Snow Storms, Projects and Henry Ford

We had a snow storm yesterday and got about six inches.  

It was a beautiful snow and was really coming down all morning.  

 I really don't mind snow and it wasn't very cold.  

 Alot of the snow from earlier had melted.  

We did have a few inches for a white Christmas.

 It had pretty much ended by lunch time.  

Just so happened to have gotten a few good pictures of Henry Ford.

 Kind of has his cheeks sucked in.  

It is difficult to get a picture of him sitting still.

Usually, all the pictures are more like this.

 I have been ticking away at last years Stacy Nash, stitching it on the Homespun.

 Finally, got it all stitched. 

I had bought the wrong interfacing.

I also had gotten some Stitch Witchery.

They have re-fomulated that since the last time I bought and it doesn't work worth shit. 

So, I threw it out. 

It is in the frame and on the wall.  

I am quite pleased with how it turned out.

It will be hanging all year in the sewing room. 

 This is the aftermath of the storm yesterday.

It is much colder but the sky is such a gorgeous blue, I had to take a few snaps. 

 It is suppose to be a cold week. 

When it is cold, you can bank on the sun shining and a clear blue sky.  

 The snow is still sticking to the trees until the wind kicks up.  

 I really thought I would be done with this  by now but, I've been busy with the holidays and working on socks to send back with kids.  I don't know that that will happen either but, I'm really trying. 

 Katy had her wisdom teeth removed on Friday.  She had a dental check-up on Tuesday and the dentist told her it was time.  The oral surgeons are here two days a week.  She was on the cancellation list and we were hoping it would get done before she returned to school.  It was a  Christmas miracle and it got done on Friday.  I've been making her mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs.  Today was the worst day.  I'm hoping she will be on the upswing tomorrow.  We are praying for no dry sockets.

Hope your Christmas went well....ours did...No fights, no falls, no forays...hooray!

Thanks for stopping!
See you in the new year.

Keep on stitching.
Monica

Christmas Gifts for the Stitching Group

I have wanted to find a pattern for project bags after seeing such splendid specimens on Faye's blog the Carolina Stitcher.  I knew that I could do a stitching bag for the Stitching Group as a Christmas present.

I got a Heart and Hand pattern that had the finishing instructions. 

Instead of the stitched pattern that came with it, I stitched With Thy Needle and Thread Sewing Bird.  

I picked up the fabric at the local quilt store.  It's a Civil War reproduction and I thought it would go well with the stitched piece.  

I should have taken a picture of the inside of the bag since there are two pockets. 

 I used the red fabric for that.  

I did make a little beaded bling as a zipper pull in the colors of the fabric.  

Arttie said, "You even put in zippers."  

I told her, "I did take sewing in high school.  I even know how to make flat feld seams."  

Not that I use them very often.  

In my younger days, I did sew a few skirts with matching purse covers.  

I had one of the wooden purse handle with the covers that buttoned on. 

I really don't like to sew other than for things like this.

I don't like sitting at a sewing machine so I don't know that I ever would be a quilter.

The latest update on the LK Mystery Sampler.  

Don't know that it will be done by Christmas.  

That's okay

Katy got home yesterday and she'll be home to New Year's Eve.  We have errands to run today.  Buster is having a spa day so he'll be all buffed up for Christmas.  I don't know that you could buff up Henry Ford.

Thanks for stopping and keep on stitching.

Monica

Getting Ready for Christmas and Distruction....Yikes

I have a good start on last years Lizzie Kate Mystery Sampler.  Since it isn't a mystery I started in the center.  I prefer to start in the center.  It usually stays pretty even around the border.

I am nearly done with this panel.  

 We went Christmas shopping today.  Bob took the day off.  We decided we would get ourselves a big screen TV.  The TV in our living room still has a picture tube.  This one is WiFi and a smart TV.  My husband has a hard enough time trying to get the button for the cable box to work.  Hopefully he won't be reading this but, I doubt he will have this figured out at all.  Don't tell him I said this.

On the ride, because we had to travel, I nearly finished Bob's sock.  I worked on it while he wandered around Cabela's for a half hour.  Sat in a comfy chair by the fire place.  I just have to weave the toe and I'll be done.  I want to start on a pair for Ed.  He blew out the last pair I made him.  I had to repair it last year.  However, with Henry Ford being especially crazy lately, I don't anticipate it will be easy to knit.  The kids got me this a few years ago and I think it will be perfect to use with yarn it it.   I will just have to keep the needles safe from that crazy dog.

We had our Christmas Potluck at work this week.  I made this.  It is really good!!  I had to bring the recipe to work the following day.  

Squash with Applesauce Casserole

Serves 6-8

1 16 oz can Applesauce

1 ½ c. summer or acorn squash frozen or cooked (mash it)

½ c. brown sugar

½ tsp salt

½ c. evaporated milk

2 eggs beaten

¼ c. melted butter

1 ½ c. buttered bread crumbs (mix the bread crumbs with the ¼ c. melted butter)

½ tsp nutmeg

½ c. slivered almonds

Combine all the ingredients except the almonds.  Put into a buttered casserole and

Sprinkle with almonds.  Bake a 375 for 45 minutes

Speaking of crazy Henry Ford....he has been on the rampage this week killing his babies.  He destroyed another one tonight.   This week he has destroyed a pig, a loofah and tonight another don't know what to call it thing.  He is the picture of the dissimation of the Loofah Larry from early this week.  Buster helped a little 

 The white thing with the brown nose is what got destroyed tonight.  Guess what the boys are getting for Christmas.

That pretty much sums it up.  Been very busy these days getting ready for Christmas.  Last week I took my mom Christmas shopping and kept her on task.

Thanks for stopping and leaving the lovely comments.
Keep on Stitching.
Monica

Christmas Conundrum

I got all the Christmas decorations out.  

I do have a few Christmas stitches framed.

I could have sworn I had another Prairie Schooler that fit into a frame.  

Do you think I can find it.

I have looked everywhere.

Maybe, I'm just losing my mind or maybe it will turn up after Christmas.  

Who knows?

I thought I had frame parts for Stacy Nashs' Christmas at Holly Berry Farm, but, I don't.

I have my don going to Ben Franklins over the weekend to get frame parts.

I gave him the dimensions and the color preferences.

I have also told him to get help and call me if he is unsure.  

Keep your fingers crossed.

I started the Lizzie Kate Mystery sampler from last year but, not enough progress to merit a picture.  

I'll post a picture when I have more to show.  

I did finish the Thankful Quaker

I even have a frame the right size for this.  

Glad it's Friday tomorrow.  I'm ready for the weekend and a day off.  Taking mom Christmas shopping on Saturday.  That always proves to be an experience!

Hope your week is going well.
Keep on Stitching
Monica

A Very Happy Thanksgiving

We had wonderful Thanksgiving with the kids home.  

With all the snow we have had and the cold weather for making snow, the ski hill was open.

The day after Thanksgiving the kids went snow boarding.  

I met them for lunch and of course I paid.  

Got a picture of them...sorry about the snow glare.  

I was hoping to finish my Thankful Quaker.  

I am almost done.  

I did get my stitching group Christmas presents done except for a little thing.

The bulk is done and I will post at a later date, after we exchange.  

I am thrilled with how they turned out.  

 A little closer up.  

This was a fun. quick stitch.

Now on to a Christmas project.  I do want to work on framing Stacy Nash Christmas at Holly Berry Farm.  I think I have frame parts and I have the homespun to bast the stitched piece onto.  

Back to work tomorrow.  I could use a couple more days off.  Every one got safely back to school.
Hope you had a wonderful holiday.  \

Keep on Stitching
Monica

Decision is Made

I decided to start Bent Creek's Thankful Quaker.

I am also finishing the last stitched piece for Christmas Presents. 

I'm hoping to start finishing this weekend but, won't be able to post until the gifts are opened.  

Thankful Quaker is on a tanish dyed tone fabric.  I can't remember if I dyed this or not.  

I love the floss colors:  Cocoa, Kris' Bon Bon, Sasparilla, Mulberry, Wheat Fields, Baked Clay, Nutmeg and Oatmeal.  

We can get some snow but, not as much as north of here.  I don't think the lake effect off Lake Superior has ever been like what it is in Buffalo.  (I don't know that for a fact).  What I want to know is where do they put all that snow?  Sometimes they haul it away from around here and dump it in farm fields.  When you have that much snow, you can't lift shovels that high and where does the snow blower blow it?  And they better get it off the roofs.  The stupidist thing in snow country is flat roofs.

That's pretty much all for now.  Nothing earth shattering.

Don't forget to check out and sign up for the Christmas giveaway at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.

Want to watch TGIT and stitch
Keep on Stitching
Monica

Linen vs Thread giveaway

The next installment of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Christmas giveaway. Here's the link:
Linen vs Thead. Check it out.

Finished Cinnamon Stars

I just finished Cinnamon Stars.  

Usually, I'm so excited to finish a project, I just take a picture and post.  This one really needed to be pressed first.  The left side looked like an accordion from holding it.  

I am quite pleased with how it turned out.  

Please excuse the shadow in the corner but, the color looks more true on that one.  

 Yet, I could not decide which one I preferred so I posted them both.

 I thought when I looked out the patio door this morning and there were doggy prints all over the new snow, what a great picture it would make for a facebook header.

 This is what happens when a puppy had to check out what you are doing and the camera is set to take two pictures, one with a flash and one without .  He is one squirrely dog.

Had to give the B-man equal time.  He doesn't like to have his picture taken so he turns his head.  The second picture and his head was turned away even more.

Now on to another project.

I can't really decide because I want to do it all.  

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  

Mine was pretty good.  Still have three things on my list left to do.  

Thanks for stopping.  

Keep on stitching.

Monica

Same thing

Victorian Motto Sampler shoppe.   Day 10 two sets of her hand dye thread.. This is especially yummy!

Great Stitching
Monica

Not Just About Stitching.

The hardest thing about blogging is coming up with a title.  Tonight's entry encompasses a pile of stuff

I had made pot roast on Monday.  I make it in the slow cooker and just cook the meat with seasoning and a can of Campbell's Beefy Mushroom Soup.  If you haven't used this stuff, it's awesome.  I prefer to cook my potatoes and veggies separate from the meat.  I had a big chunk of meat left.  I had pot roast soup at a restaurant one time and decided I would look for a recipe on line.  I made it for dinner and it was delish!
Here is the link:  Sunday Herbed Pot Roast Soup

Day 9 of her awesome give-a-way.  She is also having a phenomenal sale.  So check it out on the link:  Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Thought you needed an updated picture of the boys.  Henry Ford nearly bought the farm today when I caught him with my overdyes.

 I'm plugging along on PSS Cinnamon Stars.  I am hoping to finish it this weekend.  I'm not sure if I will start the Quaker Thanksgiving or the Christmas Mystery Sampler.   I should probably do the the Sampler.  I still have a Christmas present to stitch up.

 My camera never seems to get the color right.  The top is with the flash and the bottom no flash.

 Saturday is the opening day of rifle Deer Season.  There is massive frenzy in the air.  The grocery store today was a madhouse.  I guess there was also a sale going on.  This was the display by the meat department.  I texted the pictures to Katy her comment was, "It looks like it comes alive at night and kills people who don't buy meat."  I think she could be right.

 The creepier close up.  Noticed the essential placement of beer.

Have a busy weekend planned working on projects.  I really need to go through the binder I use for recipes and clean out ones I will never make.

Hope your week has been wonderful.

I have a comment for the guy who posted a comment on my blog.  Hey Mr. " I hate American women",  I'm an American woman, married to an American man for 26 years.  I must be doing something right, stay off my blog!  Keep your hateful comments to your website.

Keep on Stitching
Monica

Day Seven and the first pic of Storm Astro

Here is the link for VMSS Day Seven a $25 gift card to the Ebay shoppe.  Way to go Nancy!
Day Seven Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

The first snow storm of the year or Major Snow Event Astro.

The dogs have snow balls stuck to them.  I think we have about 6 inches so far.

Wish I could stay home, drink coffee, bake cookies and stitch!  :(

Have a great day.
Keep on Stitching
Monica

Day Six Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Christmas Give a Way

Here is the link to Victorian Motto Sampler shoppe Christmas Give a Way, yummy trims!  I love trims!!
Day Six VMSS Christmas Give a way

Good luck to you, but, I hope I win something....LOL!
Have a great day!!

Stitching Bee Retreat

What a wonderful weekend.  

We left at 8 am on Friday morning.  The stitching room was open at 1 pm but, we had stops to make.  

You have to understand, where I live has minimal amount of retail.  We have a Walmart and a small JCP.  The little shops are more gifty or auto parts.   We are getting a new shoe store and I'm hoping it isn't like a Payless, already got one of those.  So, when the opportunity arises to shop, we do.  We did not go to anything really mainstream.  So when we got to the resort, Arttie and Patty had to go through their booty before we went to the stitching room  

 We stopped at the Stitching Bee to pick up supplies and I had two patterns waiting there.  Kendra would have taken them to the retreat but I knew we would be stopping.  We also stopped at JoAnn's to pick up some things there.  There was the huge Veteran's Day sale and I got a new pinking shears.  When I did the PS Nevermore ornaments my old shears kind of massacred the backing felt.

After lunch, and before we hit the highway we stopped at a quilt store.  It really wasn't to everyone's liking.  The quilts and the fabric tended to the modern.  Patty was on the search for jelly rolls.  I found a chair but, also found some fabric that my geeky math and science daughter would appreciate with all kinds of equations on it.  I thought it was funny so, I bought a half yard for her.  We did some cute little quilted ORT holders that story is coming later.    

What I picked up at the Stitching Bee.  Fell in love with them when they were introduced.  

This was hanging on the wall of the shop, getting ready to start with Christmas samples. I absolutely fell in love with this jolly little elf.  He had to come home with me.  

 I picked these up at the retreat.  I sometimes consider it my duty to keep the brick and mortar in business.  This With Thy Needle and Thread reminds me of a freebie I did two years ago.  Someday it will get done.

 Not a very good picture but, it is a Shepherds Bush pouch that is all sewn up but, just needs to have the placket stitched.  One of the retreat stitchers had one that her mom had stitched for her and it was just soo cute.  It will be a very quick stitch.

I am partial to Thanksgiving Turkey's and this Homespun Elegance was just too cute and it came with the charms.  

 I got this as a door prize, a designer I had never seen before, Country Garden Stitching April.  A collection of very sweet pansies.  It might make a very quick and fun spring stitch.  I don't have a lot of those.

 So, at the first Quilt store, I had seen the ORT holder.  Of course, I had to nag at Arttie about making each member of our little stitching group.   I mean I was relentless.  The first night of the retreat, we got a small plastic mesh project bag filled with little things.  A little later we each got a paper bag, that everyone opened at the same time.  Kendra and one of the participants decided to make a little special prize and it was...

OMG!  A QUILTED ORT CATCHER!!!!!

I had to cheer!

 On Saturday, since the first quilt store was a let down, we backed tracked a little and went to Sturgeon Bay to Barn Door Quilts.  It was a little store that was packed tight with quilting fabric and supplies.  I don't quilt but, I do buy fabric.  Mostly I use it to finish projects but, sometimes I buy fabric for may mom, the quilter.  Mom is 87 and having problems with the visual perceptual aspect of quilting and sometimes needs help.  We were talking on Thursday about Christmas presents.  I recommended she make some Christmas hot pads.  I found some really sweet panels that would make really nice hot pads.  I also got some of the coordinating fabric.  Hopefully she will like the idea.  It would be something she could handle and I would help her cut the strips.  

 On the way back to the retreat, we made a little side stop at the Mistletoe House Shop that is stuffed full with Christmas decorations and ornaments.  Every year, I pick up an ornament or two for the kids.  When they are ready to start their own homes, they will have a collection of ornatments.

 It was a very magical shop.  Amazing ornaments displayed incredibly!

What a great weekend.  We didn't do much stitching but, did a lot of laughing.  They both want to return next year.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.
Keep on Stitching.
Monica