Happy Thanksgiving!

First of all I'd like to wish all of my fellow Canadians a Happy Thanksgiving and that the weekend was everything you wanted it to be. Once you read this... you'll know why I've been quiet for the last few days!

Todd & I on the boat (see you Brighton non-Todd believers, its the same guy from the other pictures!)

This year Todd and I took a different approach to Thanksgiving. We didn't spend it with family at all this year back in August I booked a weekend getaway for the two of us. Its something we've not done in a very long time. Yes I know, Thanksgiving is/should be a family time where you get together, eat way too much, and often go home complaining about someone or something. However, sometimes you have to focus on your partner and your relationship with him/her. That's what we did!



Saturday morning we stared out with a nice lie in at home, as we were leaving town we had breakfast at one of our favourite spots. We first drove into Kingston so Todd could check out the shop I buy all of his die-cast car models. Boy... it was like a kid in a candy store. We went to a few other shops before it was late in the afternoon for us to head back East a little to Gananoque and the Gananoque Inn. My long time readers may recognize this as where I've gone a couple of times in past years for the Cross Stitch Cupboard's fall retreat (where I'll be going not this upcoming Friday, but the next). Its a beautiful inn, right on the St. Lawrence River, with excellent food! Saturday evening we had dinner in the dining room, and boy its fine dining... Todd and I made sure to have food off of the menu we wouldn't normally get in a regular restaurant. It was a lovely three course, two hour meal!

Bolt Castle at the top of the Hill

Sunday was a gorgeous day! Sunny and 16c with a nice breeze, my favourite type of day. We got up early that morning, had breakfast in the dining room before we went on the 1000 Islands Cruise (3 hours) with a stop over at Heart Island with a tour of Bolt Castle (2 hours). The scenery was just stunning (this was actually the 3rd time I've done this tour... once as a child, once about 7-9 years ago and this past weekend). Having been to Bold Castle three times at different points in my life has been quite cool. Bolt Castle was under construction in the early 1900's a castle for Mr. Bolt's wife... all construction stopped in 1902 upon her death, the workers just put their tools down and walked away. Over the years they have been restoring/completing the work. When I first went as a child I have impressions of graffiti, rickety floors, and an all around dump. My second trip I remember parts of the castle being open and work was in progress. This year so many areas of the castle are open and safe for us tourists to walk about. They have finished quite a bit of the main floor complete with furnishings and art original to the period. I took over 200 pictures on Sunday afternoon! Last night saw us having dinner in the bar/grill at the Inn, Muskie Jakes... another good meal!

Our boat for the 3 hour tour

On the main channel of the St. Lawrence

Heart Island & Bolt Castle

The Bolt Castle Boat House

One of several restored rooms on the main floor of Bolt Castle

This morning we woke up... unfortunately it was time to pack up ... one last breakfast in the dining room and back to reality!

Now the only downside to this weekend... after yesterday's boat tour and a bit of a nap in our room before dinner (sun and water just tires you right out!)... I found my throat was scratchy and started a bit of a cough. So yet again I'm sick! I'll be taking things easy this week, I want to be healthy for when I head back down to Ganenoque!




I didn't stitch much this weekend as it was a weekend for us. When I did stitch a little (in the car) or when we were lounging in our room I worked on Mini Cottages 5.

When I got home I finished up my piece for the Fair & Square Exchange - round 3. I'm very happy with my results this round. Oh and I never got around to it but here's my piece from round 2.

Tantes Zolder (My Aunt's Attic)

32ct Natural Linen

DMC overdyed

Also... being Monday I was very good and worked on Tour des Marques... I finished the backstitching on page 2 and got a good start on page 3.

TdM Monday!

I was a good girl tonight, and pulled out Tour Des Marques... and I worked on it all night long as well! But by 11pm I was going bug-eyed! I managed to finish all the cross stitch on page 2 and got a good start on the backstitch.

Now the decision... tomorrow do I finish up the BS on TdM or do I start the BS on The Castle???

Oh yeah... I finally got my Sweetheart Tree RR back, it looks great but I forgot to photograph it tonight... so hopefully tomorrow!

TdM Monday!

Just a quick post to share tonight's progress on Tour de Marques I worked on it 2-3 hours tonight.

I'm back to work tomorrow for a few days.

Tour Des Marques Is Back!

Yay! I've picked up another SAL piece I had abandoned! I managed a few hours on Tour tonight, with over one there's only so much a girl's eyes can handle. I'm stitching this over one on 28ct.

Tonight I've started going through my charts and magazines for Vonna's Neighborhood RR. She'd like English style cottages and buildings. As you all know I'm a fantasy girl... so I've got to dig to find just the right thing!

I survived my first day back at work. I came back to find my palm scanner isn't loading the drivers for the socket scanner so I lost a day of inventory taking... but I certainly had more work to keep me busy. I did need a bit of a nap when I got home tonight!

I'm looking forward to the approaching weekend, its Ann's annual retreat where we oooh, ahhh, stitch, eat, and a few of us find spaces to sleep be it on the floor, in the shop or in the RV. I can't wait!

Look What Came Out To Play

Well for the last few days I've pulled out Tour Des Marques for about an hour a day... getting roughly two colours done per session (I like to stitch as much as possible with one colour before changing colours). Surprisingly its really moving along. Of course this is taking time away from the Sub, but its fulfilling my urge to stitch over one. Yes, I know I'm sick in the head... who has the urge to stitch over one?


I'm afraid after this I won't have any progress pictures to share until the weekend!

The Castle Progress

Well I'm pretty tired tonight, didn't do anything but stitch this weekend so no good reason why. So let's get down to business... here's The Castle by Teresa Wentzler. I got a good chunk done on Saturday.

Tomorrow I'll treat you with my Noah's Sub progress. I also worked on Tour Des Marques for the first time since January... Maybe I'll share that progress (not much really) later in the week when I need something to blog about.

Bad Blogger... Again

Can't you tell that life is back into the full swing of things again? LOL I'm not blogging! It was a very long and tiring week for me, I barely stitched! I did get in a few thread lengths on Noah' Sub when I had the energy. Last night I also started a freebie, as I do like to try to stitch one each month.

This month I picked First Snow by The Drawn Thread. I chose it in hopes that it could be another ornament for this year. However with the fabric I chose out of my scraps bag, the count is too big so it won't be an ornament. Perhaps I'll finish it as a flat fold to put it on display during the winter on my counter at work.

Today I have a tournament planning meeting at TKD, and once that's done the rest of my day and evening will be free to work on The Castle SAL!

Oh yeah, I also never got around to posting last Sunday's progress on Tour Des Marques! I actually finished page one!

HD #3 & Castle Progress

I know, I'm bad not posting for several days again! I have to admit I've been spending a lot of my time surfing the net on info for my San Diego/Yuma trip! I'm still very excited about it. I only have one thing left to do, and that's choose a hotel... which I'm having a hard time doing as a lot of the ones in the price range I'd like to pay have a lot of negative comments on Expedia. Should I really be worried about reviews I really won't be spending time in the room besides sleeping!

On Saturday I finished my first ornament for the year, which is finish #3 for 2007. I'm giving myself a little challenge, seeing how many items I can finish before I break down and buy new stash. Now I do have two conditions on my little project challenge. First of all I'm allowed to buy stuff to work on projects I already have, be it fabric, fibres, beads, etc. Also when I do go away in March, any stash bought on my trip doesn't count! Whenever I travel I always try to hit needlework/craft shops in the area.

Charmed Santa Faces

MHCSF14 - Father Christmas

c1999 Mill Hill

Stitched on : perforated paper using DMC cotton floss, Mill Hill Beads & Charm

Of course, yesterday being Saturday also meant it was time for The Castle SAL! Boy do I wish this was my focus project (but I am determined to finish Noah's Sub before the summer!). It stitches up so smoothly so far and I'm really enjoying it. Here's my progress from January 13th.


Today I'm going to work on Tour Des Marques for a few hours. I'm finding now that I'm back to work I'm not accomplishing as much on it during an evening... and well even with my Ott Lite, over one at night is not the easiest. After I get sick of over one I'll switch over to Noah's Sub. I also need to pick a new travel project, most likely a freebie since I finished that Mill Hill Santa.

Round Robin Finish

I bet after my regular blogging over the Christmas holidays you were probably thinking that I dropped off of the Blogging Planet. Well I honestly didn't mean to, but back to the real world (work) can be a little busy. Actually my main problem has been headaches and migraines. I've been swinging between the two since Monday.

Monday's headache turned into a migraine, so needless to say nothing really happened in terms of progress. I tried to work on Tour Des Marques but that was a futile attempt.

Last night (Tuesday) I got together for dinner with my friend Kathy (who I met through stitching friends), she was in town. Also it was a great way to fill my time between work and my Guild Executive meeting last night. Unfortunately our time together wasn't long enough (it never is with good friends you don't see often enough). I won't be seeing Kathy again for 3-4 months unless I go down to Arizona for March Break. Incredibly tempting I tell you, I've never been to the Southwest. Needless to say stitching didn't really happen.

Tonight after teaching at TKD I had some stitching time! Yay! Also despite having a headache during the day at work and my eyes burning, also a few hives. By the time I got home I even felt well enough to stitch! Soooo... I finished Misty's Sweetheart Tree Round Robin!

Summer Sunflowers heart

c1996 Snadra Cox Vanosdall/Sweetheart Tree

Stitched on : Waterfall 28ct Jubilee by Silkweavers using DMC, NN, Kreinik, MH Beads

So, that's finish #2 for the year. My next finish will probably be a Mill Hill Ornament I'm working on.

Tour Des Marques Progress

Ahhh a day at home! I put in quite a few hours (probably too many according to the headache I had earlier) on Tour Des Marques! I did finally have to give in my eyes just couldn't do THAT many hours of over one (I think I stitched for about 6-7 hours on it today).

To go easy on my eyes I started a Mill Hill ornament today on perforated paper. Oooh that seems so simple after stitching over one on 28ct all day!

So now I will tuck Tour away until Monday.

Boxing Day Snow!

Lookie what I woke up to this morning! White stuff, I guess we didn't get it in time for Christmas but it showed up for Boxing Day. But I don't think its going to last too long.

For a fair part of Christmas Day I worked on Tour Des Marques. Its not so blob like now, and you can see a little "structure". I actually wanted to keep working on it today. However, I'd like to get a couple of things finished before December is over.

Today started out with a little elbow grease, getting my craft room back in order. Honestly, it was a disaster zone! You couldn't move around in there without tripping and killing yourself! Now, its clean, organized and ready for a finishing frenzy if the urge hits me! This afternoon we've settled in with DVD's and me with Michael Powell's Mini Cottages 4.

I'm Dreaming of a Brown Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone! I survived!

Well for the first time in my memory of Christmases in Canada, there's no snow!

Dinner with both families is over, the presents are unwrapped and chillaxing here on the couch with my laptop and the TV on.

Last night went really well, and now I understand all the talk about how tiring it is to put on a meal for a large group and how when its time to eat you're not hungry. My first guests arrived early... a bit of a surprise as I was just finishing my flight of the bumblebee and still in my pyjamas. Once all of my family was here (I had them coming over a little earlier than Todd's family) we exchanged gifts. My favourite gift is the one from my Mum she got me a chainmaille book I've been wanting called Chains By Becky I'm looking forward to making some of the projects from that. My Mum was also a sweetie and got me a bunch of silver rings!

About an hour later Todd's family arrived, we'll be exchanging gifts with them this Saturday as Todd's Dad works during the statutory holidays. Dinner went very well, and of course there was too much food! I made a huge lasagna and I guess it was good because there's only three small pieces left! I have lots of munchies to snack on for the next two weeks though. Once almost everyone was gone, except for my parents I was just wasted! I mean exhausted not drunk! I laid down on the couch with my pillows and quilt and just chatted with my Mum. I was in bed before midnight!

This morning Todd and I exchanged presents. I got him a lot of different and small things, Ferrari stuff, DVD's, he liked everything. Santa surprised me by stuffing my stocking for the first time! Santa has been stuffing Todd's for years! Santa go me a cute little USB mouse for my laptop! I'm already liking it! The cats got me a canister of caramel popcorn from the Boy Scouts. Best of all Todd got me the Digital PVR-Receiver I've been asking for! Yay no more missed shows when life is super busy!

So I didn't get any stitchy gifts... but that's okay you'd know that if you saw my craft room that is currently a disaster zone. I'll be cleaning that sometime real soon!!!

Today is Tour De Marques SAL day so guess what I've got all day to stitch on????

Happy 6th Birthday Emma!

Today is my niece's 6th Birthday! Boy she's growing up fast! Saturday after I taught 3 classes at TKD my Mum and I took Emma out for a special Birthday Day. We first went to McDonalds for lunch and some time at Playland. Next it was off to Build-A-Bear! Oh Emma was just over the moon! Once she took a look at all of the animals her choice was simple... a Husky Dog. We let her know that she could pick out an outfit for her dog. But according to Emma "Dogs don't wear clothes", she was very adamant about that! So 45 minutes later we left with Husky, a baby Husky, a leash and a dog bed. On our way out of the mall there was a group of massage therapy students giving 10 minute massages for donations to the Food Bank, so we got Emma her very first massage. We were quite amazed that she laid still the whole time, she really enjoyed it! Then it was time to go back home! I was pooped!

Sunday I had a blast! It was the Teen's Christmas Party at TKD. I had suggested that perhaps we go to Lazer Quest back when the idea of doing something for the teens came up. So that's what we did, 26 of us got to play two games of Laser Tag, eat pizza and donuts. What fun! I have to say I didn't too bad for a 30 year old! One game I came in 6th and the second game 10th... I got ambushed by the boys!

Prarie Schooler

Winter c2006

32ct Mushroom Lugana & DMC floss

Earlier this evening I finished that Prarie Schooler ornament I started on Friday. Its quite lovely. I'll have to think about how I want to finish this one. Then I started a new Stitch-A-Long. Christin, Beth and I will be working on "Tour De Marques" from The Silver Lining. I'm stitching mine over one on 28ct Bluebell Joblean from Wichelt. Its in that blob-like phase right now. We'll be working on this project on Mondays.

Tomorrow its back to the Sub.

December Goals and SBQ

Its that time again... another month has passed, and another is starting!

November - Recap

Stitch last TWRR - Done

Finish Celestial Fob - Done

Finish Dragon Needlecase class from TW - Done

Finish Mini Autumn Sampler class from TW - Done

Stitch Sweetheart Tree RR - Done

Stitch an ornament for exchange - Did two!

Noah's Sub... if there's time - Yup!

December Goals

Stitch an Ornament

Stitch a Freebie

Finish a Page on Noah's Sub

Finish Mini Cottages 4

Wow! This is why I love setting manageable goals each month... it really helps you to realize what you've accomplished. Sometimes you think you get nothing done... then you look back at those goals and voila! You've actually accomplished something! Because I was feeling like I had gotten very little done in November. I hope my goals for December are modest and achievable. With time off for Christmas... they should be.

Now catching up on those SBQ's again!

Q : Do you stitch Christmas ornaments? If so, how many do you stitch each year and for whom? If not, why not?

A : Yay an easy one to answer... if you know me then you know my answer is "well duh!" Of course I do! Some would say I stitch a lot of them. I think this year I'm up to 15 ornaments. Now where do they all go? Every year I give one to each of the secretaries and my co-worker, then there's the ornament exchanges I sign up for. There are ornaments for friends and family. I think they make fantastic and thoughtful gifts.

Q : How do you secure your thread when you begin a new one? Specifically,do you or have you ever used a waste knot?

A : I don't use a waste knot when I stitch... that would be a waste of time... then I'd have to go back and secure that thread. My stitching friends know I like to get stitching, and not waste time on silly things like tucking threads in later, gridding fabric or the like! When I start a new thread I leave a bit of a tail on the back of the fabric with one finger I hold that thread off to the direction I'm stitching in and catch it with my stitches... voila its secured with minimal stitching time wasted. Life is all about maximizing stitching time.

Well lately I've had a serious case of want-to-start-it-itis!!! Sunday evening before bed I got Tour Des Marques by The Silver Lining all kitted up. This is a piece that Beth, Christin and I have been intending to stitch as a SAL for the last two years. I think we're finally getting to a stage where we might actually start! Both Beth and I are ready to go, Christin is waiting for her fabric to arrive. We haven't sorted out when we'll be working on this piece. Seems like 2007 will be the year of the Stitch-A-Long between Tour and The Castle. I am happy to say we've corrupted another stitching friend into joining Chrisitn, Chrisanne and I (and many of you online) to stitch The Castle on Saturdays in 2007! Yes, Beatrice (you've seen her photo in many of my "Brighton" stitching activities) is going to join us, and I think this will be her first TW how exciting! My fabric has arrived for the Castle, and soon I'll have to start putting floss together, for that New Year's start! Chrisanne... are we going to stitch in the New Year again???

Since the weekend I've been working on Noah's Sub when I have time... always wishing I was working on something else! LOL I do like this project but can't get obsessed with the piece like I do others. Well, I was also bad... I did make a small start this week... I couldn't help myself! I started Jennifer Aikman-Smith's Moon Dragon a pattern Jennifer gave to us during her Celestial Fob workshop. I plan to put Teresa Wentzler's Sun Dragon on the other half of the fabric! But I'm only letting myself work on it a wee bit at a time so that Noah's Sub doesn't take a back seat... again... and again... and again!

Off to stitch!

Photo : Siberian Iris from my gardens.