Sunday, December 27, 2015

All Is Calm. All Is Bright.

     With Christmas day behind us, I think many of us including myself, are looking forward to a quiet day.  We'll be going to our church service, and once home, we've decided to go to the beach to go through a couple of shops and have some lunch.  If the weather stays as nice as it has been, we'll take our shoes off and walk in the wet sand.  We're looking forward to it.  Seems as we get older, we tend to just stay home.  We forget the joy of what's out there!


     This year we have flowers still blooming and shrubs already putting out new buds.  We had one frost thus far this season.  I know it can still happen, but in this area we start warming up in March.  We still have green lawns.  Flowers blooming and big fat polliwogs swimming in the quiet waters of the brooks in the area.  They're usually way down in the mud this time of year.
   
     I think over the next couple of weeks I'll be adding a couple of pages to this blog.  One on quick gifts to make up.  Every year I wait too long to stitch up a few gifts.  The last few days before Christmas, I decide I don't have the time and I'm running out to the stores.  I know I'm not the only one that does this, so I think it will be fun to try and helpful as well.  So if you would like, if you have a fun quick gift that you enjoy making up, you can send me the site address or your written directions with a picture of the item, and I'll post it here for you.  Can be any type of needle work or crafty thing.  You can send it to me at MissLindaLee@ec.rr.com

     I've been doing a little stitching on a small sampler.  I know that I've shown you before, but here it is again.  Just a simple stitch to remind myself this coming year that I should and I want to "Live Simply".  The less stuff I've accumulated the better.  I want to make things easier for us.  A place for everything so we don't spend hours looking for something.  This is being stitched in a hand dyed thread.  Go here to see the chart itself.  www.pinterest.com/gettysburgmary/cross-stitch-patternssamplers/  Here's a picture here of it as well.




     Now with just one more picture, I will let you my dear friends go.  The other night, we went to church, and when we got home, there was Tiny Girl in the candle lit living room window awaiting our arrival.  Gosh I love that little girl!


     Until next time, stay healthy and safe, and don't forget to "feel the colors".

Friday, December 18, 2015

Needling Away!

     Yeap! I've been doing the last of my Christmas shopping and in my spare time, I've been doing some knitting.  Enjoying a free pattern that I ran across.  My sister loves beret or slouchy style hats so thought I'd do up a couple for her for Christmas.  Here's the first, which is a free pattern.  It can actually be done up in an evening.  White goes with everything I'm told.


In the second one here, I decided to use a skein of ombre that I had.  My sister is so opposite from me when it comes to wearing colors.  You see her mostly in black, grays and dark blues.  So this hat will be a real challenge for her.  I did go with a dark ombre though.  Here's a picture after the blocking.  I decided to try it on, and I think she'll love the shape.  Oh my! That really is me with all those wrinkles! No make up either mind ya'll!



     Every year when this is all in bloom I have to thank a lovely lady I knew that is now in Heaven.  This was a piece from Miss Getty's cactus, and of all the cacti that I have had over the years, this is the one and only that has actually grown and bloomed each year.  Thank you once again Miss Getty.



A lovely surprise gift that I received in the mail several days ago.  I love the ornament and the stitching is beautifully done.  You know who you are, and thank you once again.


     Oh! I don't know how may of you are familiar with this salad dressing, but we had it for the first time when we were in Georgia a couple of weeks ago.  It is sooooo good.  Make your salad first and use this like you would a Ceasar dressing.  Add it to the salad and toss.  This jar came home with us, so I'll be watching for it up here when I shop.


     One more thing and for sure and I can't not post this.  So many of you, my dear friends and followers have kept me in prayer due to my platelet disorder, ITP.  When it was first discovered, my platelets were at 700.  I was told that if I hadn't gone to the emergency room that day, that I would have died by the following day.  It has been a roller coaster ride for nearly a year and a half and I was expected to live no longer than a couple to three weeks when they let me go home after a 44 day hospital stay.  Well yesterday, I had my blood work done, and for the first time since I became sick, my platelets are actually within the normal range.  Normal is 130,000 to 400,000 and yesterday we found out that I am at 188,000! So all my thanks to each and every one of you.  I'm doing real well and so much of it has to do with your thoughts and prayers.

     Now until next post......Ya'll stay warm, well, and happy.  Love each and every one of you and "Don't forget to feel the colors!"

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Busy....Or disorganized....

     I wonder sometimes.  Maybe I'm just lazy! I often wonder why I don't post like I used to, which was quite often.  Now it seems I go weeks at a time without posting.  I still want to blog.  I still have things to say and to show.  I still love all my friends and followers.  So, I wonder if it's because I've been real busy....Hmmm.  Haven't been any busier than usual.  I'm home just as much as I've always been.  There is still 24 hours I can use in each and every day.  I have not any added any interests or hobbies.  I read many wonderful posts on other bloggers pages, but always have.  Yet getting to my own post and letting my sweet followers know what's going on in my life and all, I find is something I have gotten out of the habit of doing.  Maybe I'm just not organized! Who! Me! Yeap.....I find that I'm forever starting one thing and leaving it to get to something else, or not even starting what I planned at all! A good way to lose things I find.  Taking something to a different room to put it away, only to stop halfway there, laying what I have down to take care of something else.  I hear others do this same thing,  and I hope it really is true! I'm forever setting my coffee cup down and then having to hunt for it.  Can't find things that I know I have.  I've almost given up on finding the perfect spot to put things, as I find the perfect spot often winds up the secret spot to even me.  Maybe I just need a major clean out and toss away weekend.  I often think about the saying, "Live Simply" and I see others that do.  I love the way it works! They have a place for everything and there aren't extras to look for.  They have far more room and less "stuff" to look through when needing something.  They spend far more time doing things rather than looking for things.  With all that being said.....I love you again sweet followers and here I am once again.

     I have actually been stitching and I'm finished one piece.  Can't show it right now as it's a Christmas gift and I don't want to spoil the surprise.  When it's seen, the one who I made it for will know right away that it's for her.  So we'll wait.

     So, last night I started working on "Serenity Harbor" once again.  Oh yes, of course I'm way behind where I should be as this was supposed to be a stitch along.  For me it's a catch up along or a stitch alone along.  I am laughing though as I think of it.  The first four months I did fine.  Kept right up and was patting myself on the back.  I really am enjoying the stitch though.  It's by By the Bay Needleart and I love their things.  Always bright colors and great charts.

     Now I do need to show you a picture of a rose in one of my gardens.  I took this about three days ago.  I must say that with some very cold nights and freezing temps, I was very surprised to find it.  I love the colors in it and look forward to more blooms come spring.  Bill got me this rose for Valentine's Day.  Thank you again Hon.


     I don't believe that I've told you about our walks in the mornings now.  Bill would take Riley for his walk every day.  I decided that if I got a carrier for Tiny Girl, I would go as well.  So I enjoy our walks now and Tiny Girl mostly meows all the way.  Here she is here getting ready to go, and the second pictures shows just how co operative Riley was about having his picture taken that morning.  They're our fur babies though and we love them.  


     Have to also show you an updated photo or two of our grands down in Dallas, Georgia.  We went down for a week so we could attend grandparent's day at their school.  By the way, they go to a wonderful Christian school.  They're growing so fast.  There is big brother, Brandon.  Then there is Miss Emma and little sister Miss Hadley.  Love those little ones.

 
     Christmas is so close and I have been doing a little bit of knitting also for gifts.  I see all the traffic out on route 70 here from people out shopping and all, and I'm so glad that I have so little left to do.  Basically pick up a few cards and that's it.  I'll be back here before Christmas though to see how ya'll are doing.

     One last thing....Getting back to Tiny Girl....First picture is when we just got her.  Just a tiny little ball of fur..  The second is her now.  She has grown so much and is so friendly and smart.  She loves cooked veggies!  Mushrooms.  Corn.  Green beans.  Squash.  Carrots.  You name it.  She makes us laugh as well.



   
     Until next time, and I hope that, that will be real soon, ya'll stay safe, warm and well.  Enjoy this wonderful season and remember to "feel the colors".  Love you all.    

Stuff

    Just stuff! Things that keep me from my needlework! ...Doctor appointments! As we're getting older I find there are more and more of...