Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone and welcome to my newest followers.  May 2012 be a year of love, laughter, happiness, good health and of course lots of stitchiness!
We had a wonderful Christmas.  The boys were home and hubby had the week off.  Despite our best laid plans, we still did not accomplish everything that we thought we would.  Christmas morning we opened all our presents and had our traditional cinnamon rolls.  Yummy!
Gotta love the smiles! 
Time to eat!

My mom really surprised me with one of her gifts.  She handed me a box that was heavy.  When I opened it, I found that it was filled with frogs!  I began a frog hunting mission this past year and she really helped me out.  She found a great little antique place and throughout the summer/fall went back a few times and found all of these!  Now I need to go in search of some scissors to fill all of these!







During the week, we took the boys to the Turkey Hill Experience.  For those of you not familiar with Turkey Hill, it is a very popular dairy in PA.  They are known for their ice creams and iced teas.  The most favorite part of the tour was the free ice cream and tea samples - all you wanted!  Yes, we got back in line a few times in between the activities.

Of course, you have to try your hand at milking a cow!
And driving the delivery truck. 
And standing in the ice cream container while sampling the goods. 
When we were leaving, we stumbled across this place:
Very pretty glass!  I was good and didn't buy anything, but can see visiting here again.

I snapped these pictures on the way home.  It was snowing just a bit, but not enough for the boys to use their new sleds yet!




We ended the day with our traditional pork, sauerkraut and dumplings for good luck in the new year.
I'm now ready to get back into a routine!

There was not a whole lot of stitching going on during Christmas break.  I started this before Christmas and only worked on it a little this past week.  It's the Humility Sampler by Heartstring Samplery.  So sweet!  I love the colors and the saying.
June from Butterfly Wings mentioned a few weeks back that she wanted to try and stitch an ornament a month during 2012.  I wanted to do this as well, so we decided that during the first week of every month, we will post a picture of the ornament we will be stitching.  And during the last week, we will post our finish.  The finish could be either just the stitched finish or the completed ornament.  If anyone else would like to play along, feel free!
I went through some of my stash today and found this one.
It's a Jenny Bean ornament from Shakespeare's Peddler.  I pulled the DMC colors and converted them to my own choices of Gentle Arts Sampler Threads.  I hope to start stitching this one either tonight or tomorrow night.  You can pop on over to June's blog to see what ornament she chose.

Thanks as always for stopping by.  I really appreciate reading all of your comments!

39 comments:

Margaret said...

Looks like a great Christmas! It's so much fun going on outings with the kids, right? I didn't realize Turkey Hill was in PA! We buy their lemonade and stuff all the time. Oh, and I love your tree -- and your windows!! Wow! Love your choice of your first ornie. I would say I would play along, but I just don't think I would keep up. lol! Happy New Year!

BeckySC said...

Happy New Year dear Catherine :)
I love your ornament choice!!
WONDERFUL frogs from your mom :)
Big hugs :)

Jan said...

Your tree is gorgeous!
OMG Turkey Hill ice cream is the best. I'm diabetic so I get there no sugar Moose Tracks. It is great.
Look forward to seeing the ornaments each month.

Parsley said...

I loved seeing all the pics and the family fun. Family just makes everything so special.

Oh my! All those FROGS. How exciting. I see many collecting these and I've NEVER seen one in person. lol

Faye said...

Right off the bat, I MUST know what fabric you are stitching Humility Sampler on...?... It is truly gorgeous!!! I also want to compliment your mom on all those beautiful flower frogs!! omg...you really racked up with those and I agree, scissor shopping you must go!!

Enjoy following your blog so much Cahterine....I loove forward to your progresses throughout 2012 as you stitch up more goodies...

Take care, Faye

Gabi said...

Your tree looks fantastic. Loved also the pictures of your family and your area. Lovely frogs. LOVE your humility sampler. Gorgeous colors. Love your fabric too.
Wishing you a Very Happy New Year

MoonBeam said...

Boys look happy. Rolls look yummy. Frogs galore. Life is good!

Carol said...

What a glorious tree, Catherine--and the red and white packages are such a nice touch. And another thing we have in common besides love of stitching and three great boys--we also make our traditional cinnamon rolls each Christmas morning!

Wow--what an amazing bunch of frogs from your mom! And your first ornament is lovely--haven't seen that one before.

Hope your new year is filled with everything that makes you smile, Catherine :)

Deborah said...

Sounds like you all had a wonderful Christmas! Those frogs from your Mom are Fantastic!! Love them. Look forward to seeing the finished ornie. Happy New Year.

Nicola said...

A very enjoyable post to read. Beautiful tree, I love your windows. Wonderful presents from your Mum, lovely fMily photos.

Looking forward to seeing your progress on Humility.

butterfly said...

Hi Catherine , Love all your pictures of the tree set out for Christmas, your boys look so happy, you have a lovely family.

Wow all the frogs your mom brought for you, I have the green one my friend Sally buys them for me.
Your stitching is looking beautiful and I just love your ornament start what a lovely chart.
Wish we had more nice charts over here.

Mouse said...

ohhh sounds like you have had a lovely Christmas :)well done to your mum on all those flower frogs ... love your humility sampler the fabric is gorgeous and yup I would like to know :) will be cheering you on on the ornaments .. hoping to some something similar sooo you never know ...lol and finally Happpy new year :) love mouse xxxxx

cucki said...

happy new year dear.
a very lovely post..i love it so much.everything is so beautiful..
hugs and love cucki xx

Robin said...

Wow, where to start.....in no particular order. Your frog collection is awesome. The colors are fabulous. Such a variety. The Turkey Hill Experience sounds like a cool thing to do. Awesome pix of Lancaster County (I'm thinking). Great start and pretty fabric. Cool idea to do the ornie a month....maybe next year for me. I made a promise to myself not to start anything new until I FINISH up several WIP's!

Happy New Year to you.

Sweet Sue said...

So thoughtful of you to share your Christmas with us, thx. Wonderful following your handwork the past year, looking forward to a superdeeduper 2012 with you! Give your mom a gold star ~ me thinks she attended a secret retreat class hosted by Mrs. Claus:) xoxo

Elisa said...

Some great photos, looks like you had a fab time. Happy 2012 to you and your family xx

The Queen Bee said...

Looks like you had a wonderful holiday. Hope the transition back to your regular daily lives goes well.

Pam

Tolentreasures said...

We didn't get done near what we thought either, but did get lots of rest during the week and that was needed also. Love that Turkey Hill iced tea, buy it whenever we are out your way! Great pics, Happy New Year.

Cathy

Tolentreasures said...

Oh and what a great gift from your Mom! How fun!

Cathy

Chris said...

Beautiful post Catherine.
It looks like you guys had a perfect Christmas.
The dairy visit looks like fun.
Lovely new starts too.

pam said...

Looks like "a good time was had by all" What a fun holiday. The Heartstring Samplery looks great and the linen makes a girl swoon.Such a pretty piece of fabric.

Denise said...

Love your tree and matching packages. I do that too! Your trip looks like fun especially the ice cream part!

Wow - your mom came through with all those frogs. What a collection you've got!

And I'm with you about not stitching much over the holidays. Time to get busy!

Penny said...

What a lively Christmas morning it must have been with three boys. :) Lovely selection of frogs. Love the pictures of the countryside - very pretty. I ordered the Humility Sampler shortly before Christmas and can't wait to start it. The fabric you chose is gorgeous!

barbara said...

Oh my gosh, the delivery truck and milking cow kiddie attractions just make me sooooo nostalgic for my own childhood, when you could find something like this (perhaps a little less grand, LOL) outside the humblest grocery shop. Thank you!

All your photos are really lovely, btw, especially the landscapes. I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with those funky new frogs, too. :)

Melissa said...

Look at all those frogs and they are the nice kinds! Ahh, have fun filling them up with scissors (and the occasional bouquet!).

Love all the stitching but especially that border on the Humility sampler! Can't wait to see more!

Happy New Year, Catherine!

L.O. said...

Your frogs are gorgeous! It is going to take a lot of scissors to fill all of them up.

Love the progress you have made on the Humility Sampler. The fabric you chose is just beautiful

Lois said...

Sounds like you'd a wonderful Christmas Catherine. What great pics both from Christmas and out and about. Love your new start and good luck with the ornament stitching. It is fun to do and when you have company it makes it so much easier to keep going!

Jennifer said...

What a WONDERFUL gift from your mom! Such beautiful glass pieces. I have a soft spot myself for depression glass pieces, especially the pink and green.

Sounds like you had a wonderful christmas!

Melanie said...

Sounds like a great time for everyone!!!
And oh my GOSH, look at all those frogs! What a wonderful gift.

Pumpkin said...

WOW! Sounds and looks like a fantastic time!

Look at all those frogs! What an awesome and instant collection ;o)

Love your ornament idea :o) Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Mindi said...

Love all of those flower frogs, there are some great colors! I don't see colored ones too often.

Great plan for the ornament a month goal. Doing it with someone and committing to it by posting a picture before stitching gives some great motivation.

Loraine said...

What a great post! It looks like a fabulous Christmas was had at your house. I will have to take my kids to that dairy next time we are in PA.
Good luck with all of your stitching in the new year. I look forward to seeing it!

Brigitte said...

Oh good, so many frogs. You will certainly find a great use for them.
I love your start on the Humility Sampler and I'm looking forward to seeing your progress pictures.
Thanks for sharing all the nice family pictures and Happy New Year to your and your family!

Siobhán said...

I'm glad you had a good Christmas! All those frogs--neat!

Oh, Turkey Hill. Yummmm!

I will enjoy watching your progress on your ornaments and your Humility Sampler! Nice start!

Patty C. said...

The tree is gorgeous. Your mom did a great job finding the flower frogs! !!!
We won't discuss the cinnamon rolls - I'm on a diet - lol

Anonymous said...

Great post. Love the pics, stitching, and fun.

I now follow. :)

Krista said...

Hi Catherine, Love your post, your Christmas tree is beautiful! And so is your stitching. Great pics of the countryside. :)

Susan @ Real Girl Designs said...

Love all your frogs, Catherine - I got my first frog this past year, too.

I'm sorry I'm a little late in wishing you a "Happy New Year"!

Veronica said...

Oooh... Scissors frogs! Your scissors would look great displayed in them. I really need to get myself one of those soon.

Good luck with your an-ornament-a-month goal :)

Hugs,
Veronica.