This little goody is by Faby Reilly. It is one of the things that cost me just a tad of my sanity. But worth it. The backside is one over one. The matching humbug is next.......next year, maybe!


And this isn't exactly stitching, but I just had to share. I've done my first home canning. A couple of weeks ago I made Hot Pepper Jelly.  Boy, it's good. It has red, green, yellow, orange and jalapeno peppers in it. Along with apple cider vinegar and pectin and LOTS of sugar. It's good on cream cheese with crackers as an appetizer and on meat as seasoning. Okay, I'm a little different: I like to dip my mozzarella sticks in it.



               
So, the next few days will be busy. Our Christmas music is twice on Sunday morning, so there will be extra rehearsals, plus some extra rehearsals for me on the organ. Then after Sunday.......well, I can relax and enjoy the season.  See ya'll later.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

MY BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT

I gave myself a birthday present this year. I've been wanting an ebook for a long, long time.
So......
I started my research and finally decided on a Kindle. It's the third generation and I dearly love it.

Now some of my best friends are with me all the time......Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes, Dave Robecheaux, Gabriel Allon, Cotton Malone and on and on.

It goes with me just about everywhere. A charge lasts a fairly long time. It's lightweight and I don't need my laptop to download a book.

I love this thing.

Friday, December 3, 2010

TIME IS QUICKLY FLYING!

 Life certainly gets interesting around here. I don't think I've stopped since October!

For Thanksgiving we went to our hometown, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to see David's mother and for the Alabama/ Auburn game. We arrived there to 75 degree weather and left four days later in 30 degree weather. Cough, cough, sniff, sniff.  We lost the game--after a 21-0 lead. All I can say is that we probably deserved the loss.

David's mother is 98 and is beginning to fade away now. In a wheelchair, can hardly see or hear and is in almost constant pain. I hate to say it, but it's time for her to rest. I admit that she hasn't been my favorite person, but all those feelings have gone. I truly wish there was something I could do for her.

The photo of Michael and Linzie was made in the car on the way to TTown. She usually sits in the back with me, but decided she wanted to pass a visit with Michael. So she moved right in!


This is a little bit of work I finished a few weeks ago. I found the box at Goodwill. In excellent condition.  The needlework is by The Sampler Girl.  I used 28 count Jobelan and the threads called for. The book on the inside is Pride and Prejudice, of course, and is a very old copy I had on my bookshelf. I finished it myself. Proud of me!




This little goodie cost me some brain cells. The pattern is by Cedar Hill. I bought the chart on one of my trips to Houston. I didn't like the fabric included, so I purchased my own.  The colors are DMC and are the ones recommended. It's one over one. Took me a year but it's done.


Here's some Christmas cheer. Thursday is out usual day for Sunrise Assisted Living. Their tree is up and here it is. It's HUGE! And really lovely.


I made some more photos but my iphone is slow in downloading. So.......something to look forward to?

Thursday, November 18, 2010

OH, BROTHER!

I decided to change the look of my blog. So I did. I forgot the header was white and the writing was, too. I've just spent the last 30 minutes trying to get the header writing back. Stupid me! You can't see white on white. Now I've lost my time. It's time to go to my weekly day at Sunrise Assisted Living.

So........I'll have to finish all of this later. Some photos, changes in blog favorites. Should have got up on the other side of the bed.

Sheeze.

Monday, November 1, 2010

TOMORROW IS VERY IMPORTANT!



Tomorrow is a Federal election day here in the USA. Please take the time to make your voice heard.

We have a lot at stake here and change can only happen when we make it.

DO YOUR DUTY. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR RIGHT AS AN AMERICAN.

VOTE!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, YA'LL

Seein' as how it's almost Halloween, here are some photos of my favorite Halloween decoration. I started it years ago when the pattern first came out. I finished it a couple of months ago. The pattern is from Crabapple Hill. Now that it's finished I love it. Truth is, I don't like doing surface embroidery. I followed CAH's instructions for finishing, but they weren't all that great. I redid the hat and added some sparkles.

The quilting shop near my favorite cross stitch shop (Cross Stitch Corner) made some fabric packs. I did change one or two of the swatches because I found some neat black fabby with music stuff on it.

All in all, I'm glad I finally finished it. Storing it may be a bit catchy!





Saturday, October 23, 2010

MY, HOW TIME FLIES....

I wake up and, low and behold, it's three months later!  Shame on me!

We're all alive and well here. Much has happened, of course. I've been stitching away--actually finishing some things I started years ago. I'll make some photos and send them along.

Linzie is still running things here. She is a joy. And so smart!  She paid a visit to Sunrise Assisted Living with us on Thursday.  Sweet Thing loved everyone except Brody, the resident canine.

I'm an organist again. My church, Parkview Baptist, recently purchased a new organ. After a 4 or 5 year vacation I'm doing what I was meant to do. Retirement plans are on hold for a few more months.

It's football season, my favorite time of the year. Bama has lost one game and may lose one today. They're still my team and I love them.

Guess I'll go back to the tv and the game.

Don't give up on me. And I'm on Facebook, too.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Well, we slipped by again. Bonnie fizzled out. I hear a little thunder right now, but that's about it. I shouldn't say too much because we're cruising right into prime hurricane season. After Katrina and Gustav, everyone takes every warning seriosly, believe me. And with the oil spill our trouble is a little more scarier. Yesterday I had visions of tar balls in my yard.

On  to stitchy stuff. Speaking of hurricanes.........this little project is one that took forever. Don't remember when I started it, but I finished it in 2008. I ordered the frame a month or so ago and finally got it framed and hung.  If you look closely in the upper left hand corner and the lower left corner you will see what I was stitching on on three certain days: Katrina, Gustav and Ike.  I just figured someday my grandchildren would appreciate it!  Rita isn't on here because when she hit, I was sitting in an airplane on the tarmac at the Baton Rouge airport. My friend Laura and I had been to London for two weeks. We actually had to fly home a day early just to get home. Airports were closing all around us. We missed tea at Windsor and I really wish we had been able to do that. We were going to take the train from Victoria Station, go thru all the lovely countryside, pass a visit, and come home that afternoon. Instead we were flying to Newark, NJ, trying to get home before everything shut down. That plane SHOOK from side to side. Thank goodness we were on the ground. A lot of planes bound for nearby cities were re-routed thru BR. We were scheduled to land here, but it was first come, first served. We had to wait in line--a long one--to roll into the terminal. PTL we weren't in the air when she actually hit.



I just accidentally deleted another project!!! I'll pick it back up later. It was another old thingy I finally framed. Long fingernails!!

Well, for some Linzie stuff. Michael was here toward the middle of the week. He and the little princess had some quality play time---until he picked up her little fox. Then we found out not only how strong she was, but how possessive.

My two youngest children. What a pair!




Tuesday, July 20, 2010



My good friend and owner of my LNS, the Cross Stitch Corner, reminded me again this morning that I had not posted the newest photos of some of my work. Well, here we go.

I've really got into making purses and this is the latest. I stitched the JA piece from a Sampler Girl chart and then placed it on the front of the purse. I found the fabby at Hobby Lobby and it just seemed "to fit".


My second finish is the second in Lizzie Kate's seasonal fob series. This was great fun to stitch and put together--both times. I finished it, put it on the coffee table and Linzie chased it down and removed the ribbon and the heart button. She went into time out and I repaired the damage.The first in the series I received from my partner in the LK exchange.


This knob knocker was stitched from another Sampler Girl chart. It's still hanging on my mantle. I used some fabby I found at my local quilt shop. It just looked Jane Austen-y.


Life continues on here, oil spill and all. Our Fourth was spent at church. We had a special Fourth of July program and it was fantastic.

Guess that's about all. Linzie is keeping us busy. And I'm finishing the framing of a couple of older finished. I ordered the frames--on piece is HUGE--and now they are almost ready.

Gotta do better than this at posting.....,

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Monday, June 28, 2010

ENOUGH, ALREADY!




You know how some people can just bore you to death with photos of their kids and/or grandkids? Well, okay.I understand. But I do happen to have the cutest and smartest grandkids, along with the most adorable little poochie. So......now we have photos of them both.

Laura and the kids came by on Friday on their way back to Houston after a vacation in Mandeville. They came especially to meet Linzie. Things would have been just great if Marley hadn't come along for the ride. Linzie did NOT like an invasion of her puppy privacy. The kids-sure- but not another puppy.

Ann especially connected with Linzie. And I always connect with Marley. She is so sweet. She is a rescue dog. Probably a yellow lab/something mix. Just as gentle as she can be. She has had distemper and has some side effects, but isn't contagious and Linzie has had her shots.

We'll be going to Houston soon, so it will be interesting to see how she reacts to Marley's house.  

Still stitching, but no new photos. I've ordered a couple of frames for a couple of pieces but they aren't ready yet. And I'm working on the LK exchange which goes out in a month.

It's SO hot here. And we're no closer to ridding ourselves of a lot of oil. And Alex is sitting around getting bigger. I don't think he'll be a problem to us, but there's another storm in the Atlantic headed for the Carribbean.

Until later, happy stitching!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA

It's almost the Fourth of July and the celebrations begin!  It's hot here. Very hot. And it's not August yet. And we may have a hurricaney Fourth. There's a storm sitting in the Carribbean and it looks-----suspicious. We'll see.

We're still dealing with that nasty oil spill. It really looks like things are just standing still. In the meantime, Louisiana and the other coastal states are hurting. If we can go to the moon, it seems like someone could come up with an answer to this problem--if they wanted to.

I've been stitching, but finishing very few things. I'm keeping up with the LHN ornies, so here is the latest finish:


I finished it in the materials called for. I'm really enjoying these little goodies!

I need to get serious now. My thoughts and prayers go to Mizmollye in the loss of her son, Jake. There is nothing worse than losing a child. But Mollye is strong and has SO much faith. She will teach some of us-especially me- some lessons. I think of her often during the day. I hope she is able to feel all the thoughts of love that come to her from all of us.

Please read her tribute to Jake on her blog, Mizmollye's Place. The link is to the right of my blog. I truly wish I could have known him: he's just 3 months older than my John. Such wonderful words coming from his Mom.



Friday, June 18, 2010

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DADDY. I MISS YOU

Daddy and his twin brother, Merrill. They're together now. What characters!

My Daddy was the greatest man I ever knew. He and I had a special bond that will never be removed.

He was a great American- he served in the Army during World War II. He would be so disappointed in the way our country is going. In a certain way, I'm glad he's not here to see it all happen.

He loved my boys. One of the biggest regrets of my life is that he never got to meet his great-grandchildren. But I know he's looking down on them with love.

He was almost as big an Alabama fan as I am. He has his favorite Bama hat with him now as he rests. And I know he's enjoying his moments with Bear Bryant (a captive audience).

He was proud of his Scottish heritage. He's wearing his Wilson  tartan tie right now. I'm sure he's seen that beautiful country as he's sitting on his favorite cloud.

The best thing is that one day we'll be together again. He may fuss at me a little, but he was always pretty good about letting me be myself.

Sleep well, Daddy. Save a seat on that cloud for me.

I love you.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

I downloaded these photos DAYS ago, but got so busy that I never finished the post!

Linzie (I got her vet papers and found out how to spell it) has kept us going. Our vet says she is a little "pistol" and that sums it up.She is a little love and we are all enjoying ourselves. She went with us to Sunrise Assisted Living last Thursday and with me to Senior Adults this morning. She's so smart and so darn cute.

We still miss Rose and sometimes forget and call Linzie by her name. I think Rosie would say it's okay. They would have a good time together-playing and chewing and fighting. Linzie doesn't like cats too much, so I spend my time outside with Giselle and Sis. There's a new kid on the block: a tuxedo cat. He-or she-is just now getting comfortable with us. The little guy sits in one of the wicker chairs on the front porch.

Couldn't get away without some photos of the kid(s). Michael was here so he took some shots and then I took one of him with his little sister.
Now for my latest project. I've made my first purse. I used a Simplicity pattern and fabby from my stash-except for the lining. I had to chase down a yard or so. It wasn't difficult. Just time-consuming. I used it as practice for one I want to make from Christmas fabric. This was really a lot of fun and I'm going to do it again-just different patterns.


We are still struggling with the oil spill. It's now the worse oil spill in history. I can't hardly look at the photos we see daily of the poor little animals that are dying. And we're slowly watching the demise of our seafood industry. And our tourism. Just pray that there will be an end to the problem-certainly before we have a hurricane.

Monday, May 24, 2010

BACK TO STITCHING--FOR THE TIME BEING

I've finished three new ornies.Two are the regular LHN offerings, stitched on the materials called for. I did leave off the cardinal and holly on "Peace on Earth". The other is a CCN ornie stitched with stuff from my stash.

I also have a photo of my TUSal but it's on another CD! Maybe tomorrow??




Lindsay is well and adjusting wonderfully. We're falling into line beautifully, too!



Friday, May 21, 2010

LINDSAY AND HER BIG BROTHER MICHAEL

She has met Gisele and Sis and I can't say that it went well. Actually, it didn't go at all. And this morning she removed a 150 lb. lab from the yard.

She was born April 23, 2009, so she is just a year old. But a lot of energy in 6 lbs and 12 months!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

MEET LINDSAY


This is Lindsay and she came to live with us today. She is a shih tsu, a year and a half old. She is SO sweet. I'm going to get better pictures as I can, but these were made this morning as we came home.

She was baby to a very special little lady whom we've known for years. She is going into assisted living and couldn't keep Lindsay. Her family knew that we had met Lindsay and were crazy about her. I am so glad they asked us to take her. They knew that our little Rose had gone to the Rainbow Bridge and we were ready to add another to the family.

She met Gisele a little while ago. Can't say it was a meeting of the minds. Luckily for Gisele she was on the ourside and Lindsay was on the inside!

So goes the days of our lives. Stitchy and Lindsay photos later! Gosh, so many puppy kisses!!!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

NEW MERCIES, NEW CHART


I was visiting my LNS, Cross Stitch Corner, this morning and found this chart. It's by Tree of Life Samplings and is called "New Mercies". "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is my favorite hymn and this is part of the chorus. Needless to say, it came home with me. It's done on small count fabric-the model is on 40 ct.- but I'll probably go with 32 or 36 (old eyes). Gentle Arts threads.

I visited her blog and she has another called "The Sparrow". It's a tribute to that great hymn, so I guess it will become mine, too.

I've finished two LHN ornies but haven't taken a picture. I'll get to it in a couple of days and post them.

My baby son Michael was 36 on Sunday.  Happy Birthday and I love you!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

ANIMAL FARM!


Meet Sis. She's the newest addition the the Drive-By Kitties. She's Gisele's sister.We don't know her name, so we call her Sis. Sis is bigger than Gisele and is much more laid back than G. As you can see, she is beautiful.

On the road coming into my subdivision is a flock of ducks. They are really beautiful. Remind me of the Afleck duck! They live across the street from the pond, so we have a posted duck crossing. Of course, when they cross all traffic stops and they go on their merry ways. The day I took the photos they were chatting away with each other-little, small, low quacks. I can only imagine what they were saying. Something about the fat old lady with the camera?