HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Happy Mother's Day to all you ladies out there! I know it's a day early, but hopefully I will be spending tomorrow playing at church, visiting my family and generally enjoying the day. Tomorrow will be back on schedule after three Sundays away from the keyboard. I did spend most of this week playing for a revival in Sorrento, LA. I was joining friend Phillip Willis in doing the music for this wonderful little church. The members were all so gracious and the food was fantastic: crawfish etouffee, jambalaya and fried fish (not all at the same time!! On different nights). And Phillip flew out of Baton Rouge on a 6:30 AM flight, headed eventually for Vermont to bring music to churches there.

I have some new charts. I'm trying to stitch smaller things now. Things I can finish quickly and finish myself, if I can. Here's a look at some of them.

The first is a little chart from The Sampler Girl. It's eventually going to be a knob knocker for me and framed as a picture as a Christmas present (hint: my granddaughter is named Grace). Or it may be a knob knocker instead of a picture....

These three are from Little House Needleworks. The first I finished this week and is at the framers.

This is to be a companion piece to the sampler above.

I don't know where this one will go. Maybe on a bookself or the mantle in the den.

So......again I hope everyone has a great Mother's Day. May it be peaceful and s great fellowship day for your families.

AN EASTER TREAT BETTER THAN CANDY (ALMOST!)

"Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming" has long been my favorite Christmas carol. It's not exactly one that a lot of people know and it's even more beautiful sung a capella (no accompaniment).

Much to my surprise a charted version of the song started appearing on several blogs in the last few weeks. One group was using it as a SAL and were passing the book along person to person. Well, not to let a chance pass me by, I started searching for the pattern.

I emailed Brightneedle, the original designers, and the ladies emailed me back that it was in a 2001 edition of BH&G Cross Stitch Christmas. Where do I find one? Then it occurred to me that I might have it amongst some very old stitchery books in the computer room. Whoopee! It was there! I found it yesterday.

Today I pulled what threads I have-Weeks Dye Works- and found a piece of linen just the right size and color. Tuesday I will buy the rest of the colors and off we go. What a treat! The pictures on the blogs have been beautiful and now that I have some of the colors, I can see why. Wow. What a great Easter gift. The old bunny deserves a kiss.

In the meantime, I've finished the stitching on the Traveling Stitcher and am starting to put it together. It's been the oasis in the desert of music. I will do the Sunrise Service EARLY in the morning and then the two worship services tomorrow morning. It's the first time I've ever had to wear black on Easter!! Then a nice nap and end the day with Little Dorritt on Masterpiece Theatre.

And to all of you, may you have the most marvelous Easter Day, always remembering the significance of the season, why there is an Easter. And may the One who was willing to give His Son to die and rise again on this special day bless all of you

AT IT AGAIN!

I'm frogging again! I really messed up my Beatrix Potter sampler. I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing and started stitching the inside of one of the medallions sideways. I put it aside for a couple of days and am now thinking maybe I'll pick it up again.

Then there is the Friendship RR. Sara's arrived in the mail today so I started stitching the proper heart. Well, sure enough I messed up on my count. It has to be frogged over halfway up.

I'm blaming all this bad stuff on the little procedure I had done on Friday. I had a little thingy removed from a very miserable place (above my waist). This was the second go-round on it. Had it frozen off last time. This time the doctor did a little cutting. It was about the size of a quarter. She didn't do stitches, which was good. She cauterized it and it's having a time not bleeding. Everything went bad because of my........attitude?

The good news is that I've redone the Traveling Stitcher and have- YEA!- figured out the pattern for the needlebook and carrying case. I think I'l look for the fabby on Thursday. I can use the part I messed up for a little pouch for buttons, safety pins, etc.

DH sent me an email this morning. We have a chance to go to the Arizona Biltmore in July. We've been before and it's a WONDERFUL place (pictures in my Kodak gallery: password shown, other code is rolltide1969@cox.net). The only problem is July. It was hot as hades in November. I can guess what it would be like in the summer. But it's such a great place to go. Maybe we'll make it. Some great reading and stitching time.

This is going to be the first ever Easter that I've worn black! I usually go for something pale and it's the one Sunday a year I absolutely wear a hat -platform and all. Well, we're doing the second part of our Easter music on Sunday morning and the orchestra has to wear concert black. I'm going to become really creative with this one! I bought a nice, short black dress for Sunday morning and am going to wear a long, black dress on Wednesday night (the first part of the music). I'm even going to treat myself to a new pair of black shoes. I need them badly and this is a good excuse to buy them. But no 5 " stilettos. People might talk!!!

I also agreed to play for the Sunrise Service at Resthaven (Cemetery, just next door to the church). The day will start VERY early for me. I really don't mind. I can do it one day a year. There's nothing "early morning" about me.

Wish there was more to tell. It's a little boring right now. I'm going to my LNS tomorrow and maybe I can get into some trouble.......

THANK GOODNESS FOR TOMORROW! WELL, MAYBE NOT.....

This has been one of those days. Started out great. Wonderful day at Sunrise Assisted Living. Got a little work done in the house. Then I picked up my stitching.

I'm working on The Traveling Stitcher by LNS. I've finished the needlebook cover and was about half finished with the main piece. Somehow I miscalculated and didn't allow enough side space. I started it all over again on the fabric right next to the needlebook. Well, I'm not happy. I'm working it really strangely just to see if it will fit. Truth is, I'd really rather get another piece of fabric and start over-over. Just to be sure.

I did make a trip to Lifeway Books for some reading material and found a wonderful carry-all that has places for family pictures.

None the less, I'm floundered by my boo boo. That's one that shouldn't be made. And all the thread I used.......overdyes, too.

In the scheme of things, this is small. But an unnecessary mistake.

Orchestra was good tonight and tomorrow I see Dr. Dobson to get my real boo boo removed. Maybe that's what's really on my mind.

Oh, well.......

THIS AND THAT AND JULIE'S FINISH

Yes. I actually made it to church, Donna and Julie! One of God's miracles!!!! Got there 30 minutes before the service started. Since I quit taking my little white anti-aging pills I stay up a little longer. And forget things, too. And grow wrinkles.

Julie, the Peacock Chair is

unbelievable! All of you guys, go to Julie's Stitchyknitter's Journal and check it out. So cool!

Donna, I have 5 stitched so far and am going to start putting them together. I have some great breast cancer fabric (that sounds funny!). And I've finished the Lizzie Kate (?) Peace, Love and a Cure and am thinking about making it into some type of patchwork knob knocker.

I did come home from church and napped. Later we met our friend from Plaquemine, Doris Pettus, for dinner at Ruffino's. The food was wonderful as usual, but I got a little nuts and ordered my favorite pizza-Margharita. No, that's nothing to do with the drink (which is NASTY). It's named for some Renaissance queen or so. I have to say that it was a bit of a dud. There's a little place here in town called Schlitz and Giggles. They make the genuine article. A Margharita pizza is one with a paper-thin crust, sliced Roma tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and olive oil. Tasty! No red sauce-which Ruffino's had. No no.

Doris is great. She lost her husband a year or so ago. She is a corporate travel agent and is pretty good at her job. We talked travel tonight: she's going to the Mediterranean this fall. We both love London and we talked about places we visited. London is my favorite with Rome a close second.

We talked a lot about the Vatican and St. Peter's, as well as St. Paul's in London. She didn't like Russia and I want to visit. I didn't like China and she would like to go there. So that's why we're all different! Boring world if we were all alike.

We're supposed to be getting the new roof this week. Right!!! Heard that before. I'll be even more glad when the hole in the bedroom ceiling is fixed. It's just a couple of months until hurricane season starts all over. Unfortunately, Michael's new promotion will mean that he stays here in the city if we have a hurricane.

Enough gibberish. If I'm lucky I may have some pictures to post tomorrow. Ann, my friend at With My Needle, has completed her heart on my Friendship Sampler Round Robin. You might stop by and see it. She does beautiful work.

So for now, ta.

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!

I'm in the middle of one of those series of sleepless nights that I go through every now and then. So here it is, 10:30 at night and and EARLY service lookin' at me in the face in the morning. So, what does an intelligent person do? Instead of counting sheep, reading her Bible, doing her cross stitch? She plays on the computer!

If I don't turn it in soon I will be the Ghost of Christmas Past in the morning. And I'm not a morning person anyway.

It was a nice evening. Michael came over He's got a promotion (he thinks!) at work. Certainly a raise in pay. He brought his new rod and reel-the first he's ever bought for himself-and says we don't want to know what he paid for it!!! He'.s taken up kayaking. You should see it. And he's been doing a little tournament fishing. That would figure: he's a marine biologist. I can't believe that little strawberry blond that nearly drove me crazy so many years ago now has graying hair and beard. I'm so glad he's ours.

I worked some on the ornament's for Donna's Stitching For A Cure. I'm not really sure when the deadline is, but I'm enjoying doing the ornies. And I hope she raises a bundle for breast cancer.

Might as well through in a recipe. This is one my mother used to make. Along with the Rum Cake, she would bake this one with the boys in tow. It used to make me nuts seeing one or both of them sitting on the kitchen cabinet, pouring ingredients into the mixer bowl. I was just waiting for an accident to happen. If it ever did, no one told me. Good idea!!! Here goes-and it's actually pretty good.

DUMP CAKE

1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 small pkg. lemon jello
2/3 C. Wesson oil
2/3 C. warm water
4 eggs
1 tsp. lemon flavoring

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare pan. Dump mix into bowl. Mix jello in warm water.
Add to cake mix. Add rest if ingredients and bake for 45 minutes or until done.

Well, that's about it. I'm going to try reading now.

A LONG WEEKEND AND A RECIPE

I didn't get back as soon as I planned. What a weekend!

On Saturday, we went to Plaquemine, a sleepy little town across the Mississippi River. Go across that dreadful bridge, carefully driving through Bruly and Addis, because they are speed traps, and then happily into Plaquemine. Right? Wrong. There had been a chemical spill earlier that morning and traffic was being re-routed. We rode by many, many sugar cane fields, past many, many police and National Guard guys, and getting more stressed by the minute. We had to go to a funeral-yes, another one. One of DH's clients died and we were going to pay our respects. We finally rolled into the funeral home just a few minutes before the procession to the church was to start. Well, because of the spill, the service was at the funeral home. No Mass. Just a short service. But the best part came afterwards.

We went to his house for the repast. WOW. He was a big game hunter--literally--so the living room was filled with LOTS of stuffed animals: giraffe, grizzly bear, gazelle. You name it, it was there. Whatever floats your boat! Their daughter had been in 3 Mardi Gras krewes, so her costumes were on display in a large case. Absolutely beautiful. I still don't understand how the ladies wear those LARGE headpieces.

The best part was the food. No one can cook like South Louisiana Cajuns. There was everything you could want, even meat pies. And some real home-baked ham. Anything you wanted to drink. And the desserts! I always thought an Irish wake would be the way I wanted to go. Now I've changed my mind.

Sunday was slow. I'm not an early morning person, so the time change nearly did me in. I woke up every hour during the night, so afraid I would be late for the Early Service. I wasn't, but yawned through the first service, poured in the coffee between services, and made it through the last service. Came home and took a long nap.

On the sewing front, I actually picked up the petit etui and did some stitching. Same for the Bea Potter SAL. I got an email from Robin, saying that some charts I ordered came in. I know one of them I want to start right away, so I'll get a little fabby, too. That's on tap for tomorrow.

Well, now for a recipe. I think my favorite holiday to cook for is St. Patrick's Day. Maybe it's the little bit of the Irish mixed in with the Scot. My favorite is Leek Soup. Sometimes I even make it during the year. Here goes:

CREAM OF LEEK SOUP

4 medium leeks (white and pale green portions only), cleaned and trimmed NO SAND!

1 Tbs. butter

2 tsp. olive oil

1 large clove garlic, finely minced

3 Tbs. AP flour

2 2/3 C. Chicken stock (or Swanson's broth)

1/2 C. milk

nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste

1/2 C half and half (or heavy cream)

1. Quarter leeks lengthwise and cut into 1/2" long pieces. Makes about 2 1/2 C.

2. Melt butter with olive oil over medium heat in large saucepot. Add leeks and garlic. Cook about 2 min., stirring often. Don't let garlic burn.

3. Mix flour with milk. Add to leeks with stock and seasonings. Stir and bring to simmer. Cook 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly.

4. Spoon into blender and puree well. Put into saucepot. Add half and half and heat slowly. Garnish with chopped chives to serve, if desired.

I have another recipe around here that is Leek and Potato Soup. It's good too. Just what we need in this 80 degree weather.

VALENTINE'S DAY--EARLY

These beautiful flowers came this morning. DH sent them, of course! He has such good taste. And Mary Margaret at Marino's knows that I have a thing for pretty containers. This one is definitely a keeper. We're supposed to go to a Senior Adult Valentine Banquet tonight-when did I get to be a Senior Adult?????? Tomorrow is a wedding at Most Blessed Sacrament. Good day for a wedding. I don't know either party but they are clients of David's. Besides, Catholic weddings and receptions are ever so much more fun than Baptist ones. Can't believe I said that!

On the stitching front, I have the starting heart in place for the Friendship Sampler Round Robin. It will go to the next person-which happens to be Ann- and eventually will go to Canada and the Netherlands. I'm going to do it in the original colors because they're the colors in my house. I had originally planned to do a companion piece to match with names of my "ancestors" on it. Now I'm thinking I will use the fabby for Papillon Creations Ring O' Roses, and stitch it up as the stitching necessity. I pulled the colors in DMC but am now considering the GAST colors, which will be more muted. It is really a pretty piece.

All for now. It's been a ho-hum day-other than the flowers- and I could be persuaded to stay at home tonight.

Okay, here I sit, pouting. I've got another fever blister and this one is BIG. I just had one last week and took my pills like a good girl and it never really got bad. Wouldn't you know the prescription expired the 16th and I never managed to get it refilled? And it's too late to stop this one. It's one of those nasty ones that is in the middle of my lip and not around the edges. Just have to hibernate for a few days and stitch- a lot.

Speaking of stitching, I've managed to bring things to a halt until I finish the Loose Feather's Keepsake Box and Pinkeep. The top is within a few stitches of being finished and then on to the pinkeep. It's really small and won't take long either. I'll have to find some fabric, paint and the box, of course. All will be at Hobby Lobby. It's been a fun project.
Dianne is going to the needlework market in February and she's been taking orders for this little goody. It's an etui. It has to be specially bought because only so many will be printed. Can't wait to get my hands on this goody!

Today was the State of the Church message. Bro. Collin did a great job and has a great vision for this year. He mentioned several mission trips that will be available. The Senior Adults are going to Lafayette (Louisiana). A group will go to Wisconsin to help a former pastor with his new mission church. That would be fun, but only if we were to fly. But the goody is a proposed trip to Peru. Would I like that !! DH says he doesn't think my doctor will clear me for that one because of the altitude and lack of medical facilities should I need them. Well, I'm not worried. We'll see. If worse comes to worse, I can go on the mission field to Lafayette. Just what we'd do there hasn't been announced