Celebrations and Finishes

Time passes so quickly this time of year.  We have celebrated my husband's birthday and our 18th anniversary.  This is a picture of a picture, so the quality isn't the best.

I am thankful each day for the person I am able to share my life with. 

There have been the end of the school year activities.  Field trips, concerts, picnics, plays, etc.  The snow days we had will keep the boys in school until the 16th, then we can get on to whatever the summer will bring.  The gardens and weeds are growing everyday!

 

 

 

There is no way a store bought strawberry can compare to this!  YUM!

There has also been some stitching.

I can't seem to get this to turn correctly.  I stitched this over two with one thread, except for the heart, which is over one.

I am thinking of placing a few buttons on this when it is finished into a small pillow.  This was stitched with two threads over two. 

This is stitched with one thread over one.  I am thinking it may be turned into a fob, or a very tiny pinkeep. 

I also finished the LHN Bluebird that Carol sent to me as part of her RAK.  This was a fun piece to stitch and easy to work on while at the ball fields.

I am also working on some pieces for an exchange, but I can't show those just yet.

Wishing you all a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  Special thanks to all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and to their families.

Thanks for stopping by!

Rain, a Frame and an RAK

Well, it's raining and raining and raining.....

If it doesn't stop soon and dry out enough for the lawn mower, our grass is going to be knee deep!  I did manage to get some laundry done (it's a never-ending chore in my house) and donned the Haz-Mat suit to clean the boys bathroom.  It looks and smells so much better now!

I finally framed a sampler that I stitched last year.  Just in time for the summer holidays.

The pattern is from The Prairie Grove Peddler.  The sampler was supposed to be all blue, but I wanted the center flag to stand out, so I changed it to red.

I have also stitched up some other small patriotic themed pieces.  Three to be exact - but forgot to snap some pics.  I guess that can wait until I finish them into something.  I need to plan a trip to the Amish General Store to pick up some fabrics.

Finally, I have to share a beautiful RAK that I received from Carol of Stitching Dreams.

She is also the mother to three boys, although her boys are all young men.  I sometimes ask her for advice about raising three boys and she relives some memories through the stories of mine.  If you haven't been to visit her blog, please do.  It is well worth the trip! 

Isn't it lovely?  It looks perfect next to my blue tatting lamp.  I wish the picture was better, but with all the clouds and rain, it was the best I could get today.  She also sent a LHN pattern and a wonderful blue thread from Nina's threads.  I have already started to stitch this one!

Thank you so much Carol!  It brings a smile to my face and will remind me of your friendship and kindness!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Happy Gnome, a Wonderful Day, a Finish, and Some Kindness

Do you all remember my little gnome that didn't look so happy this past winter?

Doesn't he look much happier now?

We have finally had some nice weather here and have enjoyed spending time working in our gardens.  Lilacs are some of my favorites.

Can you smell them?

And I love this picture of the garden that lines the pathway to our backyard.

On Mother's Day, the boys in my life made me breakfast and gave me these beautiful flowers.

Afterwards, we spent some time visiting Longwood Gardens.  The spring flowers were beautiful.

We then cooled down with some ice cream from a local shop and headed home for some relaxation before dinner.

I was able to sit down and stitch while the boys prepared dinner.  The final stitches were put into Jenny Bean's Humble Servant Sampler.  I really love the spring colors in this one - and that cow still makes me chuckle!  In each JB piece that I have done so far, I have used my own initial and last name.  The original date on this pattern had my birth month - April, so I used my birth date (which is blurred out in the picture).

I was excited to receive a package this past week from my friend Lainey.  She sent this beautiful piece from Scotland, along with a thistle cross stitch pattern, some stickers, a pin, and a patch for the boys.

 

My mom loves thistles, so these will always remind me not only of Lainey's kindness, but of my mom.  Thank you so much Lainey!!

I have yet to do any small patriotic or summer finishes to decorate with, so I will be working on some of those next.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you all find some time to put needle to thread!



Happy Mother's Day!!

Thoughts of Mother

You are like a fragrant bouquet

Of simple-old-fashioned flowers

The thought of you -

however far I stray

Brings back my childhood hours.

This is from an old print that my mother gave me years ago.  It is a gentle reminder that no matter how old we become or how far away we are, we are our mother's children.  Without my mother, I wouldn't be who I am today.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Tusal and Almost Finished

Just a quick update.  I'm ready for some sleep after a day of shampooing carpets, doing laundry, running to ball fields and choral concerts.  Here is a quick photo of my TUSAL jar.  Not much added since last time. The newest threads are from Jenny Bean Humble Servant.

I am getting close to finishing Jenny Bean.  The color of the cow intrigues me.  It's GAST's Jasmine.  Sure doesn't look like any of the cows on the neighboring Amish farms!

With a little luck, I may just have this finished by the end of the week.

I'd like to take the time to welcome my newest followers and to thank those of you that hopped over to visit Jacki's blog - A Whole Lotta Latte.

I'll leave you with a shot of my men from their big scout night.

Thanks for stopping by!