Brick and Mortar....Why I Love Them

While Arttie and I were on our last road trip, we started talking about brick and mortar stores.  

We were on our way to the Stitching Bee along with other stops.  

She had done some yarn shopping at the local yarn store the day before.  

We have a mutual friend who took a class there and brought yarn she had not gotten from the shop.  

The owner called her on it and ever since then, she avoids going there at all costs. 

Most shop owners offer classes very inexpensively to encourage you to shop their store. 

I get that.

You need to support your local shops otherwise they can't make it.  

I want the shop experience.  

It is part of why I stitch and knit.

I destination shop too.  

I love the different personality of each shop.  

When I go to my local yarn shop, its like walking into home.

It always smells good, you are greeted like a long lost family member, there's comfy chairs, nice music, chocolate on the table and then the yarn experience.  

I love to page through the books and feel the yarn.  

I do order on line mostly to get things I can't get easily:  large pieces of fabric or floss that I can't get at the Bee.  

It isn't just about making the project, its about the whole experience of seeing things I haven't seen before and fall in love with.  

Speaking of fall.  

I finished the first Autumn Sampler from Prairie Schooler

I have been lax about stitching my initials into completed pieces.  

I decided, I really need to start doing that again.  

I think I will work on some Christmas presents for a little while but, will start another postable project.  

I'm on stay-cation this week supervising the Purgathon.

With both kids back home for a while, it is time to purge old clothes, toys and books.

We started books last week and I took nine grocery bags full of books to St. Vinny's and the local hospital for the book cart.

One bag of obsolete books and two bags of magazines went to the local sheltered work shop for recycling.  

We have lots more to do!

Finally, since yesterday was National Dog Day, here are some of my favorite snoozey dogs.  

Henry went for a walk in the woods on Saturday and got nailed by burrs.  

So he looks particularly scruffy.  

I think Buster is getting too old for Henry's shenanigans.

I think he's nine and it is getting to be too much for him.  

He is starting to spend more time hiding under beds that Henry can't reach.  

Tomorrow is doctor appointments, dentist, eye doctor and consult with the cardiologist for the heart palpitations.  

Have a great week!

I am going to get some stitching done this week.  

I just have to bulldog the kids around.

Keep on Stitching

Monica

I Need To Be An Octopus

I decided I need to be an octopus.

I could probably get all kinds of projects done if I had four sets of hands.

I went to the Stitching Bee this weekend and got part 1 and 2 of the Summer Schoolhouse Lessons in Abecerdarian and some fabric for it.  

She hadn't gotten the Mushroom Laguana in yet so I picked out another neutral color in 28 count and am just going to go for it.  

This was on the stack of patterns that had just come in.

The designer is Brenda Keyes, The Sampler Company you can click on that as a link.

I was not familar with her and fell in love with this pattern:  The Plymouth Sampler.  

Kendra always fall in love with patterns....I do.  

Picked another Loose Feathers Series pattern from Blackbird design.  

I would like to do these and then display them together.  

Not enough time, lol

I got my NASA approved eclipse viewers Friday, just in time but.....

It is suppose to rain tomorrow so I think that was money down the tubes.

There is another total eclipse for 2024 just don't know where so hand on to those viewers!

I'm thinking I like the nasal pillow mask rather than the nasal mask.  

I don't feel like I'm getting enough air and its uncomfortable.  

I will take that one back. 

I had a great weekend!

Hope you did too!!

Keep Stitching

Monica

I am zipping through the Prairie Schooler Autumn Sampler.  

No one does suns and moons like Prairie Schooler!

I'm a good third of the way done and liking the Mocha linen alot!

I probably will never use lambswool again....well maybe will use what I have left.  

I just not fighting with the fabric on this as I did with the last one I did.  

I saw a post on facebook with this pattern link.  

Its a late summer early fall small with sunflowers and crows. 

Very cute and you can pick your own fibers.  

Here is the link: Freebie at Primitive Betty's.

Typically, I try to not be too controversial on my blog and keep it light.  

My heart is saddened by the events lately.  

My sympathy to the Heyer family and today the victims of Barcelona. 

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

George Santayana 

Peace and Healing 

Monica

The Start of Autumn Samplers From Prairie Schooler

I started the first of the Prairie Schooler Autumn Samplers that I have had for sometime....not a reprint.  

Over thinking....maybe I should have done it in overdyes rather than the DMC as designed. 

Too far into it, not going to change it now.  

It will turn out spectacular.  

I plan on doing the falling leaves one and maybe the Thanksgiving.  

I have frames for these and the others because they are the same size.  

I'm doing them in 32 count Mocha and not Lambswool.  

I couldn't get Lambswool and I'm not so sure I really like it.  

I have gone through many yards of it over the years and now I just feel it is too stiff and scratchy.  

The Mocha is just so much easier to work with.  

Started with a C-Pap machine and after three nights, I think I'm sleeping better.  

I have started with whats called nasal pillows but, I think I may try the nasal mask, not a full mask. 

I'm not a mouth breather so I don't have an issue keeping my mouth closed but, the nasal pillows I'm having to readjust every time I move.  

Rented videos this weekend. 

We watched The Circle last night with Emma Watson and Tom Hanks....average, should be a budget rental.  

Tonight we are watching The Arrival....I think this is going to be much better.  

I love Amy Adams and Aliens.  

Hope you have had a great weekend.  

I had a very good one...the weather was beautiful here.

Have a wonderful week.

Keep on Stitching

Monica

Square Three Completed

I finished square three of Autumn in Hawk Run Hollow.  

I am a little disappointed in this one.  The colors are just way too similar

I'm not going to re-do anything but, if I run in to this more, I will change out colors for more contrast.  I may re-do a pumpkin because there just isn't enough contrast.  

The horses are cool.  

Been working on Christmas present.

Needless to say, can't show it now.  

I am going to put Hawk Run away and do another square later.

All the boys on one lone recliner or Bob covered in dogs. 

Henry sleeping with his favorite toy, Gary the Green Bear.

He got this for Christmas. 

He has ripped of the ears and I have had to do some cosmetic surgery on Gary's face,

It is a Kong toy I think and has a nylon strap skeleton so it is much harder to tear it apart.  

Henry generally kills the toys but, so far, this one is close to indestructible.  

I will look for another one this year.  

He really thinks it is his toy.  Buster only gets to play with it very briefly.  

For the most part we had a gorgeous weekend.  It was a little cooler than it has been

I'm not complaining.  I am not a fan of heat.  

Hope you had a great weekend!

Keep on Stitching. 

Monica