My last posting for 2010

I'd just like to take a minute to say "GOODBYE 2010, YOU SUCKED!"
Ok, now that I got that out of my system,and for anyone that doesn't know me or that is reading my blog for the first time, let me explain. This year has been very hard on our family. My mother suffered a severe stroke Nov. 2009. After eight months in the nursing home she passed away June 24th. My aunt, mom's sister passed away the end of April before mom in June. My mother in law passed away in Sept. Labor Day to be exact, she had been in a nursing home for 3 years. Then earlier this month, the little dog we got in July passed away. One of our other poms, Molly has cancer and has been going downhill very fast. We have decided Monday Steve will take her to the vet for her passing. She doesn't seem to be in any pain, however she is having difficulty breathing due to the swollen lymph nodes in her neck. So see why I'm glad to start a new year?
Although we have had a terrible year, I'm very thankful for my family and friends. Also we have all been in pretty good health. With the passing of mom, it has brought my niece and nephew and their families closer to us. However, it did not with my sister and brother. He didn't even bother to come to her funeral. Enough said!!

With the beginning of a new year, don't we all feel like it's a fresh start?
Here's what I would like to achieve in the new year.
1. Finish more of my projects I have started.
2. Organize and get rid of stuff we do not need or use.
3. Spend less,save more.
4. Finish the remodel in the basement. Due to Steve's knees and my back we're giving up on the DIY and paying to have it finished.
5. Go camping more.
6. Post more often on my blog.

Now that I have gotten interested in quilting, I'd like to get a couple of projects completely finished this next year. However I still have to start them.
I just keep thinking about a quilt that I bought fabric for while on vacation that I've been wanting to do so bad.
And since I have been getting into quilting, I have decided to rename my blog. I have pondered a lot of different titles but have finally made my decision of calling it, Deana's Fabrics and Fibers. I feel like that will cover my interest in both cross stitch and quilting.
So next time you stop by to see what I'm up to, the title will be new.

We have had some crazy weather this fall and winter. Fall was colder and wetter than normal. It got cold so early that we did not get our yard cleaned up like we usually do. I do not like being outside when it's cold so it just never got done. Last week at this time we had the big Christmas Eve snowfall.
Today, we have has severe storms moving thru the state and at this time it's 55 degrees outside. At least I was able to get the deck cleaned up today. This afternoon temps are suppose to drop like a rock into the 20's by tonight. I've taken advantage of the warmer weather and opened a few windows for a short while, just to get some fresh air in the house. Here's some pics I took Christmas Eve.






I wanted to show a couple of yard ornaments Angie gave me for Christmas. They are the cutest things. I love them and can't wait until spring to put them in my flower bed.




And another ornament I love, Steve surprised me with it last year before Christmas.
It was handmade although, I'm not sure how they did it. It's just the coolest ornament.
Notice the larger outer glass ball has a smaller glass ball inside, their attached to each other by just fine strings of glass. Last year I carefully hung it on our tree, but this year, I found an ornament hanger and I feel like it needs to be displayed all by itself.




Yesterday, I made the dreaded trip to Wal-Mart for needful things. Food and toiletries are nice to have. I haven't been there since about a week before Christmas, so it was a cart full. Now, passing the pet isle, I saw a couple of Christmas dresses marked down that I just had to buy for the princess.
Isn't she the cutest?


I had the injection in my back Tuesday. They said if I could take it easy for a few days the better the steriod would work. So Tuesday, I pretty much laid around the house. Wednesday spent most of the day stitching and cutting little squares for my postage stamp quilt. My back is feeling alot better. Just hope it stays this way.
Steve has to work tonight and Sabrina and Brian want to go out for New Years Eve, so I will be keeping Austin overnight. You know me and a six year old are going to party hard. Hope we can stay awake at least until 10:00pm.
Hope you and your family have a nice New Years Eve and a great 2011.
Until next time,
Deana

Failure To Post

I must let everyone know my failure to post has been due to being very busy at times and just not in the mood at other times.
This has just been a very difficult year. Since my last posting, much has been going on. The kids came home for Thanksgiving. We enjoyed the company and a nice dinner. Steve and I did go shopping on Black Friday. I usually avoid the day, but Steve offered so I took him up on it.
Dec. 6th we lost our little pom, Buddy, he was fine one day, playing, acting normal, then the next day he was very sick. The vet said he had a sever bladder infection. By the second day he needed surgery, and 2 days later passed away on the 6th. We just got him in July and was only 2 years old. We loved him very much and miss his little face. Then a week later our other pom, Molly was diagnosed with Cancer on her lymph nodes. She seems to be feeling good, the nodes are extremely swollen, but she doesn't seem to feel it. As long as she feels good we will keep her with us and deal with the other as it comes.
Last Sunday, Angie, Sabrina and Austin came in so we could make holiday treats. Here's the results of 8 hrs. in the kitchen.



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Angie came up with the ideas for the mice and snowmen on the stick for Austin to take to school for his kinder garden class party. Their so cute. We made marsh mellow snowmen on a stick with mini M&M's and a chocolate covered pretzel hat. The mice are candy kiss, cherry dipped in chocolate, sliced almond ears. We had fun making them.

Holy Cow!.........Just looked outside, It's snowing like crazy! We've received about 4 inches over night and now it's really coming down. I don't really like the snow and cold, but it is really pretty falling.
I've quickly grabbed the camera to get some pictures of our wonderful neighbor out clearing all our driveways and the street. We live on a dead end street and most times don't see a snowplow until the 2nd or 3rd day. This morning they came down our street and cleared the way, but blocking in the cars and driveways. Now Dan (our neighbor) is out plowing all 11 driveways and unburrowing the cars and trucks. What a great guy.



Earlier this morning when Steve came home from work, I let Sage out to play in the snow. Here's some fun pictures of her. Dogs seem to get sooo excited in the snow. I wish I knew what they were thinking.



Here's the little princess in her holiday dress staying in where it's warm and cozy. Besides, the snow is deeper that she is tall.

Here's our big tree all ready for tomorrow when the kids come in.

And the pencil tree I have with all my cross stitch ornaments. Plus my Christmas village in the jelly cabinet.

On the stitching scene, I finished Austin's Christmas ornament just in time.

And one I did for my cross stitch tree this year.

I have not finished anything else for so long. I did finish Mermaids a good while back and had not posted the picture of it. There's a close up of the mermaids that I did a little changing on. I used the petite beads for eyes and white petite beads for their pearl necklaces instead of french knots.


I hope after Christmas I will have a little more free time for stitching.
I have this next week off work due to our yearly shutdown between Christmas and New Years. I'm looking forward to the days to be at home and maybe get some stitching and sewing done. Tuesday I get to have an injection in my back, I'm not looking forward to it, but I'm hoping for some relief with the back pain.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. Until next time, keep stitching.
Deana

Good Morning,
I have several pics to show you this time. I've been taking more than usual.
I haven't shown you everything I bought on vacation so here are some of my purchases.
I stopped by Tuesday Morning in Gulf Shores and found 4 skeins of some pretty cool sock yarn at a discount, which is always good.

Steve had some test run this last Tues. and it took hours. So I started knitting a pair of socks while waiting for him. All his test came back normal so that's very good news.

I wanted to show you my finds at WalMart. They're rubbermaid with handles that lock on the sides. I really like them and bought 2 of 3 different sizes. There so nice for keeping projects in. I picked them up while on vacation also,and I haven't looked to see if they have them at our local WalMart yet, but if they have them, I can see more in my sewing room.

I finished a pair of handwarmers last night.

Last weekend the our crew got together for Angie and Darrells birthday dinner. Darrell wanted a certain kind of chocolate cake so Angie made this for him. I can't remember what the name of it was, but it was something like a double double chocolate. Chocoholics would love it.

A couple of weeks ago Steve, Sabrina and Brian wanted to go check out their deer hunting area to take a look around. I went along for something to do and for the 1st time in my life, I rode a 4 wheeler.
Austin wanted to give me a ride on his 4 wheeler so here's one shot with just a little of me. I'm not much for having my picture taken. He's a very good driver and we had lots of fun.

Steve out and about on Brian's 4 wheeler.


Another shot of Austin, he's soooo cute.


And one of Sabrina, Brian and Austin. They go 4 wheeling together alot.

While we were out there, I took a pic of this fuzzy woolie worm. Is he a sign of a mild winter? or a hard winter? I've never understood that.

And in the middle of the field was this old well. I thought it was pretty neat.

Until next time, enjoy the weekend.
Deana

Good Morning!
Well, remember on the last post I said I think I have a bad cable for my camera, and couldn't upload my last round of pictures? Last night I got the pictures uploaded from my SD card to my laptop. I'm not good with figuring out these things. That's why I hate electronics when they don't work. But I thought why can't I just put my SD card in the laptop? I swear, I tried this before and it didn't work. Anyway, tried it again last night, and how easy was that!!! I've always hooked the camera to the laptop.
Now I can show you my stamp quilt. Here it is,before I took it all apart.

Back to single squares.

Trimmed down and pinned together. Ready to start sewing.

Let's start sewing.

My assistant showing off our progress.

My assistant clipping apart all those little squares.

Assistant #2 catching a nap.

This is going to be a fun project.

Now here's all the new fabrics I bought on vacation. Get ready for several pics.








Here's a group of fabrics I'm thinking about using in a Grandmothers Flower Garden. I just love these.

My assistant's love getting in the pics.

Here's the quilt I showed Steve in a magazine on vacation. He really liked it so if we both like it, then I had to buy fabrics for it too.


Hope you have a nice weekend,
Until next time,
Deana