TGIF!

I love weeks with Monday holidays except for some reason, they end up seeming longer than ones without Monday holidays.  Maybe b/c I'm discombobulated all week trying to remember what day of the week it is...or maybe b/c I'm playing catch up all week after taking it easy on the Monday holiday.

Is anyone else like this, or am I just a little strange?  Wait!  Don't answer that last part;  I think I know THAT answer.  ;-)

I finished and mailed out the CCN model I was working on.  Always a great feeling to send a model on its way.  It's another cute one that I think you'll love.

So, I got back to my LK "Fat Boys and Girls" SAL.  Even after putting that one "time out" for a while, I decided I couldn't live with having that whole section one stitch too far to the left so I spent quite some quality (NOT!) time frogging the whole thing out.  I managed to stitch most of it again, this time in the correct position so I'm friends again with this project.  I'm still behind in how much progress I wanted to have by this time but at least I'm going forward now.  (There may be more frogging in my future b/c I think I want to change that pinkish color to a bright red.)

My next exchange block will have a bird theme.  I think I know what I'll stitch but will decide next week and maybe get a start on it.

I'm really itching to start a sampler.  The hardest part is deciding which one to start.  There are so many to choose from.

I'd been really slacking  off on my fitness walking but this week I finally dragged myself out to the track for 3 days of morning walks.  Next week's goal--5 days.  I really miss having a walking buddy to make the walks more fun...and for the accountability.  My other excuse is that I'm busy trying to do some reorganizing around here and keep wanting to get home to get going on that.....I think it's making me walk faster, though.

Finally, we receive some great news this week.  Our DS had already been accepted into UT for next year but was still waiting to hear if he was accepted into his chosen program, Biomedical Engineering.  (They only take 100 new students per year.)  He found out the other day that he's in!!  WOO HOO!!!!!  To add to the excitement, the day before he learned that he's #9 out of his HS senior class of 506.  Pardon the bragging, but we're so proud of him.  He's really a hard worker and it shows.

Speaking of said DS, he was invited to his school's Belle Dance that was last Saturday.  I counted 9 drummers in their group of 12.  It sounds like they had a great time.  I always think it's funny that they don't spend much time at the actual dance but seem to enjoy more the pictures, dinner out, and the after party.  The dance seems to be the excuse for the rest of it.  :-)  DS is the jacket-less one....he really didn't want to wear a jacket for some reason.

I hope all of you up in the frozen tundra are keeping warm and safe.  I hate to complain about it being too warm for my tastes here but.......it's too warm for my tastes here.  (70's just doesn't feel right for January.)

Happy stitching!

Nevermind

Shortly after I posted here this am, Nikki released some new ones including a piece I model stitched for her called Let Love Bloom.

So I CAN show you something I've stitched!  :-)

Check out her website to see the newest Santa's Village she released along with it.

New Country Cottage Needleworks designs

Happy stitching!

Rita

Small Friday update

First off, thank you for all your concern over my back spasms of last week.  I'm happy to report that I'm feeling a LOT better.

I'm making good progress on the CCN model;  it's another cute one!  Sorry, top secret, though.  I'm hoping to finish this week and then get back to the snowmen...and maybe start a sampler just because I'm in the mood to stitch a sampler.

We're still enjoying some cooler weather down here in SE TX so I've been cooking.  I tried out another Ina Garten recipe, Chicken Stew with Biscuits.  It was very tasty!  DS had 2 bowls of it...he's pretty thin and nobody would believe how much he can eat until they see him in action.  lol!  Not exactly "health food" but can eat this stuff once in while.

Here's mine:

Here's the link to Ina's (She doesn't know it but she and I are on a first name basis now.):

Ina's Chicken Stew with Biscuits

Happy stitching!!!  (...and eating)

Rita

Welcome to my pity party

I'm no stranger to back pain but usually it's in my lower back, left side.  I can deal with that...usually.  This week I'm having some muscle spasms in the thoracic area of my back, right side....pain is more intense than usual.  It's not too bad during the day (except when I get a sudden owie if I move the wrong way) but at night it's keeping me from sleeping.

I don't know what I did to cause it but whatever I did.....I really DID it.  :-(

Whine, whine, whine!!!!!

On the stitching front.....I'm working on a new CCN model (top secret!) and finished a beverage themed block for an exchange.

The block is from a freebie by Kincavel Krosses.

I'd like to say I'm also working on the sal of the LK Fat Guys and Snow Belles....but after stitching most of one of the blocks (and probably feeling too full of myself), I discovered that the whole block is off by one stitch.  I'll be frogging....way more than I want to (although there's no amount of frogging I like to do).

Whine, whine, whine!!!

Soon to be frogged.......

I'm off for some more meds and a hot pack on my back.  Maybe I should have some wine.  ;-)

Happy stitching!

Rita

Enjoyable weekend

Not much stitching to report since I did more frogging than stitching.  Note to self......don't try to get back to stitching after an absence when you're watching something interesting on TV.  I'm working on a SAL of the Lizzie Kate Fat Men and Snow Belles but soon will add some other things to a loose rotation....a yet-to-decided-upon beverage themed block for an exchange, a sampler (probably Three Things), and a soon-to-arrive model which will take priority once it arrives.

We enjoyed this rare cool and relaxing weekend.  Friday night we felt like quite the social animals;  we went to a double (2 young men) Eagle Court of Honor where we were served dinner then went to some friends' house to watch the rest of the Cotton Bowl with a group of Aggies.  We're not Aggies but had a great time.

I ran around doing errands Friday during the day with my goal of not leaving the house on Sat.  It worked!  Again we enjoyed the cool weather by experimenting in the kitchen.  For breakfast DH made this:

Raspberry Lemon Ricotta Waffles

For dinner I made a meal I saw Ina Garten make on TV:

Ribollita

and....

Pear, Apple, and Cranberry Crisp

Here are pictures of our results:

All I can say is that it was a wonderful experiment.  I highly recommend trying one or all of these recipes.

Yesterday afternoon we went to see Les Miserables (loved it!) and then I settled in last night to watch Downton Abbey (loved it too!).

All in all, a great weekend!

I hope to have some stitching to report next week.

Happy stitching!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and wish everyone a happy new year.

We just returned late last night from spending Christmas with all 4 of our kids (and DD's BF) at DS's in Atlanta.  For a couple of those days we drove to TN for some hiking and camping (some in tents and DH and I in a motel room) in the Smoky Mountains.

We had a great time and enjoyed being together, eating out, everyone contributing at least some to the cooking, some walking around Atlanta, the Georgia Tech campus, going to a museum at Emory, etc.  DS took us for a tour or his lab.  (He's working toward his PhD in Physics.)  I wish I could understand more of what he was telling us about his work (I just shook my head and said, "Uh huh" a lot.)  He just lights up when he talks about it;  it's so good to see him excited about what he's doing.

No stitching while I was gone but I did get to check out a LNS in Marietta, GA.  (Since I don't have a LNS here, I try to visit one when I travel.)  I mentioned going to Dixie Darling when we were in TN but it just didn't work out this trip.

One thing I really enjoyed about this trip was the cold weather.  It had been about 80 here before we left.  It got down to the high 20's while we were in the mountains.  Ahhhhhh!!!  When we hiked it was a little warmer and we were all bundled up.  (Ironically, right after we left Texas, it got cold here too.  lol!)

Since we got home so late last night, I spent some time in the kitchen today.  I made some sides, fruit salad, and an apple pie for tonight's dinner and DS (the undergrad student one) is making the main dish (some kind of pork chops).  DH is making some roasted potatoes to add to the meal.  It should be a feast!

I'll leave you with a few pictures.

Happy stitching!

Rita

Christmas dinner with most of us.  DD's BF is from Scotland and he had crackers for all of us to open.  The crowns were in the crackers.  The guy in the red shirt is a friend of DS's.

Homemade pizza night.

Hiking at Smoky Mountains

Abrams Falls in Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains