Boy! It Was Cold This Morning!!!!

I got up this morning about 7 am to get ready for 8:00 Mass.  We were greeter this morning.  I checked the weather and the temperature was -18.  I don't know about you but, that IS really cold.  I put my long underwear on.  It was cold opening the door for people at church.  It is 20 degrees now.  Something is wrong when you think 20 degrees is warmer.

Have been busy all day.  I made an apple crisp for dinner.  It is like having apple pie without the pie crust.  I love this Fiestaware dish my son got me for Christmas.  It works great for apple crisp.  

 I have been working on my LHN Virtue:  Hope.  I just love the sheep.  I am really looking forward to the remainder of the year.

Sandra from Homespun Elegance has a new design coming out.  You can see it, Scenes of Spring  Here. I did the Scenes of Autumn some time ago.  I have a frame that they fit in so, I will have to expand my collection when it comes out.  I have just the spot for it.   I have done several of her designs and enjoy working on them.

I finished the back of the sweater today.  I will probably work on getting the front on the needles tomorrow night.  I really just want to work on my sheep.

I did finally got my car back and it does look great.  They even detailed the inside of the car.  It smells new.

Hope you all have been having a great weekend.  I'm so glad you stopped by.  Thanks for the wonderful comments.

Keep on Stitching!
Monica

Baskets Can Be a Choking Hazard

Baskets can be a choking hazard to a small dog....let me explain.  I have this basket.  My grandfather made it.  When I was a little girl, it was my toy basket.  I asked my dad for it and another laundry basket that his father had made.  It is made out of strips of maple.  This basket had to have been made in  at least the 1940's if not earlier.  I was using it to hold the dog toys in.  The dogs never chewed on it, thankfully.  It did make the toys look good.   

 It really is a beautiful basket and amazingly sturdy.  The problem has been that when Buster tries to get something out of it, he chokes himself.  We have been turning it on its side so he doesn't choke.

 I moved stuff around yesterday while cleaning.  I got a different basket that Bob was storing old therapy equipment from his Rotator Cuff Repair:  pullies and exercise bands.  It is a little more Buster size and he doesn't choke when he roots around for his toys.  It could be a little bigger.

 He usually doesn't like to have his picture taken.  This is a rare treat.

 The pig is his favorite.  When it works, it doesn't squeek, it grunts.

So now it is a great basket to keep my knitting in.  I don't know why I didn't use it for that before now.  One of those Dah! moments.

Thanks for stopping.  Two posts in two days.  That has to be a record for me.  Keeping everyone on their toes!  Welcome new members.  Glad you have all joined me!  Thanks for all the wonderful comments.  Love hearing from you all.  

Keep on Stitching

I will show you what I'm working on in the next post.

Monica

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day One and All!  I got my lovely smalls done!!!  I had one more in the hopper but, I didn't exactly get it done....may be next year.  They were all freebies:  Plum Street Sampler,  Stitches from the Bee and Twisted Threads from the Weeks Dye Works site.  I first two on 40 count fabric and the small heart on 35 count fabric.  

 I decided to change a few things on the Plum Street Sampler.  I really didn't care for the stocking finish.  I don't know about you but, stockings say Christmas to me.  I changed the year to the year we got married and moved both sets of initials on one side.   If you do your math, we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary this July.  

I wanted to finish this one a little different.  I love this fabric I used on all three.  It is reproduction Civil War from Jerri's Quilt Patch.  I had some hand-dyed ric rac left from something, so I used that to pretty it up some more.  I had a little trouble at first with this one, sewed the fabric along the top edge of the stitching....whoops!  Took a few minutes to rip it out.  

Did this in the graphed thread.  I had some hand dyed chenille from the same whats-it as the ric rac.  I edged it which helped to even out the rough spots from sewing.  I wanted to show the background fabric in the lower corner.  I think it worked pretty well.

 Finally, it is on display on the little antique plant stand saved from the In-laws move.  It fits perfectly in a spot next to the TV armoire and I can display things on it.  The little Longerberger basket works well because the sides aren't too high.  

My sweetie and I didn't do too much for Valentine's day.  Since I don't work on Thursdays, I did get up and make him a terrific breakfast:  Scrambled eggs with bacon and cheese and homemade blueberry muffins, with fresh blueberries.  While I was vacuuming and moving furniture, my stitching light came apart from the base.  The plastic piece that the base screwed into cracked.  Unfortunately, it couldn't be fixed.  So, after dinner we went to Shopko and got a new light.   My sweetie put it together for me. Now I'm back in business.  Can't be without the light, wouldn't be able to see those little holes between the fabric threads.

Welcome new followers and a big thank you to my followers for stopping by.  I do appreciate the comments!

Latest Stash Acquisition

Got to go shopping yesterday.  The nearest Cross Stitch store is 100 miles away.  I had Kendra at the Stitching Bee order a few patterns for me.  There are small and sweet  little pieces.  

 I do like Fourth of July pieces and thought this would be a good addition to my collection.

 I thought this one was amusing.  It is amazing how many designs have crows on them.

I got this cute little PS freebie.  You know how I love my Prairie Schooler!!

 I had also ordered the Stacy Nash Butternut Tavern but, it didn't come in.  I also picked up almost all the thread for the patterns.  The only color I wasn't able to get was Weeks Cayenne.  I will have to order it.

 We stopped at a kitchen gadget store called Cooks Corner.  It is a huge cooking store.  I usually take my lunch to work. I have been using glass containers to heat things in but, the plastic covers crack long before the glass wears out or breaks.  I have lots of plastic containers but, with all the information coming out, is it really safe to microwave food in them.  I don't want to bring a plate because then I have two things to wash.  I found these at the store.  They are from New Zealand and BPA free.  They are called Sistema.  You can steam food in them.  I got two square ones and one I could use for soup.   I need to check to see if they a leakproof.

 I found this really cool grater.  At least I think it is really cool.  The grates are interchangeable on a measuring cup.  It was only $15 for the whole set.  We grated cheese last night for our salads.  It worked really good.  The plates fit into the container for easy storage.

We are inline again for some bad weather.  Snow, freezing rain, sleet and who knows what else.  It will probably make going to work tomorrow awful.  I am suppose to get my car back on Tuesday.  I figure by then, the bad weather will be done.

Welcome new followers.  I now have a 100!  That is so exciting!  I love all the wonderful comments.  It is always so much fun reading them.  Thanks for stopping.  Hope you are having a great weekend and the weather isn't too bad where you are.

Keep on Stitching
Monica

Two Inches More, Two Inches More

Every day it seems like we get two or three inches more snow.  Enough to have to deal with and enough to make the roads slick.  I shouldn't complain after hearing what is bearing down on the Northeast.  Twenty seven inches of snow.  Ouch!  Blizzard conditions...double Ouch!!  I will say some prayers.  

In the meantime, we keep getting some everyday.  This has been the snowiest winter we have had in a while.  The snow blower is fixed and Bob is just cleaning up the edges.  He really isn't too thrilled about all this snow.  Buck up bud at least its only 2-3 inches a day and not an hour.  

 Look at those swanky boots.  I think he ussualy wears these for duck hunting.

 This is the picture of a man who is so totally thrilled to be outside doing this.  It is snowing lightly again.

January is finished.  I will probably just throw it the pile for mounting especially since now it is February.  I did iron it today so there are no winkles.  Usually everything I photograph is so wrinkly.  

 I just love the joy that's conveyed by the little sledders and their dogs.

I started on the Plum Street Samplers freebie.  It isn't a very good picture.  I'm doing it in 40 count fabric with one thread.  

 I am going to the Stitching Bee this weekend.  I had Kendra order somethings for me so, I hope they are in. I have a list of thread.  I just went through the stash to see what I already have.  I will hopefully have some stash pics on Sunday.  Hooray for stash.

I did get good news today.  The body shop had called late last week to let me know that the parts were on back order.  They didn't expect to get them until the 14th.  They called today to let me know they got the parts today and would start working on my car tomorrow.  Hooray, it could be done by tuesday.  I figure after that, the weather will warm up, the snow will stop and I won't need my heated seats and 4 wheel drive.

I keep joining more blogs.  I will probably have some many blog feeds a day I'll never get through them all.

Welcome new members.  I am nearly at 100 followers.  I love hearing from you all and thanks for taking the time to comment.  It really means a lot to me.

Super Bowl.....Blech

Football really doesn't do anything for me.  I would maybe watch the game if the Packers were playing.  I especially am not interested in all the pregame hype.  Instead I printed up some Valentine Freebies.  

The first one is from Stitches from the Bee.  

The second one is from  Crocettando fra le pesti

 This one is from Plum Street Samplers Here

 I have the fabric cut to make these sweet little smalls.

I  really haven't had a lot of time to stitch this weekend.  I did re-start the sweater.  I need to do a few more rows and then I will check to see if the width is the right size.  I have found I can't knit for much more than an hour a day otherwise my fingers get sore.

Yesterday was a very busy and didn't allow much time to stitch.  My husband is president of Parish
Council and yesterday was the  Winter Carnival for the little kids.  He was in charge of it.  I made three pounds of Sloppy Joe for Fr. Joe.  He puts a spoonful on a hot dog and then some of the nacho cheese sauce.  Everyone follows suit with his encouragement.  When Bob got there Saturday morning he expected to see several dozen cupcakes for the cake walk however, there was only about two dozen.  He was going to the grocery store for hot dogs so I had him pick up some cake mixes and I made four dozen cupcakes.  A few more people brought in cupcakes so he was okay.

I then cleaned the house.  After that I had to go pick up my mom and stop at the florist on our way to the nursing home where my great aunt is.  It was her 103rd birthday so we had a little party with her, my aunt and one of my cousins.

Finally, we had a party at our next door neighbors.  We were home by 10 but, I have pretty much been a couch potato all day.  I have done a little knitting, laundry and worked on the border of the PS January.

I dont' know about where you live but, the oranges this year have been the best I think I have ever had.  

Thanks for stopping and for all the great comments.  I'm so glad you take the time to stop and visit.  Hope you have had a great weekend.

Keep on Stitching
Monica

And the Winner Is....

 DRUM ROLL PLEASE.........

The lovely box with scissors fob and needle book

With Thy Needle and Thread

AND THE WINNER IS.......

LYNDA

Thanks to everyone who participated!  

Keep on Stitching 

Monica