"Merry Christmas"

Design By

Country Cottage Needlework

2011 JCS Ornament Issue

Stitched over one on 32 count Lugana

Petite Christmas Angel SAL - Week 2

This is my Week 2 progress.  I still have the beading and backstitching to do, but I'm liking the hand dyed threads I've picked.  I am getting excited and anxious to get the backstitching done on the wings.  Backstitching isn't my favorite parts of a project, but I think it will really define the wings.  We move on to the skirt for Week 3.

Signs of Spring

The Resurrection Lilies are coming up!  It seems early this year, but I guess that's because we've had such a mild winter. 

Other signs of spring:

Bugs.  We never actually got rid of the box elder bugs or the Asian beetles from the fall harvest.  When we have sunny days, those bugs seem to multiply and we have them everywhere again.

The local ice cream shop opened last week, parking lots are being sectioned off for the lawn and garden supplies, lots more birds singing in the morning, it's daylight when I get up in the morning and it's daylight when we eat dinner.

My "Companion" Dog

I always say Dottie is my "companion" dog because she is always by my side.  I can't even go to the bathroom without her pushing the door open and walking in!

But, today while I was working in my sewing/craft room, Dottie disappeared.  Usually she is laying on the floor by my feet.  So, I went looking for her...

...caught her in the act of relaxing on DD's bed!  DD is away at college and Dottie must be missing her, but because Dottie sheds so much, DD usually doesn't let Dottie lay on her bed.


Mom Update:  We saw the oncologist today.  While there has been a slight improvement, the numbers are still too far from normal.  The doctor wants to try another 4 weeks of the once a week treatments and run all the tests again.  The doctor also informed us that mom's kidney function has decreased, but he isn't sure if it's due to the treatments or progression of her kidney disease.


The oncologist also ordered an MRI of the left ear, head and neck because there are some swollen and very painful lymph nodes on the left side.  That's also the ear that has the most hearing loss.  The doctor said he also wants to rule out tumors in that area.

Until next time...
Happy Stitchin'

Blasting the Music

With all my mom's doctor appointments, treatments and tests, and working full time, I'm finding that I'm really stressed these days.  Not wanting to have a repeat of last year's shingles, I decided I need to alleviate as much stress as possible. 

It's not very often that I'm home alone, but I've had a few hours here and there.  Rather than doing the things that "needed" to get done like cleaning, laundry, paying bills, I decided to take care of myself instead.  What better way to take care of myself than to indulge in my favorite hobby?  I spent some quality time with my stash, looked over my Ornament To-Do list, rested in my comfy chair and stitched away.

I also discovered that my daughters have some pretty good music downloaded on iTunes and blasting it really helped to take my mind off all that's causing me stress.

$3 STASH Find

I found a bag of fabrics and some threads at the thrift store for $3.  I snatched it up and realized when I was driving home with it that it all smelled of cigarette smoke.  After getting advice from my stitching friends on the ILCS group, I let it hang outside for a few days.  It's so much better now!

 


Petite Christmas Angel SAL

Like I need another project, I decided to participate in the Polstitches Petite Christmas Angel SAL on facebook.  It started last Tuesday and each week, Jo will announce the next area we are to work on.

 Petite Christmas Angel SAL Week One

Design By

Joan Elliott

Memories

It's still catches me off guard.  All it takes is one little thing that reminds me of my dad and the tears fall again.  This week will be two years ago that my dad had the stroke.  I can't believe it's been two years when it still feels so fresh.  I'm lucky that my dad was with us for 7 weeks and during that time, he was able to tell us how much he loved us and we were able to tell him how much we loved him.  I can still see him winking at me when I walked into his hospital room or his hand forming the sign for "I Love You", but I also see the way he looked in his final days.

I kept some of dad's shirts with the intention of making a quilt with them.  I decided to start deconstructing them.  I don't have a particular quilt pattern in mind so I will just cut different size squares for now.

This shirt was one of my dad's favorite -- well, I guess they all were.  Any ideas what I can do with the cuffs, snaps and pockets? 


New Refrigerator

Dottie is showing off the new appliance.  Hubby picked this one because our sink, stove, dishwasher and microwave are all stainless. 

Mom Update

We found out today that her hearing loss and dizziness may be permanent.  We thought it started from the sinus infection she had at the beginning of the year, but the doctor believes it's really from the type of lymphoma she has.  The ENT specialist wants to implant a Baha Device to help her hear, but it requires surgery and general anesthesia.  Mom decided to hold off on doing anything until she's done with cancer treatment.  Actually, she's hoping that she'll get up one morning and find that her hearing has returned as suddenly as it disappeared.

Walked around the corner the other evening and found little Snickers sleeping in the crevice between the two cushions on the sofa.  She was sleeping so soundly that she didn't even know I took her picture.

I hope you are able to find a comfortable spot and have a good, sound sleep!

Until next time...
Happy Stitchin'

 

How I Spent My Valentine's Day

Did I get any stitching done?  Nope.  Did I get chocolates, roses and a fancy dinner with Hubby?  Nope. 

I did get to spend the day with Hubby. 

A little background--I had a board meeting on Monday night and it takes me forever to unwind and fall asleep after a board meeting.  If and when I finally drift off, I'm usually in deep sleep. 

In the middle of the night on Monday, Hubby wakes me up telling me I need to check the refrigerator because he has an inkling that it's not working right.  I mumbled something not too nice and forced myself out of bed to check it.  I hear it running, but the temp in the refrigerator side is 45.  I crawled back into bed.

Two hours later, Hubby is shaking me awake again.  He says he thinks we should put everything in the cooler and set it outside.  I can't even force my eyes open.  Hubby gets up and in his slippers and underwear, crosses the backyard to the shed and retrieves the cooler.  I must have fallen asleep because he's violently shaking me awake for the third time.  He informs me that the frig is DEAD.   I tell him to go back to bed and we'd deal with it in the daylight hours.  He turned the TV on instead.

So...we spent Valentine's day going from store to store in hopes of finding a new refrigerator that #1 fit in the opening in our kitchen, #2 fit our needs and budget, and #3 was hopefully in stock and could be delivered right away.   Boy, those refrigerators are expensive!  And I learned that the size we were looking for was considered "smaller than the popular size" and therefore hundreds of dollars more expensive than those bigger ones.

Not the right size, not within my budget, not in stock and can't be delivered for a week were the problems we encountered in each store.  Finally decided on one only to be told it was discontinued, no longer available and another customer has purchased the floor model.  Sheesh!  We're still using the cooler. 

This is my card from Hubby.  He was so excited to give it to me.  He pointed out that it has a cute, little charm on it just perfect for one of my "stitchy" projects.

I received this package last week.  My postmaster said he thought it looked like everything was still inside (I wonder how he would know that) and that there didn't appear to be any damage.  Really?  Two items were missing and the items that were in that package were crushed.

Mom Update:  Fourth treatment was given today and lab work done.  We see the oncologist in two weeks and find out if this treatment is working.  We're also still dealing with all the other medical issues, including the hearing problem.  It's been another week of appointments every day.  The next two weeks look like more of the same.


Hope you all had a nice Valentine's Day!

Until next time...
Happy Stitchin'



 

Hope Always Heart ~~ Complimentary Chart

I'm stitching lots more of these little hearts as part of my "Pay It Forward" challenge and I've decided to share my design with you too.

The chart has been removed and you will need to send an email to request a copy of this design.

I'd love to see your finishes of this design and hope you'll email pictures to me.


Until next time...
Happy Stitchin'

Winter Smalls Exchange - Sent

My partner in the Winter Smalls Exchange received the items I sent.  I forgot to include the other items in the exchange, so not included in the pics are the gold plated needles, Six Strand Sweets floss and the two Gymboree blankets that I also sent for Sarah's daughter and new baby on the way.

 Fresh Fallen Snow

Design By

Little House Needleworks

This is one of the ornaments on my 2012 Ornament To-Do List...

and I'm wondering...

Can it be crossed off the list if I stitched it as a needlebook and not an ornament?

Hope Always Heart ~ PIF

I think I'm finally ready to show what I've been creating.  Hope Always has been a phrase I've been hearing alot lately and I've decided to make it the focus of my PIF.  So far, I have 5 people I will be sending this little heart to.

 I think this one will be finished into a small ornament.

 This one is finished into a magnet.

Which one do you like the best?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I found this pretty pink cashel linen in my stash.  Can you hear it calling out to be used? 

Oh, what a dilemma!  What should I stitch on it?

Until next time...
Happy Stitchin'