Back Home from Another Trip

We spent almost 2 weeks as Grandma and Grandpa's Day Care as our daughter transitioned back to work after the birth of our new grandson.  The 3 yo went to her day care (and her many friends) during the days and we played with her a lot in the evenings and weekends.  The time flew by and we enjoyed every minute...although we were exhausted much of the time.  (It's a good thing we have our children when we're young and more energetic.)

On the way back home we stopped in the Denver area to visit with our son and his girl friend.  Almost as an afterthought, we decided to spend Saturday at Rocky Mountain National Park.  We had a perfect day for visiting the park and really enjoyed ourselves.  We all felt the altitude when we were at >12,000 feet!  (Especially DH and I who live at 22 feet above sea level.)

Colorado is so beautiful!  We heard from our son that they had a big drop in temperature and their first snowfall of the season yesterday.

I had no stitching time while I was gone and have been enjoying getting back to my Prairie Schooler Harvest Time.

I'm thinking of starting La-D-Da's "Alone in the Garden" soon as well as getting back to the Lucy Redd sampler.

Happy stitching!

Model Finished, Lucy Redd, PS Harvest Time

The model I've been working on is finished and has arrived "home".  Happy Dance!

It's been very hot here still and lately rainy (Trop Storm Imelda) so I've had some extra stitching time.

I've worked a bit on Lucy Redd (Homespun Elegance) and, after seeing another stitcher's finish of PS Harvest Time, was inspired to start that one.

In the meantime, I've been tempted to start La-D-Da's Alone in the Garden and will splurge stitch it in silks (that are on order).

Happy stitching!

Lucy Redd, Summer Baking

I'm on the home stretch of a large model (WOO HOO!) which I, of course, can't show.  I'm in the "fiddly bits" stage so I'm really looking forward to finishing and sending it off to the designer.  It's a beautiful design.

Meanwhile, during the weekends, I've been spending some time with Lucy Redd (Homespun Elegance).  I can actually see myself being on the home stretch of this one when I can spend more time with her.

I'm already itching to start another sampler...perhaps after I finish the model (and a Christmas stocking) I can put a new sampler in my rotation.


It's hotter than Hades here now.  Despite that DH has been baking.  I can't complain because he turned out a yummy peach gallette.  (Why is it that everything that tastes good is so not good for you?!)

He also made a Corn, Tomato, and Basil Tart.  (Funny thing...the recipe title includes basil but the herb used in the recipe is rosemary...no basil.)  The crust on this thing was exquisite!

I'm so excited that college football has started.  Even with the temperature so high here, it makes me feel a little bit like fall.  GO BUCKS!!!

Happy stitching!

Lucy Redd Sampler, Berries, and BLT

It's been really hot here in Texas.  (Go figure!  Hot in August in Texas!)

I've been spending a lot of time indoors stitching on both a model and giving my Lucy Redd sampler a little love.  It seems like I've been working on this sampler forever between stitching models and other projects but I'm thinking that I might actually finish it....someday.

We've found great deals on strawberries and blueberries lately.  DH has been making variations of strawberry sorbet:

I got into the strawberry "act" too and made some strawberry freezer jam like my mom used to make.

I braved the heat and made some blueberry muffins to take to our sons in Austin, DH asked me where ours were.  Sigh...  I made some more this am.  Making the sorbet and freezer jam was definitely a better idea than turning the oven on in this heat!

Lastly, someone on one of my FB foodie groups recently posted a tomato sandwich.  Apparently somebody rudely commented something along the lines that a "lowly tomato sandwich" wasn't good enough to post on that group.  It was immediately pointed out something like "If you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything."  (That group is supposed to be a positive place on FB.)  In support, others started posting tomato sandwiches and then we decided that yesterday was official tomato sandwich day on the group.  Here's my "contribution"...an open faced BLT with cheese using 7 grain bread, mayo, romaine lettuce, cheddar cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, and some beautiful tomato slices.  It was delicious if I do say so myself!

Happy stitching (and eating)!

Lucy Redd Progress

Most of my stitching time is devoted to a model but I sneak in some stitches on Lucy Redd (Homespun Elegance) from time to time.  I started Lucy in 2017, put her away for a while, and then pulled her out again late in 2018.  I'm enjoying working on her better now (than when I first started her) for some reason.  She's stitched over 2 on 36 ct. Wichelt lambswool linen and I'm using one thread (DMC as called for by the designer).  I'm looking forward to working on the buildings.

I also stitched a small Valentine's Day project (even finished it on Feb. 14)...HIH Collectors' Heart 2005.

Happy stitching!

Merry Christmas!

Things are certainly starting to get busy around here.  All our children and grandchild will be here for Christmas, the first time we've all been here since I can remember.  I'm really looking forward to it.

Our church choir sang our "cantata" last night.  It was themed like a Moravian Love Feast which I knew little about, so it was a learning experience.  I had the little solo as the leader of the song Morning Star.  Many of us also baked the traditional rolls that are passed out during the "feast".

Today is the first afternoon of another group's caroling tour of area nursing homes.  We do it again on Wednesday.

In between I'm trying to get things done around the house, making grocery  lists and menus, and baking cookies.  My husband is enjoying baking lately and he's already made some biscotti, pizzelles, and today, rustic nut bars.

I'm also trying to fit in a few stitches on Lucy Redd (Homespun Elegance) as I finished the model I was stitching.

I'll close with a few food, my progress on Lucy, and Christmas stitching I've done over the years.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Stitching!

My November...So Far

We started out the month by going to the UT/WVU game with a friend.  (She and friends/family have had a block of  tickets for 20 years and for the last few years has been offering us a game or two of tickets when someone in the group can't attend.  They're great tickets...on the 50 yard line and on rows 1 and 2 on the home side near the players' bench.)  We had a great time but the Longhorns lost by one point at the very end of the game.  (I ran into a couple of WVU fans the next day and we  talked about how that game was close throughout the whole game.)

Before the game we visited with our son and the following day we had brunch with both of our Austin sons before heading home.

The next day I boarded a flight to Ohio where I first visited my parents.  Did you know that you can fly with frozen soup and pizza?  One reason I love flying Southwest is that I can check 2 free bags.  I often fly with food (or books/clothes/toys for our granddaughter when we visit here and fly back with extra stuff on the way home).  While visiting my parents I roasted a chicken and veggies, made soup from the leftovers, made chili, and baked chocolate chip cookies with my Mom.  I left with them with a full freezer.

(My Dad loves DH's pizza!  The minute he heard that I brought some...and after they'd already eaten dinner...he insisted that we heat a couple of slices and they both ate pizza.)

Next, I met my friend at the airport after turning in my rental car and we drove up to Berlin, OH (in the heart of Ohio's Amish Country) for Camp Gottastitch.  It was a weekend filled with fun, friends, good food (I love the Amish-baked cinnamon rolls at the Berlin Grande Hotel where we stayed and the pie at  the Amish buffet restaurant next door.  As you might guess, I need to step up my walking after all that food!)

It was so much fun seeing old and new friends there.  My internet buddy (or as my husband calls my internet friends, "Axe Murderers") Vonna (aka The Twisted Stitcher) was there too.  I'd known her for several years online but this was the first time we met "in real life".  She is the real deal!  I also met another friend for the first time ever who lives in Central OH.  My new stitching buddy brought her framed "All Creatures Great and Small" for a show and tell.   OMG!  She stitched it over one on 40 count.  It's gorgeous!  I've had that one kitted up with the floss shortly after it was released and for some reason haven't gotten around to stitching it.  I think I'll try braving stitching it over one on 36 count bc I know I probably can't see the 40 count.

  We all plan to attend camp again next year and already I can't wait.

I'm still finishing up a model but, of course, couldn't work on it around all those stitchers.  I took several projects with me including Lucy Redd by Homespun Elegance.  I wasn't sure I could see well enough there to stitch on 36 count but it worked out great.  I stitched a good bit of the lettering.  I'd already started it with 2 strands but I tried a bit with one strand and like it better...so there will be some frogging of the 2 strand section so I can stitch it again with one strand.

Oh!  ...and I got to see snow (flurries with just a little accumulation in patches on the grass and on top of parked cars).  I was a lot more excited about it (living in Texas) that the Midwest ladies for some reason.

Next we move on to Thanksgiving.  I went for the "big shop" at the grocery store yesterday and have been scurrying around meal planning and getting some things in the house done.  Our 2 Austin sons will be here for Thanksgiving and we've all been "consulting" on the food plans.  (They've offered to help bake/cook.)

I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving and is able to spend some quality time with loved ones.

Happy stitching!