Quaker Christmas Finished!

Looky,Looky! It was a long time coming but now it's finished.

I really like it. Now a plain frame or fancy? narrow or wide?
Need to think on it for a while. I did change the colors from what it called for. I just picked a green, red and gold DMC that I liked and thought looked good together.
Now that I have this finished, I have pulled out Houses of Hawk Run Hollow. I have also been stitching on my May Stitch A Long. Sorry, no picture. Not much but the border done for now.

Here's what we have new since my last post. Our zebra finches had babies. They have laid numerous eggs but they have never hatched. This time 2 out of 4 hatched. One fell in the bottom of the cage a while back, and I don't think the other egg is going to hatch. You can see how ugly they are and how fast they change.
The 1st one hatched May 1st.

And the second one on May 3rd.




And here's momma sitting on the babies with dad an big brother looking on.

They orginally belonged to my daughter, then she passed them to me. She had bought a pair at the time,and they did hatch out one egg several months ago, before she gave them to me.
And here's a pic of Little Miss Emmie, tucked away for a nap.

Until next time,
Happy Stitching
Deana

Hi everyone,
I'm still around. Although I posted only once in April.I have been so busy with everything that I have fallen behind in computer "stuff". I've been on the computer long enough to check email and that's been about it. I love reading all the other blogs and need to get caught up on them.
Since my last posting, Steve and I had our 35th anniversary on the 12th. We have been trying to work on our basement bathroom. We are now putting up the molding, then comes the paint. We have torn up the old tile in his workshop and have about half the new tile down. We had a load of dirt delivered so I have been moving it to low areas of our yard with a wheel barrow. Not easy on the back so I'm doing a little at a time. The rain has not been very cooperative either with it. I've also been planting flowers. We got our screen room put up on the deck so I would like to spend some time just sitting and stitching out there.
We received a call a couple of days ago from the nursing home my mom is at, and due to her aggressive behavior, we are going to have to move her to another facility.
This is going to be hard for her and us because it will have to be in another town. The home where she is now, found one place that is about an hour away. We are going to see what else we can find in the next few days. It's hard to go see her now because she is so angry and just doesn't understand that she can't go home.
We have always went to see her every week but it has now been 3 weeks since our last visit. And actually it wasn't really a visit, but an hour and a half argument with her as to why we couldn't take her home. She can say some of the most hurtful things to us. I feel guilty because I can't do what she wants. Yet, there's nothing else we can do. She just doesn't understand and thinks we are being mean to her. She keeps saying she is fine and can take care of herself. And I think in her mind, she can take care of herself because of the things she says. She keeps telling us the nursing home says she doesn't need to be there and is ready to go home, which is obviously not true because she has use of her left hand and left leg. She has to have 24 hr. nursing care. It has been tough.

On a lighter side of life, I have been stitching on Quaker Christmas as much as possible. Here's the newest pic taken just this morning. I'm so close to finishing, that I just don't want to stitch on anything else.

I finished April Stitch A Long earlier this month and almost forgot to email my pic to Kathy at Needle Delights in Florida.
Here's a couple shots of it.


And I actually have a cross stitch piece completely finished and assembled. Although it wasn't finished in time for Easter. I really like the trim I used. Found it at JoAnn's Fabrics.
This picture looks like the piece is not square but it is.



I hope I can get some stitching time in this weekend. I have laundry, cleaning and more planting to do. I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend.
Deana

Wonderful Weather

Today is just perfect weather. Sunny and warm. Spring is really showing itself this week. Everywhere you look there is color. The white pear trees,the red bud trees, magnolias, daffodils, the trees are popping out with green. Don't you just love this time of year? It has to be my favorite time. Then comes allergy season,just around the corner. I refuse to let it keep me inside so I will just take my allergy meds, and probably end up getting a steriod shot before it's over, but I will just go right on outside and thumb my nose at the allergies. I have a whole list of "To Do's" so I thought today would be a good time to start. Steve pressure washed the deck earlier this week, so I started this morning staining it. I'm so ready to get the screened-in gazabo up so I can get the deck all "prettied up". I had a massage this morning first thing, and on the way home stopped by the hardware store to pick up a few things. They are getting their plants in now and I couldn't resist buying a few flowers and tomatoes. One of the tomatoes I bought was called Homely Homer, ever heard of it? It says they are very ugly but have the best flavor. I had to buy one just to see what the tomatoes look like. I'm still stitching on Quaker Christmas. I did get Prairie Schooler R is for Rabbit started when our stitching group met.
I didn't make much progress though, so will get a pic posted a little later.
This is just a quick post while I take a break from staining the deck. My back needed a rest, along with some ibuprophen.
I leave you with a pic of the Divine Miss M.

And another one when I found her stealing my chapstick and playing in the flowerpot on the deck.

Have a wonderful Saturday,
Deana

Since my last post I have been zoned in on Quaker Christmas. I have made so much progress, that I really have enjoyed staying with it. However, my other projects have been sadly neglected. Here's a pic.

I need to get started on another of my prairie schooler alphabet series. Since my stitching group meets tomorrow night, I will get it started there.
For everyone that finished their Feb. stitch a long on time from Needle Delights, Kathy gave us 25% off one item. I was really wanting Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow from Carriage House Samplings. So that's what I ordered and received it yesterday.
I love that whole Hawk Run Hollow series and have all of them now. But am still working on Houses of HRH. Maybe someday I will get them all stitched.
Last weekend, after finishing the stitching on Happy Easter, I got it assembled except for cording. I'm going to have to look out of town, because with having only a Wally World there is no selection here in town.
Anway, here's a pic of it without cording.

My magnolia's are blooming by the front porch and tried to get a picture of them a couple of nights ago. I took these after dark with the flash on. Not bad, but sooo pretty in person. They just don't last long.


As I mentioned, we went to Sabrina and Brian's for Easter. Austin colored eggs while Brian was working on the BBQ.

We had a great lunch of BBQ'd pork loin, green beans, salads, deviled eggs and homemade apple pie.
Austin was so excited to get to hunt Easter eggs. Sabrina was making him wait until both sets of grandparents got there before he could go look for them. We were the 1st to arrive and just as we were pulling in the driveway, he shot out of the house and ran around to the backyard. Sabrina made him put the eggs back he picked up and come back in the house to wait for Brian's family. He was soooo funny the night before. Sabrina called and said Austin was questioning wither the Easter bunny was real. He took 4 of the sponge bullets that go in his Nerf machine gun and tucked them in Jeff's collar. Jeff is their black lab. He also tied a cape to Jeff and told him to stay outside all night and catch the easter bunny.
He can come up with the funniest things. Here's a few pics for Easter.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Happy Dance!

I'm doing my happy dance of spring. It's finally warm and sunny. And it's suppose to be that way all this week. Grass is greening up. Daffodils are getting ready to bloom. My mood has already improved a bunch overnight. I can't wait to get out and start working in the yard, or setting out on the deck. I'm just looking forward to being outside. I'm one of those people that suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder). This was a self diagnosis because "I HATE WINTER." I don't know why some people enjoy winter. It's cold, it's dark, every thing is brown and dead, there's nothing fun to do outside because remember.......it's cold,dark and dead. I can't see how bundling up like Ralphie's brother in A Christmas Story to go outside of any length of time can be fun. But for those of you that enjoy winter, you go for it. I'll stay cozied up with my stitching and a blankie and see you in the spring.
Nothing new much on the stitching front. I did get the Easter Egg finished. Now just need to complete the "assembly" process. I pulled out a WIP that I'd kind of forgotten about. It's just a fun little piece about spending my money on cross stitch and chocolate. Also, still plugging along on Quaker Christmas.
I'll try to get some updated pics for next posting.
Since my last post, the stitching group I belong to met at my house and we had a really fun time. We got alot of visiting in along with some stitching and snacking on cookie/brownie bars I made.
If you know me, then you know I do not like to cook. So even though these came from a boxed mix, I think they were pretty good. Probably better than if I'd tried them from scratch. Scratch doesn't really work for me. Believe me, my talent lies in cross stitch.
Think I do a little blog surfing and then off to stitch.
Have a good evening,
Deana

A Couple of Finishes

I finally got around to getting the pictures taken of some of my projects.
First up is the Prairie Schooler Alphabet, P is for Parrot. I was a little late getting this one finished like I had planned. It should have been done by the end of Feb, but I was a couple of weeks late. Oh well, better late than never, so onto Q is for Quilt.I've pulled everything together but haven't started it yet.

I had Happy Easter from Bent Creek that I really wanted to do for this Easter. Here's a pic of the progress I've made. I've had alot of fun stitching this piece. Fun colors. Buttons will go in the empty squares when I'm done. I've made more progress on this since I took the picture the other day, so I should have it finished this weekend.

Also, I have finished my March Stitch A Long. A cute little leprechaun.
Here's a shot of what the layout will look like. Now just waiting to get started on April on the 1st.

In between these projects, I've stitched a little more on Quaker Christmas.


Steve left this morning for his yearly snagging trip. I plan on spending the entire weekend at home. Tonight, updating my blog and doing some major stitching.
Tomorrow, laundry, stitching, watching nascar and who know what else. The weather this weekend is suppose to be the pits so I will have a good reason for staying home. It is in the 60's today and tonight it is suppose to get cold and start raining,sleeting and snowing 1-3" this weekend. Surely the weatherman will be wrong.
However, it's 7;30PM, still in the 60's here in mid Mo, but in Kansas City which is just 3 hrs. away, it is 39 and raining. At least I got my car vacuumed out today. I hadn't been able to do that since last fall.
I think I will stop for now. Racing is on and I want to go catch some of the qualifying.
Until next time, happy stitching!
Deana

I'm just B****ing! Don't bother to Read!

Good Morning,
Since my last post, my laptop hard drive died. So I had to have my son in law do an overhaul on it. Luckily, he was able to save most of my "stuff" on it. I wasn't too concerned except for my pictures, and my favorites. But he was even able to save them. I do have to install webshots and just haven't made time for it yet. Yesterday was a total waist of a Sat. I had a bad headache so spent most of the day laying around. I did manage to get my Winter Village put away and the everyday stuff back into the pie safe. Snowmen have gathered on my dining room table waiting for me to put them away.
I have been stitching some, but no pics to post this morning. I have P is for Parrot from The Prairie Schooler almost finished. I started Uber Egg from Bent Creek in hopes to have it finished and displayed for this Easter. It's been fun to stitch. I will try to get pics posted soon.
I think I have the Blahs!!!! No, I know I have the Blahs!!
Dealing with my mom has just been awful. She's not happy, mean to the nursing home staff, very defiant with anything they want her to do. She ask us to do the impossible and then chews our *** out when we tell her we can't. She can say things to you that just cut you to the bone. It's been hard to keep my mind on what I need to thru the day, and can't sleep well at night. Steve and I are both exausted all the time. Then we have the crappy weather. I hear we are suppose to have 40's everyday this week so that should be nice. My face is healing well. Still having problems with my hand and have a doctor appt tomorrow.
I will try to make my next post will be nicer.

Deana