Chris and Gary

We went to Door County this weekend, a belated 25th Wedding Aniversary trip.  

We stayed in Ephraim on of the small, scenic towns. 

We got there on Friday.   

Lake Michigan is down so it is a little mucky at the hotel's dock but, it was still pretty.  

 Bob with the town in the background.  

 More of the town.  There are several little scenic towns:  Fish Creek, Egg Harbor

and Sister Bay are the main ones.  Bailey's Harbor is on the lake side.  

 We stayed at the Evergreen Beach Waterfront Resort.

We were in the south lodge and had the whole second floor once everybody got there.  

The shuffle board court in the front.  Didn't get around to playing.   

 Bob tried to get my friends and their husbands to join us a secret.  

There were a few things that gave it away. 

I read too many mystery novels that it takes a lot to trick me.  

We had gone shopping Saturday morning and a winery tour.  

Every body started trickling in.  

We got back to the hotel and had some wine and snack on the deck before dinner. 

This is the same group of friends from "girls weekend".  

Went to a great restaurant for dinner.  

Sylvia, our waitress took the picture.  

 Breakfast this morning at a Door County institution, Al Johnson's.  

The roof is grass and there are goats grazing.  

There is a   GOAT CAM

 This is was peeking over the edge.  

 I had Swedish Pancakes with cherries and bacon.  

It was awesome. 

They had swedish meatballs for breakfast too.  

 Here is where Chris and Gary come in.  

At the girls weekend, we stopped in a store that had some resale things.

We saw some silver champagne glasses with the name Chris and Gary on them.

That lead to all kinds of speculation.

On the way home, Mary Beth, Jan and Mickey (they carpooled) hatched a plan.

They had already been contacted by Bob about the Door County Weekend.  

They decided it would be a hoot to get the glasses.  

We didn't buy them then but, Mary Beth's sister-in-law was there the following weekend.  

She picked them up and it became the center piece in a lovely gift basket.

Mary Beth's husband didn't get it at first but, the glasses were silver.

It was Kismet!  

Started my latest Ladies Prim Society offering:  BBD Bittersweet September.

The letters are over one.  

Better have good light!

Before we left, the mail came and brought the most delightful package from Sharon of Moosecraft Blog.

Look how cute?

What a great surprise.

I didn't think that she would include the fabric for the Stacy Nash project.

The pumpkin pin keep is just so sweet!

It was just a great weekend.  

What a shame they always go too fast.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  

Have an amazing week.

Thanks for the great comments

Keep on Stitching

Monica

Little Packages in the Mail

I finished October 31st.  

Yeah! I get to start something new.  

 I just love the way it turned out.  

I haven't tried the frame I got last weekend.  

I am hoping it will work otherwise I will have to get something else.  

 Nancy at the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a give a way with her latest Autumn dyed

finishing - embellishment pack. 

 I decided not to enter and just ordered the pack because it just looked yummy.  

I think that I could use some of it on the Primitive Threadworks Pattern in Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine.  

There is also a little pack of charms with "made with love" 

I have other hand dyed floss with some fall colors that I have won from her with other drawings.  

 A close up of some of the hand dyed treats.  

She even include an extra lace.  

I'm going to have fun with these!

 I have been participating in the Ladies Prim Society from Dyeing to Stitch.

This is the latest installment.

I just love this!  I'm going to start this one tonight.

Yeah!  New Project!

 I love Autumn and Halloween projects.  

These are my colors!

I really find this whole blog thing is a bad influence on me.  

Not my blog but, all the other ones I follow like This One.  I had to order the book from Amazon.

The book itself was used and cost me 22 cents.  

I love that pattern and it is one of my favorite Christmas Caroles.

So another package coming!

Then, I won Moosecrafts drawing.  Thanks Sharon.

Yippee another package.

Makes you think of the song "Wells Fargo Wagon" from Music Man.

Got to wrap it up cuz my battery is about to go.

Welcome new members.  Send me a comment!

I love hearing from you all.

Have a great weekend.

We are taking a little get-a-way for our 25th Anniversary which was July 15th but, couldn't do it then.  Keep on Stitching

Please pardon any typos but, like I said the battery only has a few minutes left

Thanks for stopping

Monica

The Last Flowers of Fall

I thought I would show the last of my flowers since I don't think they will be around much longer.

We had a little freeze last night but, I think it may be worse tonight.  

These are my Black Eye Susans surrounded by Autumn Sedum

 A little bit more of the Autumn Sedum.  Bob tried to trim the Crap apple tree but, couldn't get at it because of all the bumble bees in the Autumn Sedum today.  

 The Cranesbill has been spectacular this year and blooming for months.  

 The little ground rose has been a trooper this summer and hasn't stopped blooming.

I dead head occasionally.  

 The Stella D'oro daylily hasn't quit either.  

 I didn't give the petunias the attention they needed.  

I should have been more diligent pinching them back early on so they would have been bushier.  

 I posted about these earlier this summer when I transplanted them. 

They should be amazing next year.  

They seem to love their new home.  

 The Pontentilla always does well and probably needs a good pruning back.  

I have two yellows and one white.  I prefer the yellow.  

We haven't picked the apples yet. 

I think it will happen this week and I'll store them someplace until the weekend after next.

They are getting redder and less green on the inside.  

 I have no idea how many I will have.  I have used some.  

They are about the size of a tennis ball.  

Only needed size to make a 9x9 inch pan of apple crisp.  

Aren't they gorgeous!

 In case you didn't know...apple crisp.  

Now, for some stitching.

As you can see, things are moving along.  

 I finished the cat today.  

I really don't have too much left to do.  

Stopped at Michael's and found what I hope will be great frames for this and Ghoul Tidings in the Halloween issue of JCS.  

 The letters often get neglected.  Here they are.  

I am so looking forward to the next installment of the Ladies Prim Society.  Check it out!

I think I may have to drop everything and work on this!

Oh my gosh!  Nancy has a spectacular give away at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.

It is incredibly gorgeous.

Thanks for the wonderful comments and support!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and have a super week!

Keep on Stitching

Monica

A Nap Just Happened

What crazy weather we are having!  

Thankfully it didn't reach 82 today like they predicted.

The humidity is enough to kill you today

I had grand plans to vacuum furniture and move it but, it was too heavy today.  

Then I figured I could straighten out the laundry room and get rid of stuff and then iron.

My mom called me this morning and suggested we take my aunt, her sister out for lunch today for her birthday.  She is 85.  

That sounded much better than work.

We had a very nice lunch at the restaurant at the ski hill.  

I could have come home and work but, sitting in my chair and stitching sounded much better.  

Wouldn't you know it, a nap just happened.

So here is the update of October 31st.  

I am nearly half done.   

 It is really going fast.

Good thing, I have several Halloween projects I want to do.  

 See, here is the other blank half of the project.  

 I thought you might like to see a close up of the cute stuff. 

The letters are nice but, not as cute.  

Hooray, tomorrow is Friday!!!!

We need a new printer.  

We got a new printer when I got a new laptop Mother's day 2012.

The printer died.  

We are planning to go to Best Buy on Saturday and see Ed at the same time. 

I need to stop at Michael's because I am nearly out of DMC 3031.  

How could that have happened? 

 I need it for the Notforgotten Farm project-Hallow's Eve Sampler.

I have my room reserved for the Stitching Retreat in November.  

Can't wait!

I am already thinking about what to bring with me.  

It isn't like most retreats where there is a guest designer teaching classes.

It is more of a free-for-all and you work on what you want.

It is just nice to get away for a weekend and do something you love.  

Hope you have a wonderful and productive weekend.  

I hope I do and have some good pictures to share with you.  

Keep on Stitching

Monica

October 31st Progress

The trip to JoAnn's with mom went well and we found some great fabric for a quilt.  We had gone through her stash and had some things picked out.  Things changed once we found the main fabric.  Some of the colors stayed the same but, then others changed to match the new fabric.  I stocked up on DMC that I use a lot; those colors that are used in the Prairie Schooler patterns.

I also got some new Autumn swags for the mantel.  

I decorated that today since the weather was rainy and generally crummy!  

I love the great big sunflowers

 I have gotten a good start on my Barbara Ana

I decided to change one of the colors.  

In place of the Valdani Faded Brown (DMC 2021), I was going to use GAST Wood Trail.

I didn't like it enough.  I thought it as a little on the green side.

I decided to use Weeks Caper instead.  

I think I like it better.  The Wood Trail was too grey.  

 A little different angle.  

You can see the difference between the oranges in the pumpkin better in the pictures than when you are stitching them.  I just realized that's a mouse next to it.  

I think recently I have gotten a few new members to my blog.  It isn't as easy to figure that out with Bloglovin.  I think it is showing up through Google button.  I am so glad that I have new members.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Hope everyone has had a great weekend. 

I have spent the day with laundry, stitching and watching Alfred Hitchcock movies on TCM.

I have seen these several times and never get tired of them.  

Hope you week goes well and your needles stay sharp!

Keep on Stitching

Monica

September Finish

I finished the Prairie Schooler September.

I love the boar at the bottom corner

 Its all laced up, framed and ready to hang on the wall.  

I am really pleased with how it turned out.  

It just may be my favorite of the PS Months.  

 I just started this today.  

I really liked the crazy cat and the goofy jack-o-lantern next to it.

I always enjoy a good, crazy pumpkin.  

  

I'm doing it on 40 count Lakeside Linen Maple Sugar.  

It called for Days Gone By linen from Silkweaver but they didn't have it at the Cross Stitch Store

The pattern was done in Valdani but, that isn't that available. 

I'm doing it in a combination of GAST and Weeks.  

Close up of my start.

I'm working on an owl.   

 As always it has been a busy week and I'm glad tomorrow is Friday.  Saturday, I'm taking my mom to JoAnn Fabrics to find some more material for a quilt she will be working on.  We went through her stash to see if there was anything she could use.  We also figured out how much material she was going to need.  She and my Aunt often let the clerks at the cutting table help figure amounts out.  I told her when there are five more people behind them waiting to have fabric cut, they get a bit testy.  It is better to have it figured out before she goes.

Thanks for the wonderful comments!  Its always great to hear from you!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Keep on Stitching
Monica

Apple Pie for Lack of a Better Title.

I purchased supplies for canning some apple pie filling or at least apples.  

Bob suggested before we spend a lot of time on apples, we should try an apple pie.  

I picked a few apples from each tree, we have two.  

The apples are still pretty attached to the tree.  

You have to twist and pull.  

I used about ten apples for the pie and had it packed in.  

It turned out pretty good.  

I think the apples have a little longer yet.  

The flesh still has a little green tinge to it.  

Bob watches his carbs because of Diabetes.  

He was looking at caramel dip and there is 38 carbs.  

I suggested  mixing cool whip and some sugar free butterscotch pudding.  

That worked for him at about 7 carbs for a serving size.  

 I am speeding along on September.  

It has been a very fun stitch, like I have remarked before.  

I'm hoping to finish it soon because I am aching to start Halloween.  

 Sorry it is kind of yellow.  

I should have used the flash.

I'm too lazy to take another picture.  

It was a gorgeous day today.  

I did get a lot done around the ole homestead.

I finally finished getting all my overdyes in the photo box storage.  

I had run out of the floss bags and had to get more.  

I had been at a JoAnn's and Michaels and they didn't have them.  

I had to wait until I had gone to Green Bay and the JoAnn's there.  

Hope your weekend was splendid.

Thanks for all the wonderful comments!

Have a most excellent week!

Keep on Stitching

Monica