Giveaway Reminder, Plus

     Good morning ya'll, and what a lovely one it is here in southeastern NC.  Loving the milder temperatures after a very hot and humid summer.  Coffee on the porch and watching all the birds at the feeders is always a delight.

     I wanted to remind everyone today about my giveaway.  We have 93 followers at this time.  Seven more and I'll be drawing a name to see who wins the gift box.  I've enjoyed filling it up, but it's chuck full now and just waiting for shipping.  Keep in mind that to have a chance to win this box, you must be a follower.  I want to see you listed under my friends! Then on your blog you mention this giveaway.  This step not only gives someone else a chance to win, but it will allow me to draw a name quicker! Then leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win.

     The last couple of days I've been working on the baby blanket for my great grandson who is due in last November.  I enjoy working with the Cake yarn and of course being just a granny square blanket,  it's working up quickly.  The colors are actually brighter than what this picture shows.

     Have any of you been to the needlework areas in your local Walmart.....I happened to see this little kit the other day here and at six dollars, I thought it was a buy indeed.  It's a 14 x 14" pillow with the words already stamped on it.  All you have to do is embroider the few flowers and add a name under Home Sweet Home.  I thought it would make someone a nice gift so I picked it up.

     I have five more pounds of tomatoes that I'll start to dehydrate this morning.  I use the plum tomatoes and this time will slice them rather than just cut them in half.  After a sprinkle of salt and thyme or oregano, I'll start them drying.

     I just love this little lady, and she's so spoiled! Tiny Girl has been with us for a couple of years now and she couldn't be happier.  Notice that she is ready to spring off the table if she's told to get down.....

     Will let ya'll go for now.  I'm getting ready to head to the kitchen to slice up all those tomatoes, and then it will be a puttering day for me.
   
      Until next time, you be safe and well, and don't forget to "feel the colors".

Back In the Mood

     Seems for a while, I was doing lots of nothing.  Sometimes I wonder if I expect too much of myself.  Maybe it's that I think I can do it all, no matter how much.  I must have had four different knitting projects going at once and never could get myself to finish any of them.  I did finish up the little blue baby sweater and got that mailed out, but that was it. I set my sewing down one evening and didn't pick it up for days.  I was even reading a good book but decided to return it to the library yesterday as I didn't think I would finish it.  I just puttered around the house and did get some things done, but they were things that had nothing to do with needlework.
     I've been changing decor somewhat in the living room and the kitchen, and still have things that I want to add, but as a start.  I hung up a beautiful antique quilt in the living room.  Picture really doesn't do it justice.  The colors are far more into the fall colors than what it looks here.

Made some new pillow covers for the couch.  Six total, but just two are shown here.

Did some painting and antiquing.  A couple of stools and an old telephone table.  Also recovered the seat for the table.

     I have a crocheted square started for a baby blanket.  Just using a couple of skeins of cake yarn.  Baby is a boy so when he arrives, it should be good colors for him.  Here's what I have done so far.

     Then there is my cross stitch which I finally got back to the other day.  The piece is an easy one to stitch, and I'm liking the colors.  Here's what I have done so far.

     Gosh! Now that I look back, maybe I was actually doing more than what I thought.  It's just that my love is for needlework, and I wasn't accomplishing a lot with that.
     Remember when my "peanut butter tree" was loaded with white blossoms...Well here it is, all weighted down with the deep pink blossoms with the deep blue centers.  It always amazes me to see this go through its different stages.

     I've been dehydrating a lot of different things.  Preparing for our Appalachian Trail trip come spring.  I must say that the strawberries were better than the best candles when it came to making the whole house smell nice.  I'm enjoying using the dehydrator, and am trying many different kinds of food.  Fruits.  Veggies.  Beans, and even pasta with sauce.  Want to get enough ahead for the entire five month trip, so you can never start too soon.
     I want to thank all my sweet friends and followers for being patient with me during my slump. Thank you for stopping in and leaving your sweet comments.  If I haven't been over to visit your blogs, I'm so sorry, and will be over to check in soon.  All of you are important to me.
     It's a rainy beautiful day here.  Perfect day to sit on the back porch and work on my blanket, so I'll let ya'll go now.  Please visit soon, and until next time, stay well and safe and remember to "feel the colors".

August is Gone!

     Where did it go I wonder.  August came and went in record time it seems, and I have been very careless about posting here and keeping my friends and followers up to date.  I haven't even commented on my followers blogs either and I just want to apologize here and now.  I have no excuses at all.  Billy and I have been no busier than usual.  We have been healthy and fine.  Time just got away from us.  So! I'm back!
     First of all! I need to show you the last couple or three stages of the "Peanut Butter Tree", and I must say that the stage it's in right now is one of my favorite ones.  Love the purple centers.  Here you go.

Once these beautiful blue centers start to wrinkle up some, I'll take a few and use them to dye up some fabric.

     The little sweater I was working on and showed you a picture of what I had done on my last post, was finished up and sent out already.  So no pictures of the completed piece.  Never gave it a thought.  I'll be making another though and will probably post it on my next blog post.  This is the time of year I believe that a lot of people, including myself, start thinking about getting the yarns out and crocheting or knitting up some projects.  The pieces can now be draped over your lap and the heat doesn't drive you out! I won't be buying anymore yard for a while I don't think.  I have so much that I have to use up.  I don't and can't throw it away! Yes.....I stash yarn as well as fabric and threads!

     I bought a very pretty table cloth at a thrift shop about three weeks back.  Paid just five dollars, and so far I've made two valences for my kitchen windows.  A picture of one of them here below.

   
Covered a couple of pillows......

as well as covered another small chair.  I have enough left over to make a table runner as well.  So I can say that the table cloth was well worth what I paid for it.

I have started another cross stitch piece by "By The Bay Needleart".  I haven't an awful lot done thus far, but here's a picture of what it will look like when finished.  This is the time of year when I start thinking about the beautiful colors of fall, and I've had this chart for quit sometime.  So now is the time!

Well, for some reason, it seems that I'm reaching the bottom of my blog page and won't be able to post much more this time around.  So I need to let ya'll go.  I want to welcome all my new followers here, and want to let all my sweet followers and friends know, that I'm still putting neat little things in the giveaway box.  Only eight more followers to go, and a name will be drawn.  I'm looking forward to it for sure.

Now, until next time, ya'll be well and take care.  Keep all in Texas in your prayers.  Remember to "feel the colors".