Behind the Times...

Oh my gosh, how did we get to the end of March?  I am way behind on everything!  Especially the posting of my March Tusal.

Did you catch that I displayed my jar in front of a timepiece?

Let's play catch up, shall we?

Brett and I once again met with Peggy Lee from the Kentucky Sampler.  She had the camera that day, so if you'd like to read all about our crazy adventures, just click on the link!  It feels like we have known each other forever, it's hard to believe that it was this time last year when first we met.

Angela, from Hooked on Stitches, surprised me with one of her beautiful finishes.  It was one of "those" days and when I went to my mailbox, everything was suddenly brighter!

Angela's beautiful stitches. 

Isn't this little bow the sweetest? 

The lovely trim and candy cane charm. 

And what beautiful fabric on the back! 

Thanks again Angela!  Your RAK really made my day!

On top of the various illnesses, of which I will not go into detail, school conferences, etc., it is also the start of spring baseball.  Last weekend found the boys and I in Flemington, NJ for a tournament that my oldest son's travel team was participating in.  Bear with me for a minute while I share some pictures.

Can you tell from how the little brother is bundled up, that it was a bit on the chilly side?

The oldest lives for this!

Up to bat. 

I just love the intensity on his face in the next pictures. 

His job is done. 

He had a tremendous pitching weekend, throwing around 100 pitches and only one run scored during his stay on the mound.  He even had a nine pitch inning, getting all three outs himself - you gotta love when that happens!

The middle guy was supposed to have a tournament this weekend, but some rain and wintry temps decided to show up and interfere.

What happened to the warmer temps and sun shiny days that allowed for the following photo shoot?

Some visitors.

Yesterday was a very important day in my house.  My baby is now 8!  He requested a home-made ice cream cake ~ complete with home-made chocolate ice cream and candles that he placed himself!

I know this one is a bit blurry, but I love the smile on his face!

An after shot.

And what does an 8 year old want for his birthday?

Dino Legos!

There has been a little stitching.  Not much, but enough to complete my Stitched With Love ~ Spring Exchange.  Of course, I can't show that yet!

And just enough more to get the stitching done on my March ornament.

I decided to stitch the outline of the snow and just do a half-stitch for the inside.  I wasn't sure if I liked the effect at first, but it has grown on me.  It sort of reminds me of falling snow, rather than snow that is already on the ground.  I have to pick my April ornament yet. Perhaps another stocking, then I can just spend one day finishing them all together.  I'll share my choice on my next post.

I recently purchased one of Myra's totes and I couldn't be more pleased.  I had asked Myra if it was possible to add a set of longer handles, making it easy to just throw over my shoulder on the way to and from the ball fields.  I was going to post a review after using it this weekend, but then the tournament was cancelled.  I can say, I had it all packed and ready to go - all my needs for the weekend fit perfectly.

Her packaging and sweet note.

The longer handles are attached with Velcro, making them easy to remove and store in one of the pockets.  One pocket on each side, inside and out!

A zippered pouch, containing her card and a little extra something - a thread catcher.  Now all those threads will make it home and into my jar!

Myra's sewing skills are wonderful.  I wish we lived closer so she could teach me a thing or two!

Here's the link to her blog, Gr8dame's Place, the page where she shows some of her goodies that are for sale.  Thanks so much Myra, I love it!

Phew, are you still with me?  I have to try and post a bit more often so I don't have such long posts!

In looking back through my post, the picture of the birthday boy with his Legos all about made me chuckle, because somehow, he knew where every piece was!

“Organization is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it’s not all mixed up.”
―A.A. Milne

Taste of Spring

We are finally having a taste of spring and how refreshing that is!  Not that we had a terribly cold and snowy winter, I am just ready for spring.

Last Sunday found me with my middle guy on a hike for some of the boys in his scout group.  We went to a trail that we had not hiked before and it will be one we visit again.  There were many of nature's things and some man made remnants that caught my eye.  Hope you don't mind that I share a few.

Do you see that stone wall in distance? Curiosity kicked in and we hiked a bit faster.



Stones and bricks...love the combination.

Remnants of the old fireplace.

The boys will love exploring here in the summer! 

Further down the trail were more stones..

This creek will provide hours of entertainment for my boys this summer.  We spotted many great swimming holes along the way. 

And finally, my middle guy, with his "please don't take another picture of me" face.

He also had his first year band performance.  He decided to give up the Cello and started the trumpet this year and he really seems to enjoy it.

The post brought some wonderful smelling goodies in the mail this week.  Autumn, from Whispers of Autumn, had a giveaway.  One for chocolates, and one for chocolate smelling goodies.  I received the smellies!

This lotion definitely smells chocolaty and is hard to use when one is craving chocolate!  She is having another giveaway for a Chocolate cookbook and some chocolates, so hurry on over!

The stitching has been completed on a project for my mother.  The pattern is from Pineberry Lane and is called Treasured Blossoms Pinkeeps.

It took some time practicing, but I think I finally got over my fear of French knots, but only after some choice words mixed in with some ripping out and starting over!

I moved the bottom line of the chart down just enough so I could place the married initials of myself, my mother, my grandmother and my great~grandmother.

Now to pick the frame!  I am planning on this being her Mother's Day gift she may just get it early though.

I am almost done with the stitching for my exchange piece, but can't show that yet.  Don't want to spoil the surprise!  And I must get going on the ornament for March.  I am thankful I am doing this ornament a month with June, otherwise, I may have given up by now!

Time to go enjoy the Spring~like weather we are having today!

“The spring has sprung, the grass is rizz. I wonder where them birdies is?”
― A.A. Milne