Working on Christmas Presents today

No housework today; just crocheting, cross-stitching & tatting Christmas presents today (hopefully will complete one or two). The addition of Tatting is thanks to Tatting Chick's blog. She does really good work (what an inspiration & reminder). I did finish the crochet sweater and will sew the buttons on today. I plan to wear it next week to work. It turned out nice, once I washed it, it softend up a bit thank goodness. The sun is really shining here today and it's warmed up to around 60, I may go outside and stitch a while for the fresh air and sunshine. Happy weekend everyone....Update, I finally took the time to take a photo of the 97 Aqua & Red blocks that I received from www.janesfabrics.blogspot.com - they are in no special order aren't they just adorable? I tried to get as many to see when I took the photo..I hope to work on it in January 2010 after the holidays. Good night everyone

Thanksgiving Day

Well, the Pumpkin Pie is in a the oven. I used a recipe that I found at Simplyrecipes.com and changed it just a little, I think it will turn out well (I used some buttermilk and orange zest since I couldn't find my lemon zest). My chocolate cake is cooling (from the Hershey's Chocolate Lovers Cookbook that I've had for many years - my alltime favorite I guess. I'm going to frost it with Chocolate Cream cheese icing too. I do hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and just remember to think about 'good things'.

A Womans work is never done - Mark Twain

It is still very true over 100 years after Mark Twain quoted it….I got up this morning around 6am and crocheted for about 1 hour on a sweater (from a Patons Silk Bamboo leaflet). I found this really nice crochet yarn from Red Heart called Eco-ways which has 30% recycled polyester fibers; it’s only $2.99 a skein at AC Moore which is a fantastic price. I also started a load of laundry, finished my lined-wool skirt, it’s a very nice large weave 100% wool that I bought at Joann’s while visiting Williamsburg, VA (Vogue 8603 I think) and made homemade buttermilk biscuits (recipe thanks to White Lily flour), scrambled eggs and fresh coffee for breakfast for Phil (my husband) & I (all this was done by 1000 am this morning). Yesterday I worked on cleaning up my sewing room and also did a couple loads of laundry. Some days I think that I accomplish nothing, and it was nice today to realize that I do. Also I watched a David Letterman episode last night that I had taped just because Viggo Mortensen was on the show and he made some interesting comments regarding killing, cooking & eating wildlife. I wonder how many families in America/world-wide would be able to survive if it depended on their skills alone (hunting, cooking, sewing, logging, hand working, survival skills, etc?) It's nice to know that my husband and I may survive even if just for a little while - if we lose everything. He actually got his 1st deer for this hunting season on Thursday (around 75 pounds - young male; which is much better to eat than an old one with a 'nice rack'.) I also received my Aqua & Red blocks from the Swap and will put up photos later in the month of these. I’m working on a lot of stuff for Christmas and will have more photos I hope in early December maybe. Happy sewing, stitching, etc. everyone…

Tallahassee, FL

Visiting my mom and sisters in Tallahassee Florida this week and am very happy to be here. The weather is very mild and sunny outside. Celebrating mom's 75th birthday this evening and my brother should be in town also. Stopped on the way in GA to visit my youngest son who is finally out of the Army after 3 tours in the 'sands of Iraq'. I still have one older son that is stilled "owned by the Army". Hopefully he will be out by this time next year also. That would be nice to have 2 "college guys" for a change. Watched "A Christmas Carol, the Musical" last night starring Kelsey Gramer and other stars, a surprise from one of the Law and Order "cops" who is a fantastic singer and dancer. I highly recommend this version of the old favorite as I've watched most of them. I have been crocheting, some sewing and cross-stitching lately, but no photos and I need to finish something first. My sister gave me some of her purples today and she is working on a memorial quilt for a relative it's really turning out very nice, can't wait to see the finished quilt.

Salmon & Home Fries

Okay, you would think that I would be sick of 'fixing' salmon every third night, but surprisingly, every time I cook it, it's fantastic. Tonight for something different, cooked it in the cast-iron skillet w/sesame oil, soy sauce & a little butter. The home fries - one large sweet onion, chopped small and cooked in oil then added the potatoes (chopped small also) and cooked them also in cast-iron skillet, salt & pepper. They tasted like I actually put sugar in them but of course didn't. Green beans canned and microwaved with just a little bit of canola oil/butter blend by Land-O-Lakes. That's it - another wonderful meal. I've also been stitching tonight and watching a little TV. CASTLE tonight (he dressed up as the Character he played on Serenity & Firefly)what a hoot for all you Sci-Fy lovers out there...In a different world I would be rich and have a fabulous kitchen....Happy Thursday everyone.

Disappearing Aqua/Red 9 Patch Exchange

Well, I finished my 25 12-1/2" blocks the other night and cut them into 100 6-1/4". I'll mail them on Monday morning which happens to be the deadline. I've attached a photo. My Mr. Lincoln rose bush is still blooming and I took some blooms to work since they smell so wonderful. I'm now going to start making some winter clothes maybe, two light wool jackets/tops and a wool skirt maybe...who knows. I'm also working on Anna's cross stitch for one of her Christmas presents. A photo on Sunday of it, since I'll be further along than today. Well, since it's Friday night (yeah), guess I'll spend a few hours watching some television. Good night everyone, happy stitching and sewing.....

Autumn Needleroll received from Gaby

I received this really cool needle roll from Gaby in Germany. She used her favorite finishing technique to finish it. She picked a really nice design for me and I'll actually use it as a needle roll for my hand quilting and cross-stitch since its what I do while my spouse Phil and I watch tv...Also I'll finally mail my friendship bag exchange tomorrow morning (it's about three days late). The only exchange I'll probably do until January is the Disappearing 9-patch Aqua/Red, which is really cool there are 100 participants and we all make 25 blocks and cut them twice and mail all 100 finished blocks by November 2nd. Once I make mine I'll add some photos. Phil and I are headed to Busch Gardens, Virginia for this long weekend, I feel some photos may be in order next week if I get any good ones. Happy Quilting and Stitching everyone....

Hand Quilting practice, Summer Quilt Swap & other things

I received my Summer Quilt Swap from Nancy last week. It's really a nice log cabin pattern (browns, greens & pinks). She was inspired by the Women of Gee's Bend, Alabama; here's the weblink http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/quiltmakers/. Also I received a email from Dorrie that she received my Summer Quilt swap exchange, so I've added a photo. It's a little different, I used the entire Mermaid panel from Laura Burch and hand-quilted it. I need practice, practice & more practice. I'm taking a machine quilt-as-you-go class on Saturday at Marti's Patchwork Cottage in Black Mountain and the main 11 1/2" x 11 1/2" block needs to be quilted before the class so I hand quilted it too for more practice (used a scrap of black floral print). Blyn recieved the Autumn Needleroll exchange from me so I can now post photos of it too. Happy Stitching and sewing everyone.....

Fall is just around the Corner.......

It's been a very busy summer and I haven't posted much. I've been involved in a couple of Quilt exchanges and Needlework exchanges, made a small charity quilt and sent overseas, almost finished all the valances for windows, etc. I also spent time with one of my sons in Washington State and visited Williamsburg, VA (the photo is the garden at the Governor's Mansion). Also, I just returned from a weekend with my sisters in GA, we went to a quilt show and visited some stitching stores and quilt stores. It was a lot of fun and hated to come back to the "real world of Work". I have a Friendship bag exchange still to finish and a Disappearing 9 patch Aqua & Red to do by early November. Then I can start a quilt for a friend at work who is getting married and also start sewing some fun Christmas/Holiday presents for family and friends. I hope to have photos printed later this week maybe. Also I've had a bumper crop of red bell peppers (my favorite) and will plant more next year. My husband visited with my nephew in Alaska for 2 months - who has started a King Salmon guide service. His website is: http://www.alaskarons.com/. They fished and worked on some of the outer buildings. I now have plenty of King Salmon and Red Salmon (the photo is blackened salmon with gorgazola cheese [it was fantastic]. We've had some wonderful dinners...I hope to go next year for at least a week and Salmon fish also. Happy Stitching everyone...

Friendship Bag Swap received from Anne S.

I received my bag exchange from Anne about one week ago; I am still very busy at work and home and just no time for posting. I hope to start posting on a regular basis again next week. I have been stitching and sewing as fast as I can to keep up...I've been getting alot done though. But enough about me. Anne made me a wonderful bag with lots of goodies. She is from the province of the Netherlands called Friesland. They have their own flag which is really cool. She included a thimble, some gorgeous fabrics that are made in Amsterdam called Den Haan en Wagenmahers (they are all exquisite); I can't wait to make something with them (they have a 'satin sheen to them'. Also some candy that I am saving for just a little while; really neat key chain with shoes and a writing pin. Thank you again Anne and I love all of the extra goodies. Here's Anne's blog she has some really nice quilts completed on her blog http://kreannetief.blogspot.com/. Happy stitching and sewing everyone.....