A Finish and a WIP

I finished a small LK freebie called Freedom for an exchange block for one of my stitching groups. 

For my April tombstone theme for the Halloween ornament sal group, I'm stitching Rotted but not Forgotted by Paulette Stewart.  (Sorry, it's so crooked.)

I also just started Lucy Redd but there's not enough done yet to even take a picture.

I'll be devoting most of my stitching time this week to a model.

We spent the past weekend in Austin visiting with and making a cookie/pie delivery to our sons.  The bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, and black eyed susans were beautiful along the roads.

Happy stitching!

Friday wrap-up....one day late

I hope everyone's had a great week!

Last weekend we drove to Austin so our oldest son could spend some time with his brothers before he moves to Denmark.  It was an eclectic weekend....we spent some time all together, the boys spent some time together while Lou and I did some shopping, and 3 of us watched both the UT (although that game had a very long rain delay so we just watched the first part) and OSU game at a sports bar, while our youngest "hung out" with his friends and our oldest played the part of a wedding crasher.   (His friend was attending a wedding in Houston and invited Mike to be his "plus one" at the reception.)  It would have been nice if our DD could have joined us but she lives in San Francisco.

Mike is leaving us next Wednesday.  It's been nice to have him with us these past weeks although I know it's boring for him to be here in our small town.  Luckily he has some friends in Houston so he's spent some time up there with them.  You'd think I'd be the one over-parenting him while he's here but surprisingly it's been DH.  (I've had to remind him several times that Mike's been on his own for 10 years.)  It's hard to break those old habits.  lol!

The HS marching band for whom I volunteered for many years is participating in their final marching competition.  They had a full run-through Tuesday night.  They encouraged as many parents and other interested parties to come watch so they could perform in front of an audience.  DH and I went and it was great to see the stands so full with cheering spectators.  I hope it was a nice send-off for the kids who have worked so hard since the summer.

On Halloween we had very few trick or treaters.  We live on a cul de sac and there aren't any young kids here anymore.  Also, I know many parents take their small children to organized trick or treating at the mall, churches, etc. which I think is a good idea.  Still, I miss seeing the little ones in their costumes.

On the stitching front....I joined in a LHN ornament sal on a yahoo group and stitched this from the 2013 JCS ornament issues.  There's an ornament sal on another group where they require a button so I may add a tiny cardinal button and use it for both sals.

Here's my latest progress picture on my 4th and final PS Woodland Santa:

Happy stitching!

Keep Austin Weird

We did our best to try to help out the Longhorns in their game last Saturday by sitting on the 50 yard line right behind the team.  Unfortunately our efforts didn't help.  Aside from that ugly game (and the drunk, rude Ole Miss fans sitting behind us), we had a great time being there.  Their band was really good!

  My first love is the team of the OSU Buckeyes and at least they won their game.

We got to see our 2 UT student sons and deliver "provisions" (including home-baked chocolate chip cookies and banana bread).

Here's my wip progress for last week:

One of the Prairie Schooler Woodland Santas:

CHS 2000 Christmas Sampler (I'm not comfortable stitching on black but it's coming along.)

LHN My Dwelling Place.  (Technically it's finished but I don't like the color of the leaves from my skein of that color so I'll rip it out and try again with another green.)

Happy stitching!

Actually stitched!

Graduation weekend was a whirlwind!  It was great having all the "kids" under one roof, even if it was for such a short time.  Sunday started what felt like Grand Central Station around here.  T left for orientation, DH left for a business trip, and 2 of our kids flew back to their homes.  I spent a few days in Austin (drove that college student back) while  youngest DS was at his college orientation.  (He's "pumped" after attending this and looking forward to starting in the fall.  His older sibs told him to always take advantage of free food and t-shirts whenever the opportunity arose and he managed to take advantage of both this trip.)

Almost every time I drove somewhere in Austin, I took the "scenic route" (got lost.)  I hate Austin traffic, especially 35!

Gingers has been closed for a while now but I visited a needlepoint shop:

Needleworks

While I don't do needlepoint (other than trying out simple pieces years ago), they have loads of beautiful canvases and models.  Since they also carry some of the same specialty flosses we cross stitchers use, I bought a few while I was there.

I started a new sampler called "True Virtue".  I bought it off ebay;  it is from an unknown magazine but appears to be from one of the JCS publications.  Since I have all the JCS magazines and don't remember seeing it, I'm thinking it may be from one of the SANQ issues that I don't have.

Don't faint but I also worked a bit on my LK "Guys and Gals" snow people sal.  My intention is to put it back in rotation and I'm hoping that stitching on it during the summer might trick me into thinking I'm cool.  Yeah, right!

I also signed up for a block exchange in one of my groups, chose something to stitch, and started it yesterday.  Since it's due soon, I think that will take priority until it's finished but it won't take long.  No picture for this one yet.

So far the "lazy days of summer" haven't happened...I wonder if they ever will be.  The house has been neglected so I decided I should start decluttering/reorganizing.  I also have 4 years of band pictures to look at online and pick out the ones I want to buy.  (Since I worked so much with the kids, I didn't take many pictures.  The band photographer takes better pictures anyway.)  We're also planning a trip "home" to visit our parents/family up there.  I'd love to take a "just because" trip somewhere fun but haven't had time to think about it yet....something relaxing.  We'll see.

Happy stitching!