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

September, Cherry Cheesecake and Apples

Stitching Group was at my house last night.  I was suppose to have it two weeks ago but, we decided to cancel it.  Patty had her son's wedding that following Saturday and I had made the +200 mile trip to Milwaukee and back for Katy's doctor's appointment.  

After the busy weekend and the goofy holiday week, I decided a cheesecake was a heck of a lot easier than the Tiamisu Cake I thought about making.  

I just wasn't up to making a layer cake where you have to cut the layers to go from two to four layers.

I have done that before and its not as easy as it sounds.  

 This was an 8 1/2 inch springform pan and the recipe from Better Homes and Gardens New York Cheesecake I found on line.  I didn't want to make a huge cheesecake so I put the size of the pan into the Google search.  

It turned out really good!

And I don't have a ton of cheesecake left.  

 I have been working on Prairie Schooler September.  

I would say I am about half way done.  

I had seen it on another blog not too long ago. 

It wasn't the author's favorite because of the hunting theme.  

I love it because of the hunting theme since my husband does hunt.  

Wait to you see the boar on the bottom!

 For some reason this one seems to be going quite fast.  

I should be working on Halloween stuff.  

I have several I want to work on.  

I'm sure I won't have enough time.  

 It has been a bumper year for apples.  The tree is literally dripping in them.  

They keep getting bigger and redder.  

I think I may try canning some apple pie filling.

I have to find a recipe.  

 Aren't they pretty?

I have to get some quart jars.  

I hope I'm not too late.  

Hooray! It is Friday.  I hope you all have a great weekend.  I think I am going to be a home body.  I have been trying to big up the debris from the summer and Katy moving back to school.  My sewing room is a mess!

Thanks for all the wonderful comments.  I love hearing from everyone!
Keep on Stitching
Only 28 more days til Scandal.
Monica

Bob and Monica's Excellent Adventure: Prairie du Chien Edition

After we got Katy back to school and moved into the dorm, we still had a day for an adventure.  

We took the Great River Road from La Crosse to Prairie du Chien.  It is about 58 miles.

It follows along the Mississippi River, between the river and the bluffs.  

It was cloudy and a little drizzly that morning.  

The Minnesota side.  

One of the old historical markers along the way.  

There are newer ones next to it but, I didn't think there were as interesting.  

We really thought it was a beautiful drive.  

A stretch of the highway (for about 4-5 miles) are signs for falling rock.   

We saw two dams with locks on the way and stopped to check it out.  

The small fishing boats pull a cord, sets of some alarms and they then lower the water out of the lock to open the gates and let the boat in.  

We saw signs for an apple orchard that was opened.  

Naturally we stopped and picked up a bag of Zesta's and Ginger Gold apples.  

We also got caramel dip, apple butter, pumpkin butter and Bumbleberry jam.  

We left half the apples and caramel dip with Katy and her roommate.  

The jam went to Ed.

This was the view from the orchard on top of the bluff.  

By the time we headed back, the skies were clear and a brilliant blue.  

Stopped at Mainstreet Stitching and Framing for stash.  

I got some Maple Sugar colored 40 count linen for a Halloween project and some of the floss I needed.  

Here are some of the patterns I picked up.  I don't know if this one is new but, the others are from the recent St. Charles Market.  

I love the house in the center of this BBD.

This is a lovely book.  

 I thought this would be fun to make into pin keeps to go with some of the other SB keeps I made earlier this year.  

 Some Prairie Schooler freebies.  

It is a long drive to and from La Crosse.  We are hoping this will be a stellar year for Katy.  I think we have her pain level under control.  It was a great trip.  Her roommate is wonderful and they seem to get a long great.  They were friends from last year.  

Hope you had a restful weekend.  I really abbreviated the number of pictures.

Have a great week!
Keep on Stitching
Monica