July? Already? Are you Kidding Me?

I wish I had a bunch of fun birthday photos to share, but honestly I've been too dag on busy to pick the camera (or my stitching) up. You'll have to take my word for it, my one and only sister and (one and only) husband have both successfully celebrated another year of life this past weekend. Sis and I took tea (not at the Savoy, but at a very good tea room anyway) and caught a chick-flik (The Proposal) Friday. As working girls (get your mind out of the gutter), it was a real treat to take a day off and just do what-N-ever we wanted to do. We even squeezed in some antique shopping.

All day Saturday was spent in the kitchen prepping for the Hubby Big Sunday Birthday Feast. I'll try to be brief but to tell the truth, I was quiet pleased with myself. We started with jumbo shrimp cocktails in jumbo crystal martini glasses, complete with crushed ice, lemon wedges and cocktail sauce cups. For fruit, we had cantelope balls and blueberries served in pretty little juice glasses. Even the salads were made special with red roquefort dressing. Main course included proscuitto wrapped asparagus, roasted red potatoes, filet mignon, roasted corn on the cob and parmesan grilled bread. Yes, but what for dessert? The birthday boy requested scratch carrot cake and pecan pie (including homemade crust). That's right, we all rolled around like stuffed ticks afterwards! And that was just for LUNCH! For dinner, we had rootbeer floats! LOL!

It's another four day week for me which sounds great but really only means I need to squeeze 40 hours of work into 32. This Friday, hubby and I planned to run up the road to Ripley WV for the Mountain State Arts and Crafts Festival. It's a stupendous juried outdoor show that I look forward to every year (even though it's always 100 degrees in the shade).

We'll return to our regularly scheduled stitching shortly folks. Thanks for sticking around in the interim. I do love reading your comments and blogs and sharing my little corner of the world with you all.

I hope to find a little time to work up a small design for the Artist Trading Card program we are having a week from today at the July guild meeting. I've never made one but have admired them from afar for a long time. I'm seeing a little something on the peacocky side in my near future... hum...

Home Again (photo heavy)

When did they move Georgia to the intersection of South Hell and Molten Lava? Geez it's hot down there! Glad to be home before dark tonight but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. The youngest step child graduated basic training this week and was advanced to his next post in San Antonio TX. The experience seems to have made a much more mature young man out of him but I think I spied just a smidge of little boy still behind those baby blues. We couldn't be prouder. Even though it was a few days early, I can't imagine hubby getting a better Father's Day gift. Knowing we'd be out of town on Father's Day, I celebrated with my Dad last weekend.

Way to go J!!!!!

Lord, keep him safe.

Spent a little down time at Callaway Gardens. Our first visit there, but surely not our last. They host a Needle Arts School in January (which just might be the BEST time of year to visit Georgia!). Was awed by the beauty of the grounds, gardens and butterflies.

Speaking of being awe-struck, hubby and I lucked into a viewing of Monet's Waterlilies at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. I've had the privilege of seeing the magnificent, larger than life panels in London nearly 20 years ago, but had almost given up hope finding them together again to share with hubby. We sat speechless for sometime in front of them, just soaking up the beauty, peace and serenity they emit. They allowed camera phone photos only, so the quality leaves a lot to be desired. If you are within a days drive of Atlanta, I urge you to go see these masterpieces yourself. You'll never forget it.

Last but not least, we spent a few hours in the air conditioned splendor of the Georgia Aquarium, the world's largest aquarium. What a delight! The Titanic exhibit alone is well worth the visit but don't miss the whale sharks and lion fish either.

What's that you say? Did I get any stitching done? A little. If I hadn't run out of thread (grrrr!!), I would have finished my XSDN's checkerboard. I have exactly 10 blank squares left to fill in with some kind of random stitch. It won't take anytime, but I want to personalize the borders with their names as well. I also finished my third and final sign language I Love You square. The father of my XSDNs in NC decided that he just had to have one of the cubes I made the girls for Valentine's day for himself. So, even though I hate to stitch the same thing twice, I made an exception and stitched this thing for a third (and final) time. In the words of Roberto Duran, NO MAS! Lastly, I started a Christmas name tag to help me keep track of how many Christmas finishes the SAL on the 25th motivates me to finish. So far, I have two finishes to attribute to the SAL, one you have seen (black biscornu) and one you haven't (Christmas exchange). I'll stitch a new package under the trees for each Christmas finish.

Well, that does it for me. I've got a huge (albeit 4 day) week at work. Taking Friday off to celebrate sister's birthday with her. Family coming in to celebrate hubby's birthday over the weekend.

High Ho High Ho, it's off to the laundry room I go.

busy as a bee

Popping in to say the rest of June is totally packed with events, vacation, Father's Day, our anniversary and two family birthdays, so it might be July before I post again. Hard to believe it was twelve years ago that hubby and I exchanged vows about three feet from where I sit typing this. It was a beautiful day surrounded by our closest friends and family, in our home. Our preacher likes to say that he "ties good knots"; I must agree.

I'm taking the dragonfly checkerboard on vacation with us and my hope is that I'll be bringing it back ready for the framers. Both sets of checkers are painted and ready to go. All that's left to do is fill-in the blank blocks, and only about half of those. Posting pics soon.

So, until next time, hope you all are enjoying the summer and finding all the stitching time you can handle.

Free Willy Saturday

There you go little ones. Enjoy your back full of feathers and fine feathered friend!

Thank you, lady!

Don't mention it! You scratch my back, I'll stitch yours.

You see readers, these little birds have actually done me a huge favor. I have a project in mind that is very large and will require lots of hours to complete however, it's been impossible to find the right color of green linen for the ground fabric. Thinking this La Crosse Blend from R&R might be right, it was a blessing when the little bird flew into my life last Saturday on a scrap of La Crosse Blend, needing stitched. Because of her, I can see that I need to continue my search for a better shade of light green linen. I'm thinking Almost Spring or Jabco green from R&R might better suit the Tiffany stained glass birds and bamboo piece I have in mind. But, in the meantime, at least these two little darlings will be putting a smile on my face whenever I glimpse them flying by!

Peas and Carrots

Well here I sit on a perfectly good Wednesday evening bawling my eyes out over Forrest Gump. Love this movie; always have, always will. It's been a long time since I've seen it but I bet I've watched it a dozen or two times.

There is something about that Tom Hanks and his box of chocolates, Momma, Congressional medal of honor, ping pong paddle, shrimping boat, suitcase, big heart and beautiful spirit that gets me everytime. Robin Wright is perfect as his Jenny. Just like peas and carrots.

If you are in need of a good ol' fashioned chuckle and therapeutic cry, this heart warming flick will certainly do the trick!

all framed up

Hubby and I had a lovely dinner at the O.G. tonight which JUST so happens to be in very close proximity to Michael's. I knew if I had a piece of foam core the right size, I might just be able to stretch this piece and pop it in the FAB u lous frame I found at Marshall's this past weekend. So while he got us a table, I ran to the framing department and got a scrap (aka FREE) piece of foam core.

After a little futzing, pinning, un pinning, re pinning, I think it's staight and centered. Could it be so?!? BTW, why does linen have to be so wobbly? Grunt. Snort. Stomp.

Don't try adjusting your sets at home friends, I used the "Orton" editing feature on this shot:

I've been wanting to try the feature, just to see what it is supposed to do. When I figure it out, I'll let you know. The photo below is much truer to what it looks like IRL. Click on photo below for a great look at the detail on the frame. Not bad for $7, huh?


I intentionally didn't stretch it so tight that the wrinkles in the fabric would go away. I like the character of the linen.

Artsy craftsy bargains? love, Love, LOVE IT!!!

Attention blackwork lovers!

I stumbled across this SAL (hosted by Isangel "My World of Cross Stitch" blog) and know several of my BBSFF* musts needs to check it out:

http://isangel-mimundodepuntodecruz.blogspot.com/2009/05/6-entrega-de-msal-bordando-dedales.html

It is written in Spanish, but if you just scroll through the blog and look for the AQUI links, you'll find the patterns. If you're feeling lucky, scroll about half way down and look on the right hand side for a small single line (under the mosiac of photos) for FREEBIES.

Buena suerte mi amigas!

*BBSFF = best blackwork stitching friends forever

The first lilies of the year

What a wonderful surprise to have not one, not two, but THREE pink waterlilies in bloom today! They are wee tiny, like baby waterlilies (about the size of tennis balls). Normally they are much bigger, but I'm sure they will bloom larger as the summer progresses. I was going to photo edit the black spots off the upper photo, but thought better of it. It's nature, sometimes things get dirty. If the spots bother you, just try squinting your eyes.

Free Willy Saturday

The call came at quarter of 6 this morning. Carrot is on vacation this week so I started groping for the phone. However, as I came to my senses, I realized it wasn't the phone that was waking me, it was the sound of a bird chirping. And, yes, it sounded like it was coming from inside the house! So, up we got and off we set to find the source of the chirping. Yes, it sounds like it's coming from the sunroom.

Well, what do we have here?

Hi! She chirped.
Hi indeed. Where are you off to?, I inquired.
Not far, I'm afraid. As you can see, my wings aren't ready to carry me far. chirp chirp. Oh how I wish I had a back full of colorful feathers and two wings to carry me far! And a friend. chirp chirp. I wish I had a friend to fly with me. There's plenty of room here by my side for a fine feathered friend. chirp chirp. Oh how I wish I had feathers, wings and a friend, yes, chirp chirp, that would be loverly.

Okay, ok. I get it. Feathers, wings and a friend. If I promise to see what I can do about some feathers, wings and a friend will you promise to hold the "chirp chirp" down to a minimum until say 7ish?

Oh YES, chirp chirp, I'll be the happiest little quiet bird you've ever seen!

Deal. Now let's practice that quiet business and I'll be back with you in a couple of hours.

Who's a pretty girl?

It's been brought to my attention that this blog has been much "too" focused on needlework and nature lately and a little light on the K9 material. So, in honor of all the rain we've had (quack quack waddle waddle), here's a little something we call "Duck Love":




Hope everyone is staying high and dry (or maybe just dry?)!!!

Honeysuckle (Part 2)

After taking notice of how the honeysuckle photo looked in my last post, I thought I'd give it another shot: (click on photo to enlarge)

Come to think of it, Weeks Dye Works makes a Honeysuckle color. Do you have it in your stash........yet?

Sweet Honeysuckle

Living in the country has it's pros and cons, like everywhere, but as much as I enjoy nature, I sure do love where I live (except in January. I. Hate. January. And sometimes February)

There always seems to be some thing of beauty to appreciate like the birds' songs, the sunrise, the wildlife and lately, the sweet aroma of honeysuckle. The hillside along the dog walk has been full of flowering honeysuckle the last couple of weeks and the perfume is simply intoxicating. The bad thing is that snakes love honeysuckle too so you can't get too close unless you are armed and dangerous, but I could just stand in the middle of the road, eyes closed, and deeply inhale for hours!

Here's hoping you have time to stop and smell the honeysuckle today!