Dreaming...

Dreaming of warmer, sunnier days...

because after this past week, I am done with this...

We were fortunate and did not lose power during the great ice storm of 2014.  Many of our friends weren't so lucky.  Some regaining power after four days and others still waiting...our county was declared a disaster....I am done... 

The boys were home 4 out of 5 days last week.  Due to the weather so far this winter, they haven't had a full week of school since back in December!

Even Panzer does not like the ice crusted snow ~ it's hard to get good traction action to take care of business.  He prefers snuggling and staying warm.

With as cold as it has been, I can't begin to imagine how it felt when my nieces participated in the Polar Plunge yesterday.  The water at Virginia beach was rough and a balmy 37 degrees...yikes!  My sister-in-law wasn't sure offhand of the exact amount, but over the past seven years, the girls have raised approximately $10,000 for the Special Olympics.  I couldn't be more proud!  A special thanks to Marie from Creative Thread for her donation to the cause!  The girls were extremely grateful ~ and, I will post a pic as soon as they send me one!

 

So, we are dreaming...dreaming of spring.  Ready to see the boys in action with baseball and triathlons.

 

I was doing good on trying to sneak in a little stitching time everyday, but then something came up.  I have been working as a substitute aide with a kindergarten student.  After his evaluations and IEP plan were developed, it was determined that he would require an aide through an outside company.  So, off I went....updating all of my clearances, finding transcripts, filling out applications, interviews, training, and testing.  End result is that I am hired and can continue to stay with this student through the rest of the year.  I still have some training modules to take, but am up and running.  My interaction with the student basically stays the same, except now there is paperwork involved.  My brain is tired...it's been a long time since I have had to study like that!

The stitching time I managed, was spent on this...just a few more stitches and it will be finished.

 

And thanks to Gillie, from Random Thoughts from Abroad, I had an unexpected surprise this week.  I had admired this sweet finish on her blog (if you aren't a follower, pop on over, you won't be disappointed) and it showed up in my mailbox along with some pretty red thread!

I love sheep ~ and this is too sweet ~ thanks again, Gillie!

(Sorry for the darkness of the pics, our days have been very grey and dreary.)

 

Yesterday we began the day with some birthday Baked French Toast for my oldest son,

followed by homemade chocolate cake with cream cheese icing....yum!

 

Thanks for stopping by...and a hello to my new followers!  Here's to dreaming of those warmer days... I leave you with the following quote in honor of all those athletes that participate in the Special Olympics...

“The things that make me different are the things that make me.”
― A.A. Milne

Celebrating!!

Can you believe what you are seeing!?!  Yes ~ a finish!!
Perhaps you heard a loud screech a few nights ago....that was just me celebrating!

This ended up taking way longer than it should have ~ that's just what happens when you keep misplacing your stitching time.

An easy stitch and very true words....

I tweaked the colors just a touch, including the fabric...

The bone after "Be loyal and faithful" was not charted to be encased in the blue, but after stitching the bone and the red, it just wasn't popping on my fabric choice....so, in went the blue.

The heart in "Forgive quickly" was charted green like the grass....couldn't do a green heart....presto, it's red....

And the dog, well, of course, changed to resemble Panzer....hubby says the tail is still too long....oh well....

I would really love to start something new, but I do have some wip's that are jumping back out at me. 

Perhaps I will work on them for now and allow myself a New Year's start.

 

Andrea over at The Craft Room hosted her 5th annual Christmas Random Act of Kindness.  She stitches as many ornaments as she can over the year and then hosts a giveaway draw....I was lucky enough to have my name chosen this year and was so excited when the package arrived....

The stitching and finishing are perfect!  It's hard to see from this picture I snapped with my phone, but the edges are beaded....love, love, love!!!  Thank you, Andrea!!  If you pop on over to her blog, she even has a tab at the top explaining her yearly event and showing some of the past ornaments.  What a sweet way to spread smiles for Christmas! 

 

Panzer says, "What?"

"I smell change in the air...."

"I need my boys to reassure me....my crate was taken down....something about making room for some sort of tree and holiday celebrations....I was thinking more along the lines of indoor plumbing for me perhaps...."

"While waiting for the tree....I'll just snuggle in and keep warm...it's gonna be bitter cold the next few days!"

 

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving ~ in spite of all that 2013 has thrown at us this year, I am still lucky to have many blessings to be thankful for ~ including all of my stitching and blogging friends!

We are preparing for a houseful of guests for Thanksgiving....Grandma, Pappy, my brother and his girls....can't wait to have them all here!! 

“The more - the merrier.”
― A.A. Milne

Celebrations...

The last few weeks have seen a few reasons to celebrate in our household.  

Let's start with the Oscar party that my neighbor held.  Just a few of us ladies, some cheese, crackers, strawberries, wine, and the ballots.  Let's just say that when I left at 10:00, I had only picked two or three winners...I was way behind.  

A few ladies had chosen 6 or 7 correct winners already.  So, imagine my surprise, when my neighbor let me know that I had, in the end, chosen the most correct winners!!  This is what was delivered to my door.

Whoo~hoo!

Now, the candy did not last long ~ the boys quickly got into that (yep, we'll just blame the boys for how fast the candy was eaten).  But, I told them to back off ~ the $25 gift card for the movies ~ that is a date night for mom and dad!!

 

Secondly, I would like to say congratulations to my oldest for making the 7th grade baseball team!!

Let the fun begin...between their travel teams, little league starting back up, and now the school team, I am juggling practice and game schedules for three boys and six teams.  I know, call me crazy....but, we are down one team from last year, so this should be easy...oh wait, my oldest will be playing on two travel teams, so we are still at 7...so much for being easy!

 

And finally, Panzer turned one year old this past Friday!!

Yes, he steals tissues straight from the box!

Here he is with all of his buddies...

Joker, the boxer, is a month older than Panzer.  They have grown up together and are quite the buds.

He still has such a puppy face...

All that play leads to one tired pup...

And one of my recent favorites...in the past, when my husband took his yearly business trip, the boys would want to take turns sleeping on daddy's side of the bed and snuggle with me...it's not so much about me anymore...

 

I am late with this months tusal...there is a lot of fuzz, as the frogs have been sticking around..

Here is what I am working on now....a belated gift for my mom's birthday.  She received some other stitching stash goodies, but I didn't get this done yet...

 

A big thank you to Jeanne from Hamilton House.  She was giving away these goodies and I was the lucky recipient.

Thank you so much, Jeanne!  Fabric and fibers are always welcome ~ and the booklets are great to look through while drinking my cup of tea!  If you haven't been by Jeanne's blog ~ pop on over and visit.

 

This week, brought a surprise all the way from Holland!  Heidi from Stitched Memories in Time, had asked me a while back if I owned a teapot.  I thought she meant a real china teapot, and that I do not have ~ but I do drink tea!  I didn't think anything else about it, until I opened the package and found these..

Six teacup coasters!  They are perfect ~ and look how they match my mug!

I guess if I ever get a real teapot, I will have to place an order for the teapot cosy that she was originally going to make!  Heidi is making it a goal to send rak's out each month this year ~ she is going to be creating many smiles!  Thank you so much, Heidi!  I love them and am grateful for your friendship.  Like Jeanne, if you haven't been to visit Heidi, please do drop over.  You will see some wonderful goodies!

 

Hopefully our weather will break soon.  We have had so many grey, dreary days.  I am ready for some warmer, sunnier spring weather.

Thanks for stopping by ~ I hope you all find time this week to enjoy the things that bring a smile to your face..

And in the spirit of Heidi's gift, I will leave you with this...

“A Proper Tea is much nicer than a Very Nearly Tea, which is one you forget about afterwards.”
― A.A. Milne

 

Goodbye to Summer

Well, it certainly has been awhile, hasn't it?  The last weeks of summer were very busy.  We've celebrated birthdays, gone hiking, had days at the bay, read books, started baseball, ridden roller coasters, and gone back to school.  There was very little time for stitching, but there was some.

If you have the instagram app, I have been posting pictures there too, under Bramblewood and you may recognize some of these pics from there.  Hope you enjoy seeing what we have been up to!

 

Our neighbors own a wonderful home on the Chesapeake Bay.  We are fortunate that they invite us down from time to time throughout the summer for some fun. They also host a once a summer gathering of the their non-bay neighbors.

Here are a group of neighborhood kids getting ready for some tubing.

Let me tell you, the kids think this is just awesome.  Me, not so much.  Yes, in addition to taking part in the rope swing earlier this summer, I tried my hand at tubing.  By the time the kids were done and it was the adults turn, the water was not this calm, but we went anyway.  I am still trying to figure out what is so much fun about being bounced around like that!

 All done and coming back to the dock.

Time for fishing. 

Waiting for the waves from the big ship ~ unfortunately, they never came. 

Some water trampoline fun.

It was a fun day of friendship, laughter and of course, good food!

 

My middle guy celebrated a birthday.  He requested a quiet birthday at home, topped off by a lemon cake with cream cheese frosting.

 

We had the getting ready for school physicals and dental appointments, which are always followed by lunch out.  Pizza at Pinnochio's.

We squeezed in a trip to the sweetest place. 

The thrill of spinning high above the ground.

 This is the face while on the above ride!

The roller coasters. 

 Hope you make it back!

The new mixed in and around the classic. 

My boys are on this one.  I opted to greet them at the end. 

There was a special solar light display throughout Longwood Gardens this summer.  We made it over a couple of times.  The pictures don't even begin to show how beautiful this was.   

The fountain show, set to music, always a favorite. 

 

The oldest started middle school ~ now having to now get up an hour earlier. Can you tell he wasn't too thrilled that I still insisted on a first day of school picture?

The younger two. Trying to be cool, too cool for school.

Some last minute craziness before the bus arrives.

And there they go! 

 

We had some critters visit this summer.

Did you say your prayers today? 

And meet Fred.

Fred took up residence on our slider door ~ the outside, thankfully.  We were able to see Fred at work maintaining and using the web to catch his prey.  Then one day, Fred was gone.  I still think Fred was really a Fredwina, but the boys insisted on Fred.

And one must not forget the puppy.  He's six months now and most likely around 100lbs, he'll go for a weigh in in a couple of weeks.

He watches tv.

So handsome. 

Sock?  I don't see a sock.

Watching the Little League World Series.

Oh no, he dropped the ball! 

Did I hear the fridge open? 

Bone crunchin' time.

Playtime with a friend. 

 Love's his boys.

 

 

Now, let me show you the little bit of stitching I can.  I have managed to keep up with my ornament a month.  I found these little cuties while on vacation in TN.  So, although they are little, I am counting them as July, August and September's ornaments.

The picture is a little dark, but these are stitched on perforated paper and then adhered to these tiny sleds. I have another set of designs to do as well.

 

I was one of the very lucky winners of a giveaway from Cottage Garden Samplings.  Vinniey is the very talented designer and if you haven't seen her designs, do pop on over! 

Just look at all the goodies!

I have to confess.  The DARS box of chocolate ~ it's empty.  That didn't last long at all!!

My boys enjoyed the small hard candies and were most interested in the writing on the wrappers. 

There were trims, fabric and scissors!  

 Love the colors in these threads and the verse reminds me of some metal trivets that my mother used in the kitchen when I was little.  Does anyone remember those ~ they usually contained a kitchen verse or prayer?

Thanks again Vinniey!!  I'm looking forward to getting this one started.

 

Sweet June also sent me a wonderful rak.

Isn't this tote bag perfect for sewing and stitching stuff.

Here's a closer look.

And she knows how I love sheep.  Look at this cutie, posed in front of my very late tusal jar!  Hanging head in shame, I completely missed last month - the jar on the left contains my 2012 threads, the other jar contains threads from last year.

I ordered a project bag from Faye, along with a smaller one to hold things like my scissors and threads.  I absolutely love them!  Thanks Faye!

 

My mom was telling her cousin about my flower frogs and she very kindly sent this one to me, one that had belonged to her mother.  It is very tiny and oh so colorful ~ I love it!

 

If you have made it all the way to the end of this post, I do have some other stitching to show, but it is for an exchange and can't show it until I'm given the green light.  Thanks for being patient with me while I enjoyed the end of summer with my boys.  I know it won't be too long before they venture out on their own. 

“Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.”
― A.A. Milne