WONDERFUL FRIENDS, A FRAMED FINISH AND A HURRICANE!!

Good evening!!

Wow....we are having EXTREMELY hot and humid weather here...with the humidex it is like 41 celcius. Unseasonably warm.......actually HOT. AND, we are in the line for a direct hit from hurricane EARL. so if you can say a prayer for us.....it would be greatly appreciated! Tomorrow is the first day of school for the kids around here, and I'm doubtful if they will be there a full day because of the heat....but I am heading to the grocery store as soon as they are on their buses and getting stocked up for several days. I am so thankful that we have a generator, (and a major one at that) that will provide us with light, the fridge, (no oven, washer and dryer, but I can surely live without that!!)....water (we are well water and depend on electricity) and all the other comforts we need. Six (I think) years ago, we were hit with hurricane Juan and we were without power for 7 days. I remember stepping outside the next morning and it was like a war zone...and the quiet.....was unimaginable......fortunately my parents were both alive at that time and they were restored power in a few hours, so the kids and I went to live with them for the rest of the time....DH would come down every second day for a hot meal and a shower. He did not want to leave our home unattended. It was an event in my life that I will never forget and I pray that this weekend is NOT a repeat of that for our area of the world!!!!

This past weekend I travelled to my hometown area for a wedding. It was the son of a good friend of mine. I don't usually post photos like this, but these girlies are my best friends in the entire world.........we are known as the OMS...between us we have 12 kids, ranging in age from 32 to 13. We see each other as much as we can, and usually try to plan a yearly overnight shopping trip......what we have is precious and I am so thankful for their friendships....I love them all dearly.

And finally.......Bethlehem - Cross Stitch Patternby K. Elaine Kramer Designs........finished by moi and framed by the DH of a good friend (and fellow cross-stitcher).

Have a wonderful evening everyone!!

Marion

NEW BEGINNINGS.....

Good evening!

Summer is winding down here in eastern Nova Scotia....we are down to our last two weeks of summer vacation.

As for me...I start a new chapter of my life tomorrow! I am going to start working part-time!! It's been 11 years since I technically worked outside the home...I did do three years of lunch-time duty at the kids school, but this in official part-time job! I will be working at a Massage Therapy Clinic about 20 hours per week. I am hoping it works out...it will be a nice change...and if it doesn't work out (or at least this job doesn't work out)...it's not the end of the world.

We've been busy around here...two family BBQ's this weekend! Lots of good food, good company.....

I've been busy stitching too! I started "Seven Days of Creation" by Plum Street Samplers.......I do love Paulette's designs..this one is stitched on 32 count..

.and I also started (and "almost" finished)"From The Deep" also from Paulette.....this particular design will hang in my bathroom when done. It's stitched on 32 count as well.....AND....I finished up this freebie that Paulette designed......it's stitched on 40 count!! My first attempt at 40 count, and I LOVE it!!

I also started Jenny Bean's Humble Servant Sampler and it's stitched on 40 count!! Who knew that I would love this count!!

Sorry for the bad photo of Jenny Bean!! I cannot seem to get a clear photo of this one!!

And so my friends...I will say goodnight for now....

Take care......

Marion

HERE I AM AGAIN...AND MORE PHOTOS...

Thank you all for your comments...I really appreciate them!! I know we will be fine..we always are...and that job isn't DH's only source of income, he actually has his own business, so we will just have to incorporate benefits into that......god has a plan for all of us and we will survive. I just get stressed about things sometimes!

Anyway, I do have another finish!! I started this a couple of years ago and dug it out of the UFO pile and told myself..."Self, you are going to finish this!" I love this design, and hope to get it framed soon.....I'll give my framer a bit of a break, since he only frames in his spare time..LOL

Also, a few posts back I mentioned that I was doing a Mother's Day exchange with an online friend of mine......we were to make something, and then send something else we thought the other person would like......I made a pin cushion (Blackbird Designs) and FOB for her, and I included a couple of other things in her package, which for some reason I did NOT take a photo of?!

And, this is what I got from Terry! Look at that beautiful wool to make myself some cozy slippers! And a dish cloth, which she knitted, a sweet change purse, which she made herself, and two pairs of earrings, which her daughter made!! Thank you Terry!!

Anyway, enjoy your day everyone...it's sunny here, so I am going to enjoy mine!

LONG OVERDUE....AND PHOTOS!!

Good evening everyone!

I have been hibernating lately...I've been here, but not really in the mood to post.....I've been doing some "soul searching" so to speak.

When I made the decision at the age of 41 to leave work and stay at home with my children, I did not do it lightly...I had been at the job for 20 years, but I KNEW that the time was right, and it was what was needed to be done. I had wanted to do that the entire time I had been married.....fast forward 11 years.....I am still a stay at home mom, with the exception of a 3 year stint as a school lunch monitor at my childrens' school (again I felt it was needed for a couple of reasons).....and now I am at the age where had I stayed at my origional job of 20 years, I would be 3 years away from retirement. Do I think I made the wrong decision? Not on your life, but there are times when I wish my future years were more financially secure. I think what brought this on was a change in one of the jobs that DH does. We thought it would always be there....it is no longer going to be there after next week...and it was a shock to us. Not the end of the world, but it was the job that paid our medical and dental benefits, and therefore we must (and have) search out alternate benefits. I don't like change...I am the first to admit it! I have been thinking that maybe I should start looking for a part-time job, now that my youngest is almost 13....but at what? I am not trained for anything anymore and the thought of a department store makes me gag (sorry if any of you do this...I admire you, I could not do it)...so....I have been doing some soul searching and whining! When I read Katy's post today I realized how selfish I had been...and how fortunate I am......thank you Katy!

I guess we all have days/weeks where we feel unsettled, discouraged, etc...


I took a couple of photos, (borrowing from Katy's idea)...of the wonderful things in and around my home, and yes, I am truly blessed.
My doggy...Nallie...who is 12....and my daily companion:


Looking out my large kitchen window to the back deck and back yard...

My other kitchen window...looking towards the road that passes by our home....

AND.............TA......DA.......

Here it is in all it's glory!!! I love it!!!! "STILL WATERS"

I truly love this piece and am so glad I decided to stitch it (and finish it! LOL)

Have a great evening everyone!! Maybe you each can tell me one thing you are thankful for in your life today!

Marion

'MORNING ALL!!

Good Monday morning to each of you!

Well I did it!! I finished "Still Waters" by Plum Street Samplers!! No, I don't have a photo here of it....I am taking it to my framers this week, so I'll do a seperate post when I get it back framed!

I love it....just love it!! Cannot wait to hang it in a place of honour in my home!

On the stitching front...I started "Gloriana" by Plum Street Samplers. I think I am going to actually change this up at bit.....when I was looking at the letters, I realized that without a lot of changing, my last name would fit instead of Gloriana, so I am going to try that.

I also dug through my WIP's and brought out "Bethlehem" by K. Elaine Kramer Designs and worked on it a bit. I hope to get most of it (or all of it) done this time before I retire it once again to the WIP container. This is a beautiful design so I really do want to finish it.

We have been having wonderful spring-like weather here.....I'm so enjoying it!

Anyway, have a great day everyone!!! Love the comments....makes me feel like someone is actually reading this!!

Marion

A Stitchy Update!

I HAVE been stitching lately. First of all, I have been working on a little something for a private exchange I am doing, and I can't post anything here, in case she reads my blog, but once it's received in time for Mother's Day...I'll post photos!

Also, I have tons of new charts I want to start, but I do not want to put "Still Waters" down until it is finished...I am getting close! This has been an absolutely wonderful chart to work on, and I have so enjoyed it! Thanks to Paulette for designing this!

In other news...I am feeling much, much better!! So glad, as being dizzy is not a pleasant thing!!

I have been trying to read all my fav blogs, but for the most part have not commented....I have read though!! And I will get back to commenting in the next couple of days!

Take care everyone...

Have a great day!

Marion

UPDATE TIME, AND PLUM STREET SAMPLERS

Good morning everyone! For the past week or so we have enjoyed FANTASTIC! SPRING LIKE weather! Also, this is spring break week for my younger two! We didn't do anything spectacular, but did do things close to home each day..

I've been doing some stitching! Seems like almost everything I work on these days is by Plum Street Samplers! I still have my morning project on the go, but didn't work on that this week, so no update on that....(Ink Circles)...but here is a couple of photos of Still Waters....and also, I threw this small one into the mix...."Ye Olde Woolery Shoppe.....stitched on 32 count linen.

I also received my order from Amy at Down Sunshine Lane .

I am off to the movies this afternoon....my youngest, her friend and I are going to see Diary of a Whimpy Kid...

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Hugs

Marion

GOOD MORNING, AND STITCHY UPDATES!

Good morning everyone!! **EDITED to add that I am linking to Leslie at My Country Home for Whatcha working on Wednesday once again (it's been a while!) Check out her Blog and her wonderful work!!

I've been stitching this past week....(okay, when do I NOT stitch?)

Here is my "morning" project update...."This Heart of Mine".....



The above one is an actual "true" colour one, not sure what happened to the one above this!
And here is my Plum Street Samplers "Still Water's" update...I am still enjoying this project SO much! It's been great therapy......and this was one of my mom's favourite Hymns....






"Mary Margaret" by Carriage House Samplings arrived in the mail this week! Can't wait to start her, but I am going to be good and get more done on "Still Waters".
I have a question for all you ladies out there...where do you get your Longaberger Baskets? A lot of you seem to have these wonderful baskets displayed around your home? I have ONE. I found it at a second hand store years ago. Can you buy them in stores? I am going (hopefully) to Maine in a couple of weeks (if all works out with the girl I'm travelling with) and was wondering...I'd love to have some more of these great baskets!! Do they have stores, or what??

Thanks for your help...

Anyway, have a great day ladies...it looks like it's going to be a sunny, springy day here!!

Take care
Marion

A COUPLE UPDATES TO SHOW....

I've been working away on my morning project each day for a few minutes and also working on Still Waters during the evenings....while those trees and that grass are making me a bit buggy......LOL...it is SO worth it! I love the outcome of this project so far!!!

On the homefront....busy as usual. We are all going out to celebrate our Birthdays this weekend, my DH's is Sunday, mine is Monday and my son's is the following Saturday...we chose to go out this weekend though.

Also, my oldest had a fun photo shoot done last weekend. This is one of the photos that were taken....

Have a great day everyone!!

Marion

MY MORNING PROJECT

I have referred in past posts to a "Morning Project". I am an early riser...I get up before 6am, have my morning coffee and stitch in the quiet, peaceful house....my daughter gets up at 6:20, but she gets ready and then grabs her breakfast around 7am, which is when my son gets up.....so I have some morning quiet stitching time.

A while back I started a "morning project"...only stitching this particular project at this time of day...currently this is what I am working on...It is by Ink Circles..."This Heart of Mine"...stitched with Carrie's Creation silk floss in Masquerade.

I also want to "thank" (note sarcasm here)Siobhan for enabling me on her Blog......when I saw this ....I just HAD to have it...so I ordered it and it is on it's way to me......between seeing it on her Blog and my youngest saying she liked it...that's all it took....sad, isn't it? LOL Can't wait to get "Mary Margaret" by Carriage House Samplings......

Kids are back at school today, DH will be leaving in a bit, it's snowing out AGAIN, so I won't be out driving anywhere....great day to stitch and watch Olympics...

Enjoy your day everyone and don't forget to sign up for my giveaways,you can see them HERE.

Take care

Marion

STILL WATERS UPDATE..

I am really enjoying working on this project! I only work on it in the evenings...work on my smaller projects during the days, if I have time to stitch. I am doing it page, by page, hence the complete words are not showing yet.

Hope each of you has a great day! I'm not sure what is planned for my day...yet...LOL

Take care

Hugs

Marion

FRAMED AND READY TO HANG...

I just love how this turned out!! My friend's DH frames as a hobby, and I"ve known this for years, but it slipped my mind until recently when I wanted to get this framed professionally....isn't it just lovely?? He did a fantastic job! I'm very pleased with how this turned out, and it was a wonderful, fun stitch!

Have a great day everyone!

Marion

WORKS IN PROGRESS!

Good snowy morning from Nova Scotia!!

I have a couple of WIP's to show you....first up is STILL WATERS by PLUM STREET SAMPLERS...what a wonderful chart to stitch!! I am so enjoying this and how the colours are coming together!!

Next up is my JANUARY FLIP IT by LIZZIE KATE...all 12 will be stitched on the same fabric and then framed. I am stitching these over 1.

Have a nice day everyone!

DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR THE GIVEAWAYS....CHECK DOWN IN THE POSTS A BIT...DRAWING IS MY BIRTHDAY, MARCH 1

Marion

BLANKET CLUB

I was asked in one of my comments to show some of my Blankets again, so I decided to do another post on what I refer to as "Blanket Club". I also realized that I do not have photos of all of my Blankets, so I'll have to take photos of the ones that I can...none of the ones I did for my kids are on the computer...hmm...

Anyway, Blanket Club was formed about 4 years ago. It all started after my dad passed away (5 years ago this month). At that time I realized what fantastic cousins I had in my life. Being an only child, with ageing parents was very difficult..and when my dad passed away at the age of 89, rather suddenly, I was left with the responsibility of my mom, who was suffering from alzheimers..although was very functionable with my dad in her life. When dad passed away, her life fell apart....anyway, my cousins, whom I had been close to has a child...played very important parts in my life from here on in. It was ironic, and I think in a sense a "gift" from my dad.....you see, for a few years before dad died, he'd always tell me that I should contact a couple of my cousins who lived fairly close to me..it had been ages since I'd seen them, and he wanted me to be in touch with them again.....(as we got older life got in the way and we just lost touch)....well...anyway, I didn't do that...however, it is one of these cousins that re-entered my life when he passed and we have been very close ever since! I like to think that somehow he had something to do with that......as horrible as it was loosing my dad, wonderful people had re-entered my life.

So..here is how Blanket Club started.....my two cousins and I were having lunch one day and decided that we needed a new craft in our life. The particular cousin that dad wanted me to contact told us of a craft that she had learned in Florida...."Swedish Weaving"....it sounded difficult, but her sister and myself decided to meet at her house the following Tuesday to see what this was all about...we did..the rest is history. The three of us meet weekly...usually on a Tuesday...I have made 17 of these so far...my other cousin is ahead of me in numbers!!

so there you have it!!

If you haven't entered my giveaways in the previous post...please do so...and I will add the photos on the weekend...I'm still making decisions as to what goes in each package......