Life is Good! (Photo Heavy)

Sampler by Rebecca Scott, dated November 1, 1790:

Two things, the needle and the book we find,

help to accomplish all the female kind.

The shineing needle draws the fine spun thread

bedecks the person and adorns the head.

Since neatness gives the charms that all commend

The needle is the female choiest friend."

Well,  my needle is my "choiest" friend this week.  I have not had much time to stitch, but the small momemts I have struggled to find have been precious indeed.  I have not had much time to read lately, but I have several books on the nightstand just waiting for me to make time for them. 

The weather this week could not be better for stitching and reading.  We have switched from higher than normal temps to lower than normal temps.  We had near freezing temps for a short time during the last two nights.  I hope to crank up the oven this week to do some baking.

Well my birthday present from my DH and DS has arrived, they are both so wonderful, I am very blessed to have two such wonderful and thoughtful guys.

New linen (1/8 yard each)

28 count Country French in Cappuccino

28 count Country French in Antique Gold
32 count Belfast Linen in Putty
32 count 100% Linen in Tumbleweed



Buttermilk, Cidermill Brown,
Crystal Lake, Liberty,
Old Hickory, Onyx, Rhubarb,
Schoolhouse Red, Wrought Iron,



Avocado, Blueberry, Cherry Wine,
Cranberry, Dark Chocolate,
Gold Leaf, Mulberry, Nutmeg,
Oatmeal, Peacock,
Pink Azalea, Tarnished Gold,
Tropical Ocean



    New threads from The Gentle Art

from the Simply Shaker and Sampler Threads collections.

New charts

A Baby A Manger (c) 2010

by Cherry Wood Design Studios

and

Love One Another  (c) 2009

by Little House Needleworks

And best of all . . .

In addition to these lovely stitching items, DS wrote a booklet "What I Love About You" -- I will treasure this always and will keep it close at hand during those potentially troubling teen years.

My guys are wonderful!

And while he was at it,

DH added these for our upcoming anniversary.



Bean Sprout, Desert Mesquite,
Magnolia Blossom,
Manor Red, Ribbon Red





Aztec Red, Bark, Bullfrog,
Collards, Dolphin, Dried Sage,
Juniper, Liberty, Straw



More threads from

Crescent Colors

and

Weeks Dye Works

A New Chart
Annie Ellsworth Sampler (c) 2009
by Beehive Needleworks

I also was able to purchase the two JBW charts I was looking for - THANKS to Michelle for finding them for me.

It was a beautiful Sunday here in the Deep South, we attended Mass, enjoyed our local Veteran's Parade and then took my mother out for lunch on the lake.  Hope you like these pics of our day.

Lunch at
Rip's on the Lake, calamari, fried crab fingers, seafood platters, grilled shrimp salad and a great view.

A great breezy day for sailing along the longest (25 miles) bridge in the world and the pelicans are enjoying the cool weather, too.

And to top it off, the Saints won against Carolina.

Hope you had a great weekend, too!

It's the most wonderful time of the year . . .

I finally have my very own copy of the JCS 2010 Christmas Ornament issue!  It was the last one.  I am stitching Nicadeamus (sock monkey on blue fabric ornie on the cover) from Raise the Roof Designs for my DS.  There are also a few more ornies I will be stitching as gifts for teachers, family and friends.

As a little Christmas present "from me, to me", I am stitiching "Gingerbread Trio" from Little House Needleworks.

We are enjoying some wonderful fall weather this week with temps from the mid 70s to the low 80s with overnight temps in the 60s.  We haven't even had any rain in 2 weeks and it does not look like we will get any amount of rain anytime soon.

Hope you are enjoying Fall where you are

A Little Bit of Everything

(Please excuse the bad lighting, we are having another afternoon

thunderstorm and there is not much natural light at the moment.)

Guess where I am going tomorrow?

Michael's has this great coupon and

I happen to have 3 finishes in need of framing!

70% off!!  Woo Hoo!

I am still making progress on The Sampler Girl's "At Home with Jane Austen"

I also have a new start to share, I am stitching on this during cross country practice.  I hope to be finished by next week (if we are not rained out)

. 

"The Merry Skater" from the 2010 Ornament Collection
Little House Needleworks
stitching over 2 on 28 count Lugana in Summer Khaki
using 2 threads of the recommended DMC threads

The national press has descended on the Crescent City to cover the five-year anniversary of Katrina, it is Hurricane Week on the Weather Channel and I am not liking the looks of this . . .

Danielle (not a problem for us), Earl, the future Fiona and that cloudy area near the coast of Africa is a fourth system (a potential Gaston) they are watching.  So much for a quiet season.

All this reminds me, that awhile back, I said I would share my hurricane/emergency prep tips with you.  Well, I started writing and was overwhelmed by the amount of information.  So I decided to use a tip of the day method for passing on information.  I am going to start with the obscure and weird, because the basics (keep your tank full of gas, keep cash on hand, etc.) are easy to find on either of the following website links.

National Hurricane Center - Hurricane Preparedness

American Red Cross Emergency Preparedness

American Red Cross Fast Facts - tip sheets for specific types of emergencies

TIP # 1 - If you have items you cannot take with you (especially fragile items) consider placing them in the dishwasher - it keeps water in, so it will also keep water out.  This is also good to remember in a case of flash flooding when you do not have the time or ability to pack things up to take with you.

TIP # 2 - Use your address book (or snag an extra notebook from your kid's school supplies) and write down all the contact information for your important contacts, for example

• bank, mortgage company, insurance company, utilities, etc (including account numbers)
• employer (especially important if you are not paid by direct deposit or you work in a job that will be in high demand following the emergency),
• doctors, pharmacy (include a list of all your Rx medications and doses)
• local police/sheriff and fire stations,
• grocery (you can call before returning home to see if they are open/stocked),
• schools,
• church,
• family and neighbors

Inquire about emergency contact information.  National utilities, pharmacies, etc will still be reachable through an 800 number, but locals will also be evacuated, have lost electricity or telephone service, be severely damaged, etc.

Cell numbers may be inaccessible due to down towers or heavier than normal usage.  During Katrina, voice calls were rare, it could take an hour of redialing before your call would go through.  The addition of so many extra cell users (evacuees) overloaded the local cell systems.  If you do not know how, learn to use the text messaging on your phone, it takes up less bandwidth.  Teach your parents and other older relatives how to use the text messaging on their phone.  Also, remember you can call your cellular company to change your plan to include/increase your minutes or texting limits so you are not surprised by your bill the next month.

Emergency Contact Card from the American Red Cross

Thinking I May Be Enhancing My Stash Soon

My local needle shop has these charts in it's new arrivals list . . .

FROM LIZZIE KATE

FROM LITTLE HOUSE NEEDLEWORKS

Summer Stitching

Looks like the long, hot summer has started.  Our temps are nearing (and sometimes breaking) 100 and the heat index has been as high as 115 since the humidity has stayed in the 90s.  I hope you are having more enjoyable weather where you are.

I am behind on my blog hopping, but have seen some beautiful stitching and wonderful giveaways.  I have left a few comments, but hope to catch up my viewing and commenting soon.

We are in birthday mode here as DS will be having a Toy Story 3 party.  Dollar Tree had lots of Toy Story themed merchandise and I found some reusable shopping bags with the little green alien on clearance at the Disney Store so the goodie bags & prizes are done.

As promised, here is my long overdue stitching update . . .

Lizzie Kate's "Dogs Leave Paw Prints"

Stitched using the recommended threads and fabric.

(I have stitched and frogged the blue on the dog house TWICE due to miscounting the over 2, but it is a beautiful bright blue so I guess it wasn't too bad spending the extra time working with that color.)

The Sampler Girl "I'd Rather be at Pemberly"

Stitched using the recommended threads on 28 count Cashel linen in Light Mocha

(This is really wonderful to stich. I was worried about the large blank spaces, since I often miscount, but it has been great.  The recommended fabric was 32 count, but that was too small for me, so I will have a larger finish, but I am loving it.  This will be my first Jane Austen finish.)

Little House Needleworks "Home of a Needleworker, Too"

Stitched using the recommended threads and fabric

(I was hoping to be further along on this one.  I used this as a take-along project during one of DS's after-school activities.  I will take it back up as an at-home project since it is too hot to stitch away.)

Funny for the Day

In Louisiana,  we take our golf course water hazards seriously . . .

Yep, that is a gator taking a leisurely swim at the golf course,
now that is a serious water "hazard"!

Stay cool and keep stitching!

Help, do you remember this . . .?

UPDATE:  Thanks Angela for identifying Lisa/Hockey Mom as the stitcher and "A Walk in the Park" by LHN as the design.

Walk in the Park by Hockey Mom (Lisa)

Does anyone remember which blogger stitched the dog memorial design and then attached it to a painted box to hold the dog's collar and other mementos? 

They stitched as a gift for a family member or friend who had just lost a dog.  It was in the last 3 months (that really does not narrow it down does it?).

Or if you know the name/designer of the pattern?  I have tried to look it up on Hoffman & Norden, but I am not using the right search terms.

Thanks for your help!

I have a notebook that I will keep nearby to jot down such tidbits in the future (and OneNote to save them electronically -- if I can remember to use it).

Spring is finally here . . . for the next few days anyway ; )

It is a wonderfully sunny and breezy March day here in the deep south. I have to enjoy each and everyone one. Soon it will be unbearably hot with 100% humidity and sunny days will be much harder to enjoy in those conditions.

I sat in my car in the school parking lot with the windows down and a little classical music on the radio and began building a house . . .

I am really enjoying this stitching project!!

Here is a close-up of my house. There is lots of gray in my skeins of Crescent Colors Old Blue Jeans. I really like the shade of blue, but I am not sure about the gray.

Only 4 days left to enter my giveaway!

http://joiedebayou.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-first-give-away.html

Another sign of the arrival of spring on the bayou.

Photo of New Start - LHN Home of a Needleworker, Too

Thought I would share a status photo for my new start --

Little House Needleworks

Home of a Needleworker, Too

After the big storm that blew through last night, we still have a partly-cloudy sky so the colors are a little off, but you get the general idea.

I am stitching on the recommended fabric with the recommended threads and I pulled out a scroll frame for this one.

It is a VERY ENJOYABLE stitch!!!

I received this chart from a generous fellow blogger who had an extra. I would like to pass this on so look for it as a trade on my Trade/Sell blog (or maybe as the centerpiece of a PIF giveaway??) What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by to check out my progress, y'all come back anytime!

New Start - LHN Home of a Needleworker, Too

Finally got to start on Little House Needleworks Home of a Needleworker, Too. I completed the Cocoa Bean stitching along the top. Since it is raining today there is no photo yet (besides it does not look like much at the moment). Home with sick DS today so probably no stitching today.
The Cocoa Bean really does look chocolaty (or maybe I was hungry while I was stitching). Might use it st stitch a chocolate rabbit for Easter (found a simple single-color rabbit freebie online last week). I was hoping to stitch a small project for Easter with a lamb. Does anyone have a small lamb chart they will lend or trade?
Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway. I am using a flat rate shipping box so I intend to stuff it to bursting before mailing!
Will post again soon with photos of my last finish and new start.
Daffy Definition: BAYOU - water that runs by you house ;)

2nd Finish for 2010

My first LHN finish! It was a fun stitch (even with the frogging I ended up doing).

I am leaning toward a pillow-type finish because I am nervous to use glue in the recommended finishing. Would love to hear opinions on using glue in finishing.

I like the design without the beads and I am practicing my French knots before trying them on my final piece, I will leave them blank-faced if I cannot "perfect" my knots (besides, if I do hang it on the tree I would not want the knots to be pulled out).

"All Dolled Up!" Fa La La (Ornament #1)

Little House Needleworks

Stitched over 2 threads on 28 count Light Mocha linen

Using 2 strands of recommended DMC threads

I cannot wait to start on Pear Tree. It is my favorite of the first three designs and I have been (enviously) watching other stitcher's finishes for weeks. Thanks for sharing all your inspiring "adaptations".

Feeling a little better today so I will be doing the "Flight of the Bumblebee" throughout the house with my trusty Clorox wipes and Lysol and catching up on the dishes and laundry and other neglected household chores. Unfortunately, this will probably not leave much time stitching today (although I would be happy to be proved wrong).

A stash is born

Made a visit to a LNS and picked up a few things . . .

from left to right:

• Bent Creek - Brownbird Sampler, Imaginating (Diane Arthurs) - The Lord's Blessing, Bent Creek - Four Seasons House,
• LHN - Gingerbread Trio & Psalm 145,
• Brittercup - Believe, LHN - The Angels Sang, and Brittercup - He's the Reason

-- NOTE the orange sale tags for 50 & 60% off) --

Picked up a local a chart from a local designer
Acadian Designs (Michelle Gauthier) - Fleur de Lis 1 (and Crescent Colors Queen Bee and Blackbird thread to stitch it with)

a little fabric
1/16 yard 28 ct Country French Linen in Cafe Mocha (left),
1/8 yard 28 count Cashel Linen in Antique Ivory (right)

I also picked up the Crescent threads for Needleworker and a few additional Crescent and Weeks Dye Works threads.

I was hoping to pick up LHN's "He's Flaky" (3rd All Dolled Up ornament), but they have not gotten it in yet.

I also picked up a couple of items for a future giveaway (it was so much fun to receive one, thought I would like to try to give one). If you are a seasoned "giver awayer" and have some advice (before I learn the hardway), please leave a comment.

BTW, Saints fever is spreading uncontrollably, merchandise is flying off the shelves, specialty shops have lines through the door, the Monday morning paper is in its 3rd printing . . . it is crazy here (well, you know crazier than usual).

You know it is crazy when . . .

1. Some of the schools are are discussing closing on either the day after the Super Bowl (apparently school attendance after the NFC Championship was down) or for the special champions parade (on Tuesday or Wednesday after the Super Bowl).
2. Real estate agents are reporting a rise in the number of home buyers interested in moving back to NOLA. Don't get me wrong, this is a GREAT place to live (no earthquakes, no mudslides, no forest fires, no ice storms, no blizzards, very few tornadoes . . .), but please have a better reason to move than a Super Bowl bound NFL team.
3. Court dockets are being rescheduled.
4. Black and gold colored pets warrant a profile on the evening news.
5. The mayor of NOLA proudly brags that the taxpayers are funding his trip to Miami -- the crazy part -- is no one is complaining.
6. The really crazy part -- I am enjoying every crazy minute! (And I still think football is only a game).

Thanks for visiting, y'all come back again.

Langiappe and Shrimp Creole

Thanks to the wonderful Vonna at Twisted Stitcher http://thetwistedstitcher.blogspot.com/, I am anxiously awaiting a little langiappe by post and I have joined my first SAL and I will be stitching the LHN monthly ornaments along with the other members of Little House Needleworks Monthly Ornament Stitch-A-Long, Too at http://littlehouseorniestoo.blogspot.com/

Check out its sister SAL http://littlehouseornies.blogspot.com/

I picked up some fabric to use in finishing The Sampler Girl's Be Mine chart as a pillowkeep. Looking forward to posting my stitchy progress. I will be using coffee (or tea) to "antique" my piece so the colors will be toned down.

Enjoyed a little "Quick" Shrimp Creole Pasta for dinner this evening.
Recipe for "Quick" Shrimp Creole Pasta

• Boil your favorite shaped pasta (bowties work great with this)
• Sauteed 1 medium diced onion and 1 diced bell pepper in EVOO, add 1 clove diced garlic when onions are translucent.
• Add 1-2 pounds (depends on the size of your pan and your appetite) peeled shrimp, cook until pink (do not over-cook or you get rubber) -- they will continue to cook in the heated sauce
• This is the quick part - add one jar of your favorite MARINARA sauce
• Add a pinch of cayenne to taste
• Ready to toss with pasta (cooks faster than rice) when heated through

New Patterns from LHN

Saw these snippets of new designs on Diane Williams' (LHN) blog, cannot wait until the 15th to see the entire pieces.

http://littlehouseneedleworks.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!31A6A0D667AEFF70!567.entry