Okay, I Need Some Help

I don't know what I'm doing wrong or maybe just what I'm doing.

I have tried several times to get the button from the Smalls SAL on my blog.

I have tried to get the Samplemakers button too....without success.

I use blogger, so if anyone has the system down....I could use some help.  

I like to think I'm an intelligent person but, this has me flummoxed!!!

Onward!

I think I have the numbers done and have started on the alphabets.  

 Different angle and the flash.  

I think the color is better. 

 Close up of the numbers and alphabet.  

I wasn't sure the walnut would come through on the pictures. 

 I am going be taking a break from it for a while. 

I did start my small today, finally.

I don't want to show you that just that but I'm about a quarter done. 

It is 65x47 stitches.  

I'm trying to keep them under a 100x100.

It was a free chart.

Then I decided I hadn't done a Prairie Schooler in sometime.

I have done many of the months.  

I think I have January, February and December left to do.  

I have the February one ready to go.

I think I'm going to do the groundhog as a single piece as a little hanger for the china cabinet. 

 That could be my February small.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

My has been very fine.  

Did help my mom get some quilt fabric at Joann's

A throw for Ed, a table runner and set of placemats for the family that shovels her drive and I bought fabric for a table runner and set of placemats for her to make for me.  

Have a super week.  

Thanks for stopping and the wonderful comments.

Keep on Stitching.

Monica

Addendum:  Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a stupendous valentine giveaway HERE
I usually post this as a link on the sidebar but that isn't working either.
I think Blogger is loosing it. 

Slipping, Fishtailing and Stitching

We have had more snow.

Bob has had to blow snow twice this week and it needs to be done again.

The roads were very slippery this afternoon when I came home.

I don't mind the little fishtailing when turning corners.

I don't like it when the antilock brakes nearly don't get you to stop before the cross traffic.

I have been always able to stop.  

There is that surprised look on my face often.  

I am nearly done with two side of borders on my Stacy Nash.

I think I will have enough Piney Woods, the green but, I may get some more.

I'm anxious to start the alphabet and numbers.

I have more motifs to do too.  

 I wanted you to see a close up of the squirrel in the tree.  

He is very cute. 

I am super glad it is friday tomorrow.  

I am so ready for the weekend.

It has been a long busy week at work.  

We are short a therapist so, I'm working extra hours.

Had to be at a business afterhours function on Tuesday and a going away party on Wednesday.

Good to be home tonight.  

Hope you have had a great week.

Thanks for the comments!

Hope we all get some good stitchy time in!

Keep on stitching.

Monica

8:30 Dessert Time

Just waiting until 8:30.

Dessert time!

All those apples I peeled, cut, dipped in salt water and froze in October, I used some for Apple Crisp.

When the kids were home and Desperate Housewives was on, it was a Sunday night ritual.

We would ask Ed when to have dessert.

He always said 8:30.

Now they are at college and we still occasionally have dessert.

I ask the husband, "Bob, what time should we have dessert?"

Oh Wow!  He says 8:30.

Imagine that!

I suppose it will always be 8:30.

It was a very normal weekend and Sunday.

Very busy but normal.

Last Sunday, I drove to Milwaukee to my sister's with my 86 year old mom.

Her cousin had died very unexpectantly.

She was determined to go.  So I took her.

As far as funerals go it was very nice.  

She was 84 and had been more like an aunt when we were growing up.

She and her family were the nearest family we had growing up in Milwaukee.  

She was an amazing woman.

She was incredibly involved in the church, community and family.  

It was a whirlwind trip during brutally cold weather.  

Fortunately, my car has a heating block, so when we got to my sister's we plugged it in.

It started like a champ the next morning.  

Of course, since the weather has been warming up....that usually means....yep

SNOW

We had about four inches when we woke up yesterday.  

It was enough to have to snowblow.

Especially at the bottom of the driveway since the snowplow dumps at the bottom of our drive.

Some pictures of the snow.

First ones I have posted.  

 The trees were beautifully frosted.  

 It hasn't been that cold

 We have a burning bush just outside our bedroom window.  

 It has small red berries on it this year.  

 You can see them a little better here. 

 I thought I would show you how I keep my projects rolled up.

You know I am the hoopless stitcher...I don't use hoops or frames.  

When I work on a large piece, I just roll it up.

 I have made some progress on the border.  

I am ready to take a break 'cuz it is a bit monotonous.  

I have started working on the tree above the girl. 

 Did get all the chores done and did some work in my sewing room, straightening things up.

I was going through some smalls patterns to get ready for the SAL.

That is some good incentive to get some of those projects done.  

Thanks for the wonderful comments. 

I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

It makes my day.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and have a great week.

Keep on stitching

Monica

Incredibly Cold

It has been incredibly cold here.

It was -25 this morning at 7 am and didn't break 0 until about 11 o'clock.

I think there have been places colder but, that is pretty doggone cold.

Fortunately, the dog didn't get stuck in the cold

Schools were closed for two days and there was a two delay today.

I don't think there was a school open in the U.P. Monday or Tuesday.

It did get to a high of 15 today.

I think the polar vortex may be done for now.

You know what means....SNOW!

It doesn't sound too bad though 2-5 inches.  

I am awfully glad that the holidays are over and hopefully back to normal.

I think the older I get the more I prefer the status quo.

I must be getting old and boring.  

I am getting ready for the Smalls SAL.

These are the supplies for the first project.  

I don't know that I will get all twelve projects ready as I have seen.

I may get a few in the queue on the ready.  

 GAST Adobe
and
Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Hand dyed floss:
 1795 Ocean Waves and 1795 Best Olive Green.
You will just have to wait until the post.
I am using the aluminum spice container to finish it.
I had picked the container up at a antique store in Eagle River, WI.

I have been making slow and steady progress on the Christmas at Hollyberry Farm.

It is slow going.

That pretty much sums it up.  

Trying to clear the debris from the holidays and the last year. 

Thanks for the wonderful comments you send my way.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Keep on stitching.

Monica

Slow But Sure It Is Going Away

Sadly enough, the Christmas decorations are going away.

We didn't decorate the tree until Katy got home.

It will come done tomorrow.

I have put away the Christmas stitching. the Santa's, the Snowmen and checked the Christmas cards.

My card list is really dwindling.

Cards just about must me a thing of the past.  

I have been working on the Stacy Nash Christmas at Hollyberry Farm  

 This is really a lovely piece, but slow going. 

 It is rather large.

 I have a feeling two skeins of Piney Woods isn't going to be enough.  

It has been brutally cold.

The morning low was -23.

The coldest spot in the UP was about 50 miles west of here and it was -31.

Tomorrow is suppose to be around 20 but windy.  

I plan on getting the grocery shopping done then.

It is suppose to be extremely cold on Monday.

The high -8.  

I had on long underwear today!

I had to stop and get gas today. 

The first gas station I went to if you wanted to pay at the pump you had to enter your zipcode.

My fingers were so cold and my brains froze I couldn't get it straight.

You then had to see the cashier who informed me I could pump but, had to pay inside.

I bagged it because I didn't want to walk across the parking lot again.

I went to a different gas station.  

Hope it isn't too cold or snowy where you are.

Stay warm and stitchy

Monica

Fabulous Christmas Present Stash

My family did an outstanding job on Christmas stash this year.  

Katy was the Christmas elf and coordinated everything.  

She got me the BBD pattern, fabric and floss/

She got her father to get the Lone Elm box.

I am absolutely tickled by this.  

I have been lusting after the box but, wasn't going to spend the cash on it myself.  

I didn't know that the top was interchangeable.

That interchangeable aspect is right up my alley!

 Katy also helped her brother.  

This was a clip board that slides open and you can store your project in it.

The only place I had seen this was on the Dyeing to Stitch website.  

Katy had it all arranged and Ed only needed to call with a credit card number.  

This is a great gadget.  

It works really well.

 I have a few finishes to show.  

I started knitting this sweater last winter for Katy but, lost steam.

I thought I was possibly going to run out of yarn but, didn't.

I think it turned out really great!

It is going to keep her toasty warm.  

That is a good thing since this winter has been sooo cold!

 I think it turned out really well.

It looks awfully cute on her.  

 She told me since I was going to be blogging about it, I would have to take a picture of the back too.  

I am quite pleased with how it turned out. 

I finished my little sheepies.  

They turned out adorable.  

I had found a trim at Hobby Lobby sometime ago that worked perfect.  

 It looks like little balls of fluff around the edge.  

The pattern showed wide ric rac but, I thought this worked just as well.  

When I finished it, I liked it so much, I thought my sister would like one.  

I quickly stitched up the second one and popped it into her Christmas present bag.  

I didn't put a hanger on them.  

I will just prop it up against something.

I'm glad the sweater is done and now I can stitch some more.

I am working on a WIP:  Stacy Nash's Christmas at Hollyberry Farm.

I was thinking about the Stitching from the Stash SAL but, I don't think I could stop myself from acquiring more stash.  

I am going to do a Smalls SAL with Stitching Lotus Here.

I think I will find some projects to work on while hanging out on New Years Day.  

Thank you for the great comments.  

It is wonderful to hear from you all and the nice words of encouragement.  

Don't get too crazy on New Years Eve.

We are planning a night at home with the kids and the dog.

We sure know how to live life on the edge.

Keep on Stitching!

Monica

Merry Christmas

Have a Very Merry Christmas!

 Time for Shiny and Bright

 Renewal

May God bless you, one and all!