I'm back ....

Thank you all for your comments about my great aunt's passing. The trip to California was a tough one but also a good one. It was the first time in I don't know how long that my brother and I spent 4 days together .. just the 2 of us. We laughed, we cried, we dealt the the funeral home and packing up her things at the nursing home together .. supporting each other through some tough things .. but we also go to drive up the coast and spend some time at Morrow Bay and Pismo Beach .. talking about family .. remembering family trips and stories. Thank you Auntie Dee for giving Mike and I time together .. time I won't forget.

When I got home from CA there was a box waiting for me from my friend Karen in Arizona. She sent me the most wonderful belated birthday box of goodies. In the box was a bag of yummy Hershey kisses, a roll of very pretty red ribbon (I know I'll be using this soon!), a very funny birthday card, coffee cup for Arizona, a reindeer pattern that I've never seen before! lol .. a cute note pad with Glinda and and and a stitched piece that she finished into a cube for me! Karen, I just love everything :)

Here's a close up of the stitched cube .. didn't see do a lovely job finishing this! and how perfect is this design for me *smile*

I'm a bit behind, but here's my Lizzie Kate Double Flip its so far .. I'm stitching this on a long piece of banding .. I just love these flip its.

Before I left for CA I had ordered a thread holder from Monique .. I just love it! I also ordered one of her zipper pulls, in red of course, I love it too .. forgot to take a picture of it :( I think I'll be ordering more of these .. great little gifts.

We are all excited about the race tomorrow .. 50th run of the race at Daytona .. gooooo Matt!

I'm grateful to be home ...

Life ...

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Mine was pretty good. Saturday the kids, DH and I went to visit my fil and his new puppy. This picture isn't the greatest, but what a cute puppy! He's a lhasa apsa and is about 8 weeks old. We are all really happy Al got the puppy .. he's been needing something/someone to take care of since my mil passed away .. I think he and "Little Friend" will be happy for years to come :)

Last night I finished my PMP, Spots of Love .. I do enjoy these pillows .. cute and quick finishes and something I can do when I'm not feeling great ...


On a sad note .. my great aunt passed away this evening. She was the last of my mom's side of the family. My brother and I are leaving tomorrow for California to take care the the arrangements. We were hoping to get there before she passed .. Auntie Dee was 93 years old .. she'll be missed.

So I won't be around for a few days, keep busy and hope to see lots of finishes when I return :) And that's for all the compliments about my finishes . and a Hi to new commenters .. thanks for stopping by .. see you in a couple of days ...

I'm grateful for my brother ...

Happy Friday :)

Anyone else as glad it's Friday as I am? I ended up staying home from work today .. my cold has settled in my sinuses and I've had a headache now for three days. I did start my antibotics on Wednesday .. sure hope something starts working soon .. this is getting really old! lol I watched The Jane Austin Book Club on DVD today .. has anyone else seen this movie? I really enjoyed it. It wasn't at all what I expected, but I enjoyed the story line .. the characters and their interactions. The ending was a bit too "nice" .. but all in all I would really recommend this movie.

I have been stitching a bit here and there .. I started Lizzie Kate's Double Flip-it's .. I'm stitching them a a pretty piece of banding. I'm almost done with Spot of Love .. I'll post some pictures over the weekend.

The bright day of my week was Thursday .. when this wonderful stitcher's bource arrived in my mailbox. Sally stitched this as a PIF for me. I've never seen one up close and personal .. didn't she do a lovely job!

and look at the stitching inside! I just love the colors and the alphabet, and the adorable flowers in the middle ... opps, I forgot to take a picture of the colorful threads that were hiding inside the bource when I opened it ...


Sally, thank you so very much .. your stitching and finishing are beautiful. Thank you for stitching this for me ...


I'm grateful for stitching gifts ...

Happy Groundhog Day ...

although by the time most of you read this blog it'll be the next day! lol I heard the "official" groundhog did see his shadow .. so looks like 6 more weeks of winter .. and I for one am ready for some warmer weather. I got hit again with this stupid cold/flu crud. It's been a long time since I've felt quite this bad .. my head is sooo plugged up and all I seem to do is cough and pee .. tmi?? lol I did go to my dr on friday. She heard a little rattling in my left lung, but said I don't have bronchitis or pneumonia .. haven't been running a fever at all. So she wanted to start me on an inhaler 4 times a day and a 20 min steam .. it's only been 24 hours since I started this .. but I'm not sure it'll help. I do have some antibotics but she didn't want me to take them until I try the other stuff .. I haven't been stitching much .. too afraid of making mistakes when I feel this bad .. but I did start a pine mountain pillow this morning .. Spot of Love .. really hard to mess up on aida lol


I did finish one more wip before Janauary was over .. This is Christmas Drawers by Shepherd's Bush. Sure feels good to get this one done. I started it years ago when it was first released. It was one of the first times I was using linen and silks. There were also some speciality stitches, which were new to me but I didn't think I'd have an problems .. see, that's what I get for thinking lol. I believe this little design caused me more problems than any of done todate. The biggest problem was that I don't follow written directions well. I learn better when someone shows me how .. reading directions just gets me all turned around. Since I don't have any friends that stitch, I would take CD to stitching retreats with me .. some retreats I would actually remember I had it along with me .. I'd find someone that could help with a speciality stitch and off I'd go .. of course I'd run into a wall with the next speciality stitch and then would have to wait again to be around stitchers .. long story but I'm really glad to have it done .. finally!



I feel really good about the wips I got finished in January .. I still have a few more, but I'll get them in some kind of rotation and get them done soon too .. I hope :) Now I'm looking forward to starting a few new pieces .. just have to lay them out and figure out which ones to start .. that's soo much fun to do!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend .. enjoy the Superbowl! And thanks for the comments about our snow, which didn't last long at all, and on my wips .. I really enjoy hearing from all of you.

I'm grateful for being done with CD ...