A New Year

       Good morning! The new year is  just hours away now and I want to wish you all a year full of wonderful blessings.  Also, a year with lots of love and fulfilled wishes.  A year of happy events.  I pray that your hearts will find reasons to smile and your hands will be busy with enjoyment.  That your eyes will take in colors each new day and that you'll "feel" them.

     I happened to see this below, online and want to share it today.  When you feel that there's not enough time in your day and that you just can't seem to get enough done.  When you feel frustrated and defeated, please remember these Zen Things below.  Bottom line is "Be easy on yourself".


1.  Do one thing at a time.
2.  Do it slowly and deliberately.
3.  Do it completely.
4.  Do less.
5.  Put some space between things.
6.  Develop rituals.
7.  Designate time for certain things.
8.  Devote time to sitting.
9.  Smile and serve others.
10.  Make cleaning and cooking become meditation.
11.  Think about what is necessary.
12.  Live simply.

I have done this chart below three times, and plan on doing it again in the near future.  It was a free chart and I want to share it with you, my sweet friends and followers.  I do it in either a solid color or a variegated thread.  Enjoy the stitch and let it be a daily reminder to you.

Now here's a few pictures for you to enjoy.  Colors to "feel".

     Happy 2020 y'all! I love each and every one of you.  I pray that if you don't know the Lord, that you will know Him by the end of this coming year.  Stay warm and well and may your hands be full of stitching.

Long Time No Posts!

     It's all my fault too! I think about posting and then wander of with something else.  I really need to sit down at least once a week if not more often, and catch up with y'all.  I love keeping in touch and letting you know what I've been up to.  Where I've been.  What I've finished.  What I'm in the middle of and so on.  So here is my first in a while, and I do hope it's worthy of your time my dear followers.
     Well Christmas came and now it's gone.  What a lovely time of the year though.  Kids all excited and adults with more than enough to do.  A time to remember the birth of our King.  I pray that if any of my followers don't know Him now, that you will come to know Him this new year coming right up. 
     I do wish that I had taken a picture of a scarf I knitted up for a dear friend for Christmas.  I used one of the skeins of Caron Cakes, and it was indeed lovely with four or more different colors.  I'm working on a second scarf, and this one will be put aside for another gift down the road.  This one is being made with "I Love This Yarn".  So soft and I'm really liking the greens and blues working together.  The pattern has 13 rows, with only one that different with the YO's and knit 2Togs.  Very easy and knits up quickly.

I did finish up the "Quaker Seasons" and all it needs now is to be pressed and framed.  Next time I head up to NH, I'll take it with me to be gifted.  I really liked working on this,  Loved all the different colors.

Also started and finished stitching a second pillow.  Needs to be framed with fabric and filled and all, but this too is planned to be gifted.  The first one was done with pinks.  This one in blues.

Now, I'm working on a rather small piece called "Mares Eat Oats".  Have had this in my stash forever and I finally decided to start it.  Just working on the lettering right now.  It will be a good future blog picture once I get more done.

I wonder how many here have a "she shed"! I just got one and it's slowly being made enjoyable.  Got the electric all in, and my next step is to add four more windows.  The more natural light the better in my opinion, and these windows were gifted to me! Excellent! After the windows will be the insulation.  Slowly but surely.  

We have had some beautiful weather for this time of year, and some lovely sunsets as well.  Love sitting out on our back porch and just drinking all the beauty in.  Here's a sunset from the other night.

Our new pup, Guthrie, has grown and has worked out to be quite a sweet pea.  He's as big as he will get at 14 pounds.  He's a smart little guy for sure.

Well I am going to let all of you go now.  I'm anxious to hear back from y'all.  I love each and every one of you.  Stay warm and well.  Have a great New Year, and remember to "feel the colors".

I Caved......Again

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     If you're reading this post, then you're probably a stitcher, and if you're a stitcher you'll understand my weakness.  I'm sure that a lot of you share it with me as well.  Every so often I promise myself that I won't buy anymore charts until I've stitched up all the ones that I've purchased over the years.  I'm always afraid that when I do see one that I just see and fall in love with, that it will be out of print before I purchase it.....Well of course, so that won't happen I order it right then and there.  Then it sits forever with all the other charts I've acquired.  When I finish up a piece, I can't decide what to start next.  It would be a lot easier if I only think about picking up a chart when I finish one up, but noooooo.  Not me!
     Well.  I did it again.  I should have known better than to look at all the beautiful things my stitching friends have finished up or are working on.  All you enablers you! LOL  Then of course 123 Stitch has the WIPs and the finished posts each Friday.  Well, who can resist popping in and taking a peek! Not me!
     So I caved again, and in just the last few days I've purchased several new charts.  I couldn't help myself! Here's just a few.
     The "Silent Sampler" looks so simple and yet pretty as well.

Then there was this "Apple Blossom Sampler" A lot of specialty threads needed for this one, but I'll order them a few at a time maybe.  Again though.  I thought this was simple but pretty.

I saw "Turtles All the Way Down" and thought it would be perfect for my she shed.  Picture isn't very clear for this one, but I love the colors in it.

Then a sweet blogger friend of mine post a picture of what she was working on, and once again I thought it would be great for my shed.

Now there are a couple more that I've purchased, but I don't want to bore y'all.  I wonder how many of my sweet friends and followers here have this same problem.  Maybe it isn't a problem! It's an addiction! That's what it is! We just can't stop.

I finally got a couple of packages out in the mail this week.  One with the pillow in it that I've shown you.  I finished it up by adding a bow on the side of it.  Just seemed to finish it off.  I hope the recipient will like it.

I made another crocheted dish cloth for a dear friend of mine.  No big deal but I do like the way the colors worked up. I like using the variegated yarns for these.

Then I stitched up another small gift for a great friend of mine.  This friend is such a sweet lady.  Lovely personality.  Great sense of humor and is a pretty lady to boot.  Yet she has a hard time seeing all these things.  

Well I'm going to wish you all well and safe.  Dorian is still moving on up the coast and we're in its path.  It seems to be calming down some though and that's a good thing.  I'm still praying for everyone in the Bahamas and for Florida as well.  I pray that people leave the area when told they should.

So once again, I love each of you my friends and followers and don't forget to "Feel the colors".

First Hurricane of the Season

     Yes.  Dorian is picking up speed and now it may hit the Florida coast.  Only time will tell, but y'all please. take the next few days of the weather reports seriously and prepare if need be.  If it heads our way, basically, all we need to do is get things in the yard put away.  Also, everything on our porch needs to come in.  We aren't in an area that floods at all so we're very blessed. Just stay close once again, to the weather stations and channels.

     I finished up the little pillow for some friends.  About five by nine or so, but I like the way it turned out.  Going to place it in a box with some other goodies and get it sent off.  A quick and fun stitch.

     Still working on Quaker Seasons and just about to the bottom at this point.  Working on the blue flowers and the Quaker motifs between them.  I've enjoyed doing this one but I'm looking forward to

finishing it up.  Like just about all stitchers, I have a ton of charts and fabric and threads that I want to get out.

     Did I tell ya'll that I'm getting a she shed soon! Hubby has it ordered and a date when they'll be hauling it here to it's home.  I love creating, and look at this as one big project where I can be creative and have fun with all my colors and all.

     Oh my goodness! My trees are now in another two stages and as always, the butterflies, bees and Hummingbirds are really enjoying them.  Here are another two pictures showing the latest stages.

     In the first picture you can actually see three stages.  First with the petals closed.  Then they open and you can see the green berry inside.  The last one here is when the berries turn a deep purple blue.

     I'm going to let y'all sit back and relax now.  Get out those beautiful pieces you're working on.  Thank you so much for coming by and please don't forget the comments.  I love em'!

     Last but certainly not the least.  Stay safe while the weather comes through the next few days.  Stay well and don't forget to "feel the colors".  Love you all.

 

August!

     Before we know it, we'll be talking autumn cross stitch charts and taking away our summer decorations and bringing in the Bittersweet, the acorns and seed pods.  Putting away our brighter lighter feeling colors to replace with our earthy colors.  Greens, browns, oranges and all.  Who doesn't love the changes I wonder......
     Seems that this month is rushing by, and as always, I haven't accomplished anywhere near what I wanted to.  I'm not talking about big projects inside or out, but just finishing up a couple of pieces I've been working on.  I have an afghan that is all spring and summery colors about a third done.  It hasn't seen one day of daylight........or lamp light in months.  I can use the excuse though, that it has been too hot and humid to work on it.  Of course inside is always very comfortable with the air conditioning on, but that's beside the point!
     I have been picking away, and I do mean picking, on my cross stitching.  Getting close to being done on this one, and I've enjoyed it.

     I finished this one up, but you can see where I had to frog, and I need to continue to try to get the telltale signs taken care of.  Wondering if any of my dear friends have any suggestions.   I'll be making a small pillow out of this and sending it to a dear Amish family that I had the blessing of meeting while in Pennsylvania.

     Just started another which will be for a friend also.  This one won't take long, and I'll show you when  it's finished.

     I'm excited to let y'all know that I'll be getting a she shed within the next month, and I'm so looking forward to it.  It's a brand new creative adventure for me.  Something that will always be a work in progress I think, as I add little things here and there.

     My "peanut butter" trees are in their third stage of the blooming process and they're beautiful.  I look forward to them and the constant change of the flowers every year. Here's a picture of the second change........

And the third below, with a picture also of a branch loaded with the flowers.

Can hardly wait for the bright bluish purple centers to come out.  The real name of these trees is Clerodendrum trichotomum.  Many call it, as I did, the peanut butter tree, as you can smell the leaves when rubbed between your fingers, and they smell like peanut butter.  Our good friends, Pete and Sheila gave me my first couple, and they have multiplied ever since.

     Well my dear friends and followers.....I must let you go once again.  Still only six more members away from that surprise box I want to send out.  Don't forget and I haven't forgotten it!

     Until next time...Stay well and don't forget to "feel the colors".  Love you all.

July!

      Yes! It's July and it's a very hot and humid one here in NC.  Most are staying inside during the days, to stay as cool as possible.  But! The beautiful Crepe Myrtles are in bloom and there are so many pretty colors.  They're red, pink, magenta, coral, purple and lilac, and all colors in between.  They decorate the through road's islands.  The mall parking lots.  The interstate highways, as well as school, church and private home yards.  Here's a picture of just one of them so you'll know basically what they look like.  I just love them.  Getting back to the weather though, and I know, everyone has

 weather, though different........but, it seems over the years, it has become comfortable though hot in the summers, to unbearable.  More days with higher heat.  More humid days and nights.  Less rain.  People don't agree on global warming.  Don't even agree on whether it exist or not..To end this part of my post, I'll just say that "Yes! I'm a believer".
     We were planning a trip up to the Amish area in PA, but decided it was a long trip to only be able to spend one full day there.  We decided to put it off until cooler weather and stay longer once there.  For those who have never been.....First of all, it's a beautiful area.  So many green fields and beautiful farmlands.  The people are welcoming and genuine.  So much to see and do in the area.  Just wonderful.
     I have been slowly stitching along.  Though I haven't gotten a lot done since last post, I'm happy to say, that I'm at least stitching every couple of days or so.  I think I was in a slump last post and was fighting to get out! It ain't easy getting old!  Here's a couple of pictures of a little bit of stitching.  The first picture is a quick stitch and I want to make it up into a tiny pillow for a friend.

And this below is Quaker Seasons that I've been working on for a while.  It pleases me every time I get another motif done.  This also, will be gifted.

     Two summers ago, I brought home some seeds from a Buttercup Primrose from up in NH.  I love the bright yellow of the flowers, but even more so, the fact that the birds feed from the seeds all winter.  Well......last summer I never saw a trace of them in my yard.  I was so dissapointed.  All of a sudden, this spring, a new plant came up in my garden area, and I had to look into it to see what it was.  I came close to pulling it up, but decided to wait on it..  Well, wouldn't you know it! Here are a couple of pictures of my primroses! Thank you so much Father.

          We had a beautiful sunset last night.  We can't see it in total from our house, but we can enjoy the beauty of the color tones it brings behind all the trees and all.  A beautiful calming evening.

  

     Well, I guess I'd better let ya'll go for now.   It's only two pm here, but time for a nap.  A gift that I've grown to love!
     So each and every one of you please take care.  Enjoy the summer weather and stay cool.  Drink lots of water and all.  Love you.  The last thing of course is, "feel the colors".  Thanks for stopping in.

A June Hello

     Actually approaching the middle of June, and seems it is going by so fast.  I hear people not only planning Father's Day get togethers, but July 4th. plans as well.  It will be here before we know it! It has been so hot and humid here.  We did finally get some much needed rain here through this past week.  We could still use more.
     I did bring in my first zinnias this week.  Had to stick a Queen Anne's Lace in with them.  Love them both.  The zinnias go in every year to carry on a tradition that was my grandfathers.  No one went to his house without leaving with a bouquet of zinnias.  They last a good long time once picked.  Of course the Queen Anne's Lace is a wildflower, and who doesn't love a pretty wildflower!

Here's a little different shot of my Queen Anne's Lace in our backyard.  I love looking up at them as well as watching them sway in the breezes.

     I finished another motif on my cross stitch piece, and have started another.  I decided that if nothing else, I wanted that one hour each morning for my stitching.  I think it really does help me get off to a good start, and I feel that I've accomplished something.  Here's the motif I finished..... I'm still loving the whole piece.  Love the colors also.

     I love the wildflowers that just show up, unattended each and every year, and I would love to start a wildflower garden in our back yard.  I see tall purple ones in bloom right now, and need to find out what they are.  They just may be the first in the new spot.

     I'm going to let ya'll go for this time around.  Not a lot going on here at this time, but do want to let ya'll know that I'm thinking of you.  I pray that you're all well and stitching up a few little storms out there.  Or doing other things that you're enjoying.

     Keep in mind to not only see the colors around you, but actually look into them and try to feel them.  If you love them, you can feel them.

     By the way.....I'm so pleased that I still have sweet friends here that are following my blog, and I appreciate all comments.  Thank you dear friends.

More

     I just wanted to post a couple of pictures this morning.  I have more done than the picture showed yesterday.  It was an older picture.  So here is the piece now, and at this point, I have 39 hours time into it.  I really love this piece.  I did it once before as a gift, and this too is for a gift.  The colors show very little difference between themselves.  I have changed a couple on my own.  Also, the light when I took these two pictures wasn't all that bright.  What I have done thus far though.

     Actually going to a water park with my sister and her family today.  Hoping to escape the heat for a few hours.  It will be fun and refreshing I think.

     Just a few pictures of some things in my garden.  The Queen Anne's Lace is a native plant of course, but I always make sure I have some.

     Ya'll have a wonderful and blessed day.  Enjoy every minute of it and remember that "If you love colors, you can feel them." Love to you all.

Back Once Again Even

     To each and every one of my faithful followers I want to say,

It has been months since I've posted as you can see by the dates on my posts.  I've come to realize that though I'm still the person I've always been, I'm needing to slow things down a bit.  My health is fine and has been, but I'm no longer fill with the energy I once had.  There is still every bit as much to do during every day, but more and more is being left undone.  I've heard people joke about their get up and go, has got up and left.  I always thought it was funny.  At 73 though, I have to face the fact that I'm no longer the energetic person I was.  I hate this about me, but that's the way it is now and probably will be in the future.  I've ignored housework.  Shopping.  Yard work, and even a lot of the things that I love.  Such as my needlework of all kinds.  I have a couple of things in the works but it seems like it's taking me forever to get back in the groove.  Now that is indeed sad.  I will keep trying.  If any one else has been experiencing this and have found things that help, please let me know.

We've had a box turtle in our yard for the last few days, and our new pup really doesn't know what to think of it.  We've found that the turtle loves cantaloupe and watermelon. First the turtle here.

Beautiful markings and only about eight inch long total.  Now for our new pup, Guthrie. 

He's our little eight pound Yorkypoo that we got from a local ASPCA.  Stole our hearts and he knows it.  Doing pretty good with the potty training.  He already sits and stays on command.  So now we have two adopted dogs and one adopted cat.  Love them all.

I've been working some on a pullover summer top for a birthday gift.  Need to get with it though as the birthday is right around the corner and I still have quite a bit to do.  That thing that I was talking about earlier, creeps up on me in the early evening, and I just don't seem to have the strength to pick it up.  LOL  Sounds like a sad situation! The red is actually brighter than what it looks here.  Loving the shell stitch that it calls for.

Another thing that I've had in the works for so long is this cross stitch.  I do love working on it with the colors it calls for and all.  It calls my name, and I've been ignoring it! I love cross stitching as you know.  Just need to get back into the groove.  This too is for a gift.

It has been very, very hot and humid here, so outside work is at the minimum anyway.  Must say though that the three raised beds that we have are looking nice with the herbs, veggies and flowers we've put in.  I love working with God's earth, and He has been kind enough to give us a small portion of it.  He is good all the time.  Hope to make some fig jam and can some green beans this year.

It looks like only seven more followers to go here and I'll be drawing a winner and shipping off the giveaway box.  No, I haven't forgotten and still look forward to drawing that name.  So, if you haven't entered to win it, please do.

That's all for now my dear friends and followers.  I do hope to make this the start of a permanent comeback to my blog.  I enjoy blogging and I love meeting new friends.  Love each and every one of you.  So stay well and remember to "feel the colors".