This-n-That...among other things!

Happenings.....

2011-08-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

Hello World,

I can't believe its been 14 months since my last post. Many things have happened since that post, some good, some bad.

The good is that Tammy has returned to the states and is now working at Whiteman AFB, MO and after purchasing a new house is settled in at Knob Noster, MO.

The bad is that I've had a heart attack with a double by-pass, a stroke, and am now recovery from rotator cuff surgery on my left shoulder.....and yesterday I had an ulcer attack and am now recovering from that also.

I've joined a mystery SAL with Carol from istitch and have the first part and the border stitched and emailed to her so I can receive the second part this Saturday. It is an easy stitch and I am enjoying it very much. Below you can see the first part. Sorry it's fuzzy!

I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon for my shoulder, then a bit of shopping in Joplin.

DH, Wayne, is doing very well. He has started play practice for the Silver Follies that our Senior Citizens have every September. Anyone can join, as long as you are a Senior Citizen. They write their own script, sometimes even their own songs, tell jokes and really have a good time. They present it to the public the middle part of September. Last year Wayne was the curtain puller, no lines, but this year he is actually going to have some lines, so we are working on his script.

I'm still going to TOPS and have maintained my KOPS status through all of the above. Actually, I'm at the very bottom of my goal weight and will either have to change it or eat more food!!

Hope you all have a great day.

Being Sad....

2010-04-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a sad post, so if you feel you don't want to read it, that's fine.

On February 1st, our DIL, Tammy, called to say our son, Gordon, was in the hospital in critial condition and in ICU. I started for Germany on February 6th, arriving on February 8th, to find our son in very critical condidtion. However, we were told that he would improve....but, the next day he died! Why? Well, last week we received the death certificate and found out that he passed because of Giant Cell Myocarditis. Please don't tell me, this is the Lord's will, I just do not want to hear that. Not now anyway! I am so angry, I could scream and sometimes I do! There are times I am very unpleasant to be around and there are times that Wayne is very unpleasant to be around. This is the most difficult time in our married life. We lost a baby girl at birth and now to loose our only other child. Can anyone explain why? I don't think so. But, life does go on, no matter how hard.

Tammy, is back in Germany. She has returned to her job and is trying to put her life in some kind of order. She returned because that has been home to them for the past four years and they were going to continue living there, because Gordon had gotten a job with an American Company working in Germany. However, I do look for her to return to the states sometime later this year. They had two cats, Angelica and Sally, but they are living with us until she comes back, so we now have three cats and a dog in the house. Of course, Fred our outside dog is still with us.

I'm sorry to be so depressing, but this is just not a good day.

Blessings,

Barbara

Here they are.....Valentine finishes

2010-01-29T17:16:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

Oh me, oh my, we have snow, and more snow, and it has snowed all day. It was snowing at 6 a.m. when I got out of bed and it is now 7.30 p.m. and it is still snowing. We have about 7 inches of the white stuff. There was no school, the Senior Center was closed, the library was closed, but we got mail, and I received my order from DSL and the brown truck brought my order from SnT, so my day was wonderful. The temp did not get above 25 all day. Wayne did walk down our lane to the mail box and collected the newspapers late this afternoon. The dogs have been in and out all day, and it has been fun to watch them play in the snow and chase each other. We've also had to fill the bird feeder twice today, and it is a large feeder.

Okay, yesterday I sat in front of that sewing machine, and today I stitched the openings where I stuffed the pillows and here are the finished items.

This first design is by Carol of istitch. It is Carol's Sew in Love.

This design is by Jenny Hoffman of Country Rustic Primitives. It is called Valentine Cupboard Keep.

And this design is by Tanya Anderson, The Sampler Girl. It is Tanya's Primitive Valentine Cupboard Sampler.

You can click on any of the designs for a larger view.

Each of these designs were easy stitching and I enjoyed stitching them and even putting a finish on them. They will certainly add some warm Valentine charm to our home during February.

I hope each of you have a Wonderful weekend, and put many stitches in your fabric.

Until next time,
Blessings,
Barbara

Years Ago and Today...

2010-01-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Back in, about 1983, a friend of mine was cross stitching and making wonderful ornaments for her Christmas tree. She taught me the basic steps, stitching on 11 count Aida with DMC threads. When I finally caught on, she took me to Bentonville, Arkansas to a neat cross stitch shop called, Cross Stitch Crazy. I picked out two charts, brought them home, stitched them, and have loved them ever since. I don't remember the designers, but I love sunflowers, so thought you might like to see my beginnings.

Now, most of you know, I am not much for putting a finish on a stitched items. But, I am trying to do better this new year. So, after stitching three Valentine designs, I decided to put a finish on them so I can use them this Valentine month. So here is my work table, messy isn't it!!

I love stitching the design and seeing the design come alive on the fabric, but to sit in front of this machine.............IS NOT FUN FOR ME!! But, today I did sit in front of it.

The stitched items have a back on them, a couple have hangers, they are turned, stuffed, and ready to have the openings stitched, but that will come in the morning, because I was ready to sit down and do some stitching.

SO, you have to tune in tomorrow to see the finished designs.....

Until tomorrow,
Blessings,
Barbara

A strange weather day!

2010-01-25T16:31:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Today has been a very strange weather day. We got up to a temp of 30 degrees, okay, so it slowly started to move up.....reached about 35 degrees around 10 a.m. and I looked out the window and low and behold, it looked like a blizzard! I couldn't believe my eyes. This lasted about 10 minutes, then completely stopped, the sun came out and it warmed up to 40 degrees and stayed there. Now at 6:30 p.m. it is 34 degrees. Just think only 147 days until SUMMER begins. I am so looking forward to HOT weather and flowers.

Until next time,
Blessings,
Barbara

Finally.........the temps are above freezing.

2010-01-11T09:26:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

We are having a beautiful day here in SW Missouri, anyway in my area of SW Missouri. The temp is above 40 degrees, the sun is shining and the snow is melting. Fred has moved back to his back yard, at least for his day time enjoyment, but he will probably have to sleep in at night for a few more days. He and Maggie are in the back yard now running and playing.

Wayne and I are getting back to our normal routine. He went to coffee club this a.m. and has gone to lunch at the Senior Center today, then he is going to get his truck serviced and who knows what else he will find to do, but at least he can get out and about.

As for me, I moved the dust from one side of the roon to the other and ran the vacuum, cleaned the kitched floor, and have things pretty much back to normal. Now I can stitch or read or some of both.

Yesterday I put together some kits I want to stitch this new year. Here is a list what I have kitted up:

1. La-D-Da...Letters & Leaves
2. primitivebettys...Hope
3. With Thy Needle & Thread...Love & Be Loved
4. The Sampler Girl...Primitive Valentine Cupboard Sampler
5. Plum Pudding Needleart...Blessed Be (I've stitched this a couple of times for gifts, so now I want to do one for myself).
6. Little House Needleworks...Season of Hope...March, April, May/June, July, August/September, October, November. I have December, January, February stitched up.
7. Heartstring Primitives...I will stitch you in my Heart (I've also stitched this one for a gift, so will do one for myself now).

I also have some charts ordered that haven't come in yet that I want to stitch this year.

My WIP are shown below:

This is the LHN ornament series for this year. This is the second ornament, Pear Tree. I already have the first ornament, Fa La La stitched. I'm thinking about making a quilted wall hanging with these ornaments.

This is the SAL of LHN, The Library. I don't well with SAL's as I get side-tracked with other items to stitch, so if I keep up that's okay, if I don't, that's okay also. This is a beautiful design and one I am really enjoying working on. Of course, I love all of Diane's designs and have almost all of them in my stash.

This next design is from iStitch, called Sew in Love. You can see other charts from this designer at www.istitchcharts.blogspot.com.

I have deleted this photo, because I made a terrible mistake by showing way to much of the designers chart. Like the designers, who work so hard to give us each of these beautiful designs, I DO NOT LIKE PEOPLE WHO CHEAT AND COPY THE DESIGNS. I feel if people can't purchase the charts, they don't need to stitch! That's my two cents worth. Carol, I do apologize if I caused any problems for you.

I hope each of you are having a GREAT day, and can put lots in stitches in your fabric today.

Until Next Time,
Blessings,
Barbara

Reading....and watching the birds

2010-01-06T17:40:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

I spent part of today catching up on some reading. Several weeks ago Wayne and I went to Joplin and I love book stores. I stopped in at Books-A-Million and picked up several books, brought them home and laid them aside, then Christmas came along and not much reading got done. So, today, was the perfect day to get them out and catch up. Two of my favorite authors are Laura Childs and Jennifer Chiaverini. I have all of Laura Childs, Tea Shop Mysteries, and have enjoyed reading each of them. I couldn't get into her Scrapbook Mysteries for some reason. She has a new series out, Cackleberry Club Mysteries. The first book in this series is, Eggs in Purgatory, and it is a fun, quick read. I really enjoyed it. So when the second book came out I had to have it, Eggs Benedict Arnold. The other author Jennifer Chiaverini is a quilter and her books take place at a Quilting Manor. I also have all of these books.

Below is a photo of these two books I have started. I started one this morning, then picked up the other this afternoon.

While I was reading this afternoon, Annabelle, joined me in the Gathering Room to watch the birds at the feeders. Of course, Maggie Mae was sleeping on the couch and Fred was in the utility room, both very warm and cozy.

We are suppose to have snow tonight, with the temps at single digit tomorrow and Friday. I am not a Winter person, did you ever guess? So Wayne and I are staying close to home and close to the fire in our wood-burning stove. I hope everyone stays warm.

Until next time,
Blessings,
Barbara

Believe it or not........I put a finish on a something!

2010-01-04T16:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

I stitched up the freebie Valentine design from Betty of primitivebettys, AND, I put a finish on it. Thought you might like to see....

We are still having VERY COLD weather here in SW Missouri. The temps haven't been above 25 degress since Saturday afternoon when they starting dropping. Tonight it is suppose to be down to 4 tonight, with a high of a BIG 20 tomorrow. Saturday, while I was at Wal-mart I decided I needed a warmer pair of gloves. I have Raynaud's
disease and arthritis in my hands. Wayne suggested I purchase a pair of hunter's gloves and we found the perfect pair. I love them, they aren't fancy or very dressy, but when your fingers turn white you want something warm. They are gloves, but then they are mittens. So have a look at what I bought.

Today I have been stitching on Little House Needleworks ornament, Pear Tree. This is Diane's second ornament in the series. I wasn't sure I wanted to stitch this, but I am actually enjoying this stitch.

I spent some time today looking through charts and pulling threads for some designs I want to stitch this new year. I'll share a list with you in a few days.

Take care and stay warm.

Blessings,
Barbara

Snow, Snow, go away.......

2010-01-03T13:45:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

We got up to snow again this morning. I'm ready for Winter to be over, and we're just getting started. The temps are very low, so its not melting. We're suppose to have more of this stuff Wednesday and Thursday, so we don't know if we will be able to get to Whiteman AFB for Gordon's retirement or not. I DO NOT LIKE WINTER!!!

I've taken the Christmas decorations down and put them away, but I did leave my Christmas Village up, and thought you might like to see it.

This next photo is what the snow looked like from my front porch this morning. Terrible stuff!!

We feed the birds all year round, but in the Winter it is a twice a day thing. This was taken through the windows in our Gathering Room, so not a really good photo. The cardinals are always thick on the feeders. Yesterday we had a lot of finches here to eat.

I've been stitching on and off today. Working on the freebie from primitivebetty, it is a Valentine design. I'm ready to get on with January and move into February. And the way I figure, it's only 170 days until the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER. Oh, that sounds heavenly.

Blessings,
Batbara

The Life of a Cat and a Dog....

2010-01-02T07:18:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

We have a dog and a cat that live in the house with us. Maggie Mae is my dog. She is part long-haired dashshund and beagle. She lets Wayne live with us. She weighs 24 pounds and is my baby.

This is Annabelle, a calico Manx. Now Annabelle sleeps 23 hours a day, moving from one room to another. She thinks she is the ruler of this house, BUT, I have news for her! I was here first. When Maggie first came to live with us, 3 years ago, Annabelle went to the utility room and did not come out for 3 months. Now they play together, whenever Annabelle is awake. Of course, she lets me live here with her and Wayne!

Oh, the life of animals! But, for us, life wouldn't be the same without them.

Blessings,
Barbara

Happy New Year....some stitching to share.

2010-01-01T13:18:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear Friends,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and your 1st day of the New Year has gone well.

I've spent the past few weeks doing some stitching and thought I would share with you what I've stitched up and what I'm working on now.

The first photo is from Little House Needleworks, The Library. This design will probably take me some time, as it is larger than I normally do, but I do love it and I am enjoying working on it.

This next chart is also from Little House Needleworks. It is the first design in Diane's Christmas Ornament designs. This is Fa La La, and was a joy to stitch. I also have received the next ornament, Pear Tree. I haven't decided if I am going to make them into ornaments, or make a quilted wall hanging.

These next two charts are from the 2009 Just CrossStitch magazine. The top design is from Tanya Anderson, The Sampler Girl, Early American Motif Ornament. I stitched this chart with the Presencia Threads. The second is Diane Williams, Little House Needleworks, Winter Sampler. Both of these were quick stitches and turned out really well.

This next design is from Stone & Thread, called Bittersweet and Crows. I actually started this design some time day, and ran across it in my UFO's and decided to finish stitching it up. It turned out well. It is stitched with Valdani Threads, which were a pleasure to work with. I'm not sure how I will finish this.

These next two photo's are a Christmas gift I received from our son, Gordon and DIL, Tammy. It is a tote bag made from a uniform shirt that Gordon actually wore when he was deployed to Kuwait. This is a gift that is very memorable to me, as I am very proud of Gordon and his years he has spent in the US Air Force. He will be retiring this Wednesday, January 6, after 24 1/2 years of service for his country.

I have several other designs stitched up, but I'm a real proscratinator when it comes to putting a finish on items. Finishing is not what I call fun, however, I do enjoy using finished items to decorate my home. I actually have a large basket of stitched up designs, all needing a finish of some type......Someday!

You can click on any of the photo's to view them larger.

Blessings,

Barbara

Sharing some stitching....

2009-09-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, I want to share some stitching with you that I've been doing this past couple of months.

This first design is from Tanya, The Sampler Girl, and I love it, especially since my birthday is on Halloween, October 31. Tanya is a very talented young lady and I love most everything she designs. The following is the front and back of the pillow I made.

The next two photo's are a freebie (and the back) that came from mausimons. It is such a cute fun design, and I couldn't resist stitching it.

Some of the designs below are ones that I stitched several years ago and had laid aside. I am a procrastinator when it comes to finishing items.

This design is one that I had stitched a couple of years ago, but had not put a finish to it. I have always loved this design (sorry I can't remember who designed it, and I can't find the chart). If anyone knows who the designer is, please leave a message for me. The buttons really add a lot to the design and make it really stand out.

This is the back of the above pillow.

This next hanging pillow is from Brittercup Designs and really points out what Autumn is all about.

Below is the backing on the above photo.

This design is from San-Man Originals, and I believe it was a freebie. It is one of the "letter" charts they do. Following it is the backing on the hanging pillow.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at what I've been stitching on. Remember, you can click on each photo is see a larger view of it.

Thank you for stopping by....please let me a message if you want.

Blessings,

Barbara

Mail Call....and a Cake

2009-09-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

I ordered several patterns from Amy at Down Sunshine Lane and they came last week. I love new stash! What I received is Pumpkins 4 Sale by Little House Needlewooks...My Lady's Quaker and Gentleman Quaker by Jardin Prive'...Autumn Days by Val's Stuff...Cottage Pinkeep Sampler by Midsummer Night Designs...Peacock Pin Pillow by Beehive Needleworks. I probably won't get the Autumn designs done this year as I am starting to wound down by Fall stitching, and moving on the Winter and Christmas items.

Even though Fall does not come until September 22, according to the calender, Mother Nature has decided that it needs to come now. The days are getting shorter and the temps are cooler during the day and almost cold at night. You need a light jacket during the mornings, but can shed it during the afternoon, and we are getting our share of rain. Even though the trees have not started to turn, there are leaves falling to the ground, so should not be long before we have beautiful trees. Wayne and I will make a trip to the apple farm before the end of the month to purchase apples to eat, bake with, and share with others. Since the weather is cooler, it makes me think of pumpkin, so yesterday I baked a Pumpkin raisin snack cake and will share the recipe with you.

Pumpkin raisin snack cake.....

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
15-oz can pumpkin
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, optional

Thoroughly blend the sugars, pumpkin, butter, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl with a whisk or electric mixer. Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Stir into pumpkin mixture. Add raisins and nuts. Pour into a greased jelly roll pan or 13 x 9 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes for jelly roll pan, 35 to 40 minutes for baking dish, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool. Spread with Cream Cheese Frosting. I use store bought Cream Cheese Frosing, or you can use the recipe below.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
2 to 3 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, 2 T milk and vanilla until smooth. Add additional milk if needed to make a frosting consistency.

TIP: Coat the raisins with flour before adding to the mixture to keep them from floating to the bottom of the cake.

Fall is my very favorite season of the whole year. I love the colors of Fall and the cool nip in the air. Do you have a favorite season? Make the most of it by baking, stitching, and decorating your homes.

Blessings,
Barbara

A day at Silver Dollar City....

2009-09-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

Wayne and I went down to Silver Dollar City at Branson yesterday. We always enjoy going when the Southern Gospel Picnic is going on. The picnic only runs for 12 days and SDC brings in some great Gospel groups to entertain the crowds. We saw and listened to four different groups yesterday. We also enjoyed our fill of picnic food...Southern fried Chicken, apple butter glazed chicken, orange-glazed chicken, pulled pork, creamy coleslaw, cheesy scalloped pototes, mashed potatoes and gravy, baked beans, potato salad, zucchini and tomatoes, mac and cheese, assorted salads and vegetables, and hot dinner rolls. Afterward, we enjoyed a hot funnel cake with powdered sugar and hot cider. Very yummy food and way too much to eat.

I always manage to do a little shopping while there and purchased the cutest mending basket, which is pictured below.

I also managed to take a few photo's of the decorations around the city.........

If you ever get a chance to visit Silver Dollar City in the Ozarks of Missouri, you won't be sorry.

Blessings,
Barbara

A Special Day...

2009-08-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

Today, August 27th is a very special day for Wayne and I, forty-two years ago, around 5p.m., Gordon Wayne came into this world. He was born in Joplin and weighed in at 4 pounds 15 ounces, and dropped to 4 pounds. He had to spent a few extra days in the hospital after I came home. Looking at the photo below, you would never know he was that small. Gordon joined the US Air Force in October 1985, he was 18 years old, and will be retiring from the AF next year. Wayne and I are very proud of what Gordon has accomplished with his life in the military. He has traveled the world, received his Bacholar's Degree and his Master's Degree, been in unsafe places, and is now stationed in Germany. His wife, Tammy is there with him and is a very special DIL to us.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GORDON and may you have many more.

Love you both,
MOM

I'm back....again

2009-08-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hello Dear Friends,

Well, I'm back, after several months of health issues and whatever, but we won't go into all that. But after having surgery, I must say I am doing better.

The weather here has turned Fall like, cooler evernings and early mornings, with the temps rising greatly in the afternoons. I love Fall with all its many colors, sunflowers, pumpkins, and black cats! We have the windows open with the cool breezes blowing through. The mornings are wonderful, as I can sit on my pation with my morning coffee, listen to the birds sing and watch our two dogs play in the yard.

I've been stitching Fall/Halloween designs from LHN, The Samper Girl, primitivebettys, Stacy Nash, Brittercup Designs, and Jenny Hoffman. Stacy Nash has a new Halloween booklet out full of Halloween pinkeeps, which I will be ordering today. I love the primitive look, they are fun, easy designs to stitch. I don't have any photo's to show today, but will have in a day or so, as I need to take the time to put finishes on what I have stitched.

Yesterday, I purchased the new Debbie Macomber Cedar Cove book #9, 92 Pacific Boulevard. I've read this entire series and have really enjoyed it. I also purchased her new Cedar Cove Cookbook. I do read cookbooks from cover to cover. I don't always make many dishes in them, but they make great reading for me.

Wayne and our are planning a few days trips for this Fall. One is to the Wilder Festival at Mansfield, MO. This is where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived and penned her Little House books. I loved those books and still read them from time to time. Of course, we will also venture down to Branson and Silver Dollar City a few times this Fall.

Until next time, Blessings to All,

Barbara

Happy St. Pat's Day!

2009-03-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

May you blessings

outnumber The Shamrocks

that grow. And may

trouble avoid you wherever

you go.

~Irish Blessing

The Merry Month of March.......

2009-03-05T16:33:00.001-08:00

I can't believe March is already here....but March brings many things for us. The first day of Spring, my hubbies birthday, my mom's birthday, our grandson's birthday, my step-dad's birthday, and the birthday of two nephews, phew, a full month of birthdays. March also brings the start of planting season for some flowers and vegetables. And, we have St. Pat's day in March and the wearing of the green!

Frist I have a photo of my DH, who will celebrate 70 years young this year (don't tell him I told). Wayne and I met at Crowder College here in Neosho, taking speech class. We were married in May of 1965. The photo shows him with our two dogs, Fred and Maggie Mae. This photo was taken last summer (and I think I posted it last summer also).

Now..for some stitching.

The is a design by Heidi at www.needlenecessities.blogspot.com. This is the design she shared for the month of February. I love the way this turned out. For the handle I simply cut strips of the backing fabric and braided them. Each of these designs will be hung on my Christmas tree this year. I am very anxious to see the next one, which she will post on March 15. These are quick easy designs to stitch up and I do stitch them up quickly, but my problem is getting things finished. As you can probably guess I would rather stitch than finish!

The first photo is the front and the next photo is the back of this very cute design.

You can click on any of the photo's to enlarge them.

I hope each of you have a Merry Month of March also.

Blessings,
Barbara

An unusual tree...........

2009-02-17T17:50:00.001-08:00

On the west end of our house we have (had) a rain tree. The winters the last couple of years have taken a tole on the tree. When it bloomed in the spring and summer it was beautiful. However, this past fall we had to have the tree cut back, so we don't know what will happen with the tree when spring arrives and blooming season starts. We are hoping it will come back.

In the meanwhile, we were at Silver Dollar City, in Branson during the Christmas season and they had an unusual tree, so we kind of copied their idea.

This tree is called, "An Ozark Hillbilly Wind Chime Tree". We have just hung old items on the tree. As you probably suspect, we get lots of comments about our "unusual" tree!

Click on the picture to see a close up.

Blessings,
Barbara

Stitching in January...........

2009-02-06T13:39:00.001-08:00

I did quite a bit of stitching during the month of January and the following is what I stitched up and put a finish on.

This first design is by Heidi, www.needlenecessitites.blogspot.com. Heidi is a wonderful, caring person. She quilts, makes lace, cross stitches, and now she is designing a few cross stitch items. This was the design she made for December for her home. I am very pleased with the way mine turned out. I hope Heidi is also. You can see the front and back below. I have it hanging in my setting area and simply love it. Thank you so much Heidi. When are we going to get another design? This was a free design by Heidi.

This next design was a freebie from Betty of primitivebettys. My DH has his grandfathers old pocket watch and I thought this would work very well next to it. I love Betty's designs. I did the back in a dark green fabric and love it also.

The next photo is a design by Jenny Hoffman, Country Rustic Primitives. It also was a freebie and you can see the stitched design and the backing I put on it. The fabric on back was a gift from Nancy, www.knittingpathsof life.blogspot.com
She is also Heidi's Mom. OOPS, this is not a free design. I ordered it from PatternMart as an email pattern. Sorry!

This next design is also a freebie, but for the life of me I can't remember who designed it. I love all patrotic designs (our son is in the military, as most of you know). I did not make the pillow, it was one I purchased and you just slip the stitched design in it the opening.

This following design is also by primitiviebettys, another freebie. Here again I did not make the banner. I just slipped the stitched design into it. Very simple!

Now, this next design is the January pinkeep from Maryse in France. She is doing a different pinkeep design each month during this year. She has already posted February's design and it is a very cute heart shape. So I need to start on this new one, so I don't get too far behind.

I have also joined the group on, fortheloveofstitching, that Tanya leads. Several of us are doing a Christmas SAL of ornaments and this was my January ornament. We can stitch any Christmas or Holiday design we want. Maybe by Christmas I will have 12 new designs as we started this in December, 2008. Here again, I did not make the banner.

I hope you have enjoyed sharing my stitching pieces with me. You can click on any of them to enlarge. Please feel free to leave a comment for me.

Happy Stitching,
Blessings,
Barbara

February....

2009-02-01T11:18:00.000-08:00

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."
~ Edith Sitwell

"Away in a meadow all covered with snow
The little old groundhog looks for his shadow
The clouds in the sky determine our fate
If winter will leave us all early or late."
~ Don Hailey

Blessings,

Barbara

Christmas 2008 and Family....

2009-01-19T15:53:00.001-08:00

I thought I would share a couple of photo's of our Christmas trees and some family photo's.

This first photo is my Snowman tree which I placed in my new sitting room. It is full of snowmen that Wayne and I made last year and some I purchased.

This is the lighted flocked tree in our Gathering Room. I don't decorate this tree with ornaments. This year I put red bows on it with a large red bow with streamers at the top. This is the room that we open and share our gifts.

Our son, Gordon, had not been home for Christmas in four years, so Christmas was very special to Wayne and I this year. Gordon is our only child and we are very proud of him. He is serving his country in the United States Air Force, stationed at Ramstein AFB, Germany. However, the beginning of this month he was deployed to Qatar (prounced "Cutter"). He will be there four months (or so they tell him). Tammy, our DIL, is staying at their home in Germany.

This first photo is the four of us. Wayne, Tammy, me, and Gordon.

This photo is Gordon and his dad.

And here we have Tammy and Gordon.

I've been spending this month relaxing and cross stitching. I've actually completed several small projects (need to do the finish on them). I actually can't believe how relaxed my stitching has become this month. I believe this is because I made the decision not to participate in any swaps with any of the online groups I belong to. One small group is doing a birthday club and I am going to participate in this, but we only have to send a card with a skein of thread. My choice in stitching has turned more to the primitive level and I enjoy these designs very much. They are very simple and usually very quick to stitch. I still enjoy Lizzie Kate and have her new "Boo" charts to stitch for Halloween, and of course I will always love Little House Needleworks and The Sampler Girl charts. But, my world has opened up to several wonderful primitive designers.

Hopefully, later this week I can post some of my stitching, until then...

Blessings to Each of You,
Barbara

and the Saga continues

2009-01-10T12:44:00.001-08:00

Okay, I'm back with more photo's of my home, and this will be the last of the remodeling project.

The photo below is the family wall in our gathering room. I started with a photo of Wayne and myself in the middle and went to the right with my family and to the left with his family. We enjoy looking at these photo's very much.

This photo is taken in the gathering room. The reason for this photo is so you can see the sunflowers on the mantel. Gordon and Tammy know I love sunflowers and there is a company in Italy that makes ceramic items and and that is where the sunflowers items came from. Now the ones on the hearth did not come from Italy, they are just plain silk flowers!

The photo below is the gathering room so you can see the carpet. The color of the carpet is Fossil, and it is very easy to take care of. Sorry it turned out so dark.

This is someday going to be my sewing/craft room. Right now it is very messy, but much better than it was a few days ago. I'm slowly working on getting it into some kind of order that will be workable for me. We also need to paint this room, and I think it is going to be a light green.

Here we have our guest room (we still refer to it as Gordon's room even though he hasn't lived at home in 20+ years! It is painted Faraway Blue.

And this is the Master bedroom and painted Thai Silk, pretty bright, but I love it.

Now, this is the bathroom, but I wanted you to see the floor covering in here. It is Mannington covering, also very easy to care for. This is also the flooring in my kitchen. Oops, I forgot to take a photo of the front entrance flooring, oh well, it is wood flooring, and I think very pretty.

And finally, my counter tops. They are Quartz, suppose to wear better then granite, and all I have to do is wipe them with Windex window cleaner! Now you can't beat that!

And that is the ending......In a few days I will post some Christmas photo's, was going to do it today, but this is already long enough!

Thank you for looking. You can click on any of the photo's to see them up closer.

Blessings to All,
Barbara

Remodeling..........

2009-01-09T16:26:00.001-08:00

Wayne and I have lived in our home for 37 years. We built the house ourselves from ground up, with help to pour concrete and lay up the fireplace. Over the years we have painted the rooms, had siding put on the house, put up new storm doors, just general things to make the house look good. This past August I got on a kick to do some changing around inside, like cleaning out closets and starting to down size and painting the inside of them, then painting each room, putting down new carpeting all over and new floor covering in the kitchen and bathrooms, new counter tops in the kitchen and maybe even tearing out a wall dividing the hall from the living room. Okay this is in August, so we are slowly starting to do a few things, thinking we had lots of time to get everything in order, no pressure, no company for Christmas, just the two of us. However, this is all about to change.........in October our DS starts talking about coming stateside for Christmas, okay............we told ourselves, "oh this is not going to happen, they won't make the trip," then in November an email comes in saying, "we are coming home, arriving in KC on December 10, will be at your house on December 19 (after spending time with DIL's mother.)" Here we are in a MESS, and I mean a MESS! Things are everywhere, you can't find anything. SO..............I moved fast. Went to Lowe's where the counter tops were coming from and said,"I need them put on before December 1st" they said "no way", I told them to "try". Low and behold two days later they called and said "how would you like to have new counter tops put on before Thanksgiving", "GREAT". Got that done, in the mean while we are trying to paint with the help of our friendly painter friend, who is slow as the seven-year itch! He went by the wayside......so DH and I are painting. CARPET....to be put down on December 1..no way, still painting..put off until December 8...still painting, okay every room and every closet got cleaned out and painted before December 8, except the little bedroom that is going to be my sewing/craft room. Fortunately, Wayne and I are still married. They finished putting down carpet/floor covering on December 10, then everything had to be put in place and boxes unpacked. Well, my sewing room became the catch all and the door got closed. Christmas, had to decorate, got the boxes out of the barn, went through them, brought things to the house and did some decorating, not a lot, but two trees went up, centerpieces came out and put on tables, snowmen (not all) came out.......okay DS and DIL coming on the 19th, we are at the 17th, most everything is done. On Thanksgiving it was decided that the family Christmas gathering would be at our house on the 21st.......okay, time to think FOOD. I did the ham, dressing, sweet potatoes, and green beans. My mom came from Las Vegas and stayed at my Aunt's, they did the turkey and made the pies, everyone else brought other food. There was 27 of us that gathered that day. Gordon had not been home for Christmas in 4 years. My family had not gathered together in many, many years. This was wonderful.........THE VERY BEST CHRISTMAS THAT WAYNE AND I HAVE HAD IN MANY, MANY YEARS.

Okay, I got carried away...you are here to see what we did to the house....

The below photo is what used to be our living room, it is now the dining room and sitting area. Where the white rocker is, was once a wall!

This next photo is looking at it from another angle in the room. Here you can see Maggie Mae relaxing!

The next two photo's are the tin backsplash we had put on. It is smoked pewter and I love it. We also installed a new kitchen faucet and new garbage disposal.

Anyone for a RED wall? I have always wanted a red wall, but was never brave enough to do it...well, I figured at my age, what the heck! This is my new sitting area in the dining room. We haven't hung anything on the wall yet, because I enjoy just looking at it. But, I am searching for just the right thing to hang on this wall. Before all this change I had a quilt rack with a quilt hanging on it that Wayne's mother had pieced, but this all got moved to the hall wall.

I hope I haven't bored you to much. Tomorrow, if you want to check in, I will show you more of the rooms and some Christmas photo's.

Thank you so much for stopping by, please leave a message, I would love to hear what you have to say.

Blessings to All,
Barbara

Finally.........my USB cable is found!

2009-01-08T17:41:00.000-08:00

One of the online stitching groups I belong to held a Christmas Santa Swap and Nancy from Ohio had my name. The above photo shows what a wonderful gift I received from her. She knitted me a Prayer Shawl, made from the softest yarn in a beautiful deep gray color and trimmed it with bangles, which you can see in the photo below. She also included a tin with a gingerbread cookie, a packet that says, "let it snow", which is now hanging on my snowman tree, a red rose, and all was wrapped in a beautiful piece of fabric, which will get much use and tied with a piece of white lace, which will also get lots of use.

Stay tuned in, tomorrow I will share photo's of our remodeling project!

Blessings,

Barbara

And a very Happy New Year...........

2009-01-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

The beginning of a new year.........what will it hold, only good things I hope.

Wayne and I had a wonderful Christmas, actually the best Christmas we've had in many years. DS and DIL came home from Germany, my mom came from Las Vegas, my sister came from Ardmore, OK, and DH sister and BIL came from Durant, OK. The Sunday before Christmas on Thursday was our family gathering and we had about 28 people here. It was a lively, fun filled day.

I can't post any photo's right now, because in the mist of doing our remodeling project my USB cable disappeared! So I have a new one ordered, and photo's will be coming soon.

I do want to wish each of your a Very Happy New Year and hope that the year will bring only good things to each of you.

Blessings to each of you,
Barbara

Season's Greetings to All.............

2008-12-23T04:05:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you.

Blessings,

Barbara

National Cookie Day

2008-12-04T04:19:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Everyone.....

Today is National Cookie Day, so I'm posting a bar cookie recipe that is so good.

Praline Cookies

Graham Crackers (enough to line a 15 x 10" cookie sheet, must be a 15 x 10 pan)
1 cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup chopped pecans

Line 15 x 10" cookie sheet with whole crackers. Bring butter and sugar to a rolling boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add nuts, and spread over crackers. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes (no longer, no less). Cool and cut into 1" squares.

These are very simple, easy to make cookies and taste wonderful.

Have a Great Day,

Blessings,
Barbara

A Day off..........

2008-12-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

We took the day off yesterday from all the painting, cleaning, and the mess we have here, and went shopping! I stopped at Hobby Lobby and found the cutest Christmas tree, its only 24" tall, in a pot wrapped in burlap, but the ribbon on it is ugly, so I am going to put something different around it, also picked up some DMC threads, cardstock paper, small ornaments for the new tree, a couple pieces of fabric and a packet of needles. Went next door to CATO and purchased 3 new tops and a sweater set all for myself. Then we made a stop at Bed Bath and Beyond, where I purchased new hot mats for my new kitchen counter tops. Picked up 3 in a packet of cork hot pads and a couple of silacone hot pads, a small cutting board, a Christmas scented candle, and a bag of Limited Edition Ghirardelli Holiday Chocolates. I love Ghirardelli chocolates!

Then Wayne wanted to stop at the plumbing supply house for some items and he picked up another grab bar for my bathroom, which he says I need getting in and out of the shower/tub. So that's okay with me.

We went to Mazzio's for pizza, where we usually go on Tuesday evenings (its old people night!). Then home to a nice warm, cozy fire as it was very cold last night, but we got up to 55 degress this a.m. Weather is strange, I think Mother Nature is undecided about what she wants!

Today is back to painting and trying to finish up before Monday, when they come to put in the new carpeting. I will be so glad when all this is finished, and I can get up, sit in my chair and drink my coffee, without having to worry about painting and cleaning out something.

A forlorn little tree without any decorations, but hopefully soon some will be added. At least there are chocolates to eat!

My new hot pads for the new counter tops. Click on the photo to get a little better view of the counter tops.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day.

"Being happy is something that comes into our lives through doors we don't even remember leaning open." Rose Lane

Blessings to All,
Barbara

And still more Birthday gifts...........

2008-11-30T17:40:00.000-08:00

Last week brought more belated birthday gifts to me. This is fun getting gifts when least expected!

The top photo is what I received from Joni, who lives in Pennsylvania. She and I have been friends for a very long time. We both belong to a great cross stitch group of very caring wonderful ladies. She was very generous with her gift for me. She knows I love sunflowers so this gift was very much sunflower related, containing fabric with sunflowers and sunflower buttons, two sunflower scented votives, a sunflower scented car candle, and a small notebook with sunflowers on the cover. I carry the notebook in my purse, as it is just the right size. Thank you so much Joni, you are such a very dear friend.

The other photo shows what Francoise from France sent to me. Francoise does very elegant cross stitch work. Her friends and I don't think she ever sleeps, because she can stitch a chart in almost a day's time. The chart she chose to stitch is from Notforgotten Farms and it is Ruth's pocket. She also sent a bookmark, as she knows I enjoy reading, and the card she sent is in French, and I think it is a recipe for something with chocolate and cherries, but I don't read French, so I need for Francoise to translate the recipe for me. This special gift will be wonderful displayed in my new sitting room.

And yes, we are still in remodeling mode at our house. All the rooms are painted, well all most, the bedroom that is going to be my craft/sewing room won't get painted until after the new year. We still have one small closet to paint. And we need to do some touch up work in some of the rooms. The counter tops are on, the back splash is on, we need to put up a piece of paneling, where we took down a wall. Then on Monday, December 8th the people are coming to put new flooring in the kitchen, back entrance, main bathroom, and front entrance, the rest of the rooms all get carpeting. Then we can start turning this house back into a "home". My goal is to have everything back in order by December 15/16, so I can put up some Christmas decorations and do some baking, as our DS and DIL arrive on the 19th for a weeks visit.

Now, I want to share a recipe with you:

Chocolate Chip Sensation

1 (8 oz) refrigerated cookie dough
8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 pint (2 cups) cold half and half
3.9 oz. package chocolate instant pudding
1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Press cookie dough within one inch of the edge of a large round baking stone (it will be really thin..but will puff up when it bakes).

Bake 12 - 15 minutes until light brown..COOL 10 minutes and loosen cookie from baking stone with serrated bread knife (VERY important..otherwise you will never get it off the stone).

Mix cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Spread on the giant cookie within one inch of the edge. Mix half and half and pudding together for 2 minutes, let it stand for 5 minutes (it will thicken). Spread chocolate mixture on top of cream cheese mixture.

Top with nuts, if using.

Enjoy!

Blessings,
Barbara

A very complete Thanksgiving.........

2008-11-27T15:38:00.000-08:00

Today was a very quiet Thanksgiving for Wayne and I. We painted this morning, went to Joplin for lunch, and ate way tooooooooooooooo much! We ate buffet at Golden Corral and it was good. Of course, it was not as good as you get at home, but still good.

We heard from our son and DIL stationed in Germany, and from our grandchildren in Mississippi. I also visited with my mom, my half-sister, and two of my aunts, so day has been complete.

I hope everyone enjoyed your day. Now on to Christmas............................and I will continue with this never ending remodeling project!

Blessings,
Barbara

Still remodeling.............

2008-11-25T13:33:00.000-08:00

We are still in remodel mode here! I was beginning to think it would never end, until yesterday when they installed new Quartz kitchen counter tops. They are beautiful, but we can't put the back splash up until tomorrow and the counter tops have to seal to the cabinets with the product they use. I don't even have a kitchen sink to use, the sink is sitting in the cabinet, but the new faucet and disposal are not installed and hooked up! But, tomorrow they will be and the back splash will be put up, then we get to wait another day for the glue to stick! Tomorrow we will also paint the walls in the kitchen. But it is all worth the effort and it will be beautiful. I also have a RED HOT wall in what will be my new sitting area. I love that RED wall. We have almost everything out of the house, except for the large pieces of furniture that DH and I can't move. The carpet will be coming on December 8 (the day got changed!), and I told them they had better come on the 8th or else!

But, I want to wish everyone of you a Very Happy Thanksgiving and I hope your day is pleasant, where ever you may be and what ever you may be doing.

Blessings,
Barbara

Remodeling..........

2008-11-12T16:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

I'm going to be away from my Blog for a few weeks. We are finally in remodel mode here in our home. A wall is coming down, new counter tops in the kitchen, new floor covering in every room of the house, painting each room, moving furniture from one room to the next to make living more comfortable. After 35+ years it's time for a change. Photo's will come when we are finished, whenever that will be.

Our son and DIL will be coming stateside for Christmas this year. Gordon is stationed in Germany with the Air Force, and has been there for 2 1/2 years now, so time for a visit home. They will be with us a week, December 19 - 26, after spending a week with DIL's mother in Iowa. We are really looking forward to this visit. When they return, they will have another 2 years to be there. Because of chronic health issues with my DH, we are unable to make a trip to Germany. The only sad thing about Christmas this year, is our grandchildren will not be with us.

So until I return, I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving season, and I hope to "see" you before Christmas, with many photo's of our new look.

Blessings,
Barbara

More Birthday Gifts.....

2008-11-07T15:42:00.000-08:00

This past week brought more Birthday gifts. I love having an extended birthday. But most of all, I want to thank all my wonderful friends for thinking of me. You have each made my birthday extra special.

I haven't felt well at all this week, having colon problems again, just a lot of stress added to my life. We are doing some updating to the inside of our home, and dealing with contractors is not an easy thing.

Anyway, here is what came to me this week...........

From Roberta in Georgia, two lovely kitchen towels, but I will use them for table rummers or for lining in a basket or two. Two packets of stickers which I will use when I make cards, a packet of note cards and envelopes and a packet of self stick notes by Mary Engelbrett and a skein of WDW thread in Trick or Treat and a lovely birthday card, which I think Roberta makes. She also sent a zip-lock bag of pink M & M's for breast cancer. Thank you so much Roberta for these gifts.

The above threads are from Christine, who lives in Canada. She sent two skeins of WDW thread in Trick or Treat and Pumpkin, wonderful Fall threads to stitch with. Thank you Christine for these much needed threads.

My birthday this year has been wonderful. Stitching friends are the best friends of all.

Blessings and Hugs to all of you,
Barbara

A correction.............

2008-11-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

When I posted earlier today, I forgot to add some thread to one of the photo's in a birthday gift. Heidi, the one who sent the lovely Halloween fabric and ribbon, also enclosed some thread, it is a beautiful shade of orange, called Mandarin from Carrie's Creation. You can see, in the photo how well it goes with the fabric.

When I opened packages last Friday, I had tucked this thread between the folds of the fabric for safe keeping and simply neglected to mention it. I even had it written down on my gift list.

Again, Blessings to All,
Barbara

Birthday Gifts galore!

2008-11-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

My birthday was on Halloween and my dear friend, Nancy in SC, stitched this Hallow's Eve pillow for me. It is a Stach Nash chart. Nancy does beautiful cross stitch work and I will treasure this gift forever, and display it every October. Notice the very rusty pin with beautiful black buttons attached. Thank you ever so much Nancy.

I belong to a very special online stitching/craft group. There are only 15 in this group, and the ladies are all very caring, loving gals. The following photo's are gifts that they sent to me.

The photo on the left is gifts from Hazel. It is a magnet for my refrigerator with an old leg tub full of flowers. Hazel remembered that I have an old leg tub on my patio, that I fill with flowers each spring and summer. This one has sunflowers in it, and I LOVE SUNFLOWERS, but have never put them in my tub. She also enclosed two skeins of DMC threads, which I can always use.

The photo on the right is what Clare sent to me. It is a charm, in the shape of a flower, for my cell phone and she also enclosed some thread from The Thread Gatherer.

Both of these ladies live in the UK.

This gift is from Angela, who also lives in the UK. She made a beautiful bag and embroided flowers on it. In the bag she had a packet of Lavender sachet and a bar of Lavender soap. The package was smelling so good when it arrived, I could hardly wait until my birthday to open it. She also enclosed some thread.

This beautiful fabric and ribbon is from Heidi, our list mom, and Heidi lives in Holland. This fabric will be used for pin keeps, yo-yo's, or maybe even some blocks for a quilt. The ribbon matches exactly and would look great on a pin keep. Now can't you just see a folded yo-yo with black buttons, me thinks it would be loverly!

This gift is from Nancy, who lives in Ohio. Through this group Nancy and I have discovered we have many things in common. We both like witches and snowmen and we both like some of the same authors. Nancy is also Heidi's mom. Nancy has a machine that does all this fancy stitching work and she did the two hand towels for me, aren't they beautiful? She also stitched, by hand, a book mark, and somewhere she found this cute sign. All of these gifts were wrapped in this beautiful piece of fabric, for more pin keeps, yo'yo's, or quilt blocks, and it was all tied up with a lovely piece of ribbon, but it will be to wide for pin keeps, but it went in my ribbon jar anyway!

Now, this gift is from Margaret, who is British, but retired to Spain, doesn't that just irritate you, she posts all these beautiful sunny, warm days, with beautiful trees and landscape on her Blog. Just kidding Margaret. Actually, Margaret was just too kind to me, she makes these lovely bags, and to be honest, I have been wanting one from the beginning, when she started posting them for us to see. Well, I have my very own. The stitched part is a Lizzie Kate chart, that she did and sewed in the bag. The top has drawstings. This will be a forever, ever, treasure.

Ladies, I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart for these beautiful, wonderful gifts. Each of you helped to make my birthday a very special day.

Now, the photo below is "stash" that came in the week of my birthday. My "sweet" hubby never knows what to purchase for me, so this year, he gave me money.....and said, "buy what you want", and I did, and I still have money left over! I have so much stash that I don't know what I want to start on first! But, you see, I'm stocking up for Winter, as we are suppose to have LOTS of snow, and I hibernate when it snows. I think the rest of my birthday money will go toward fabric and threads.

And if I haven't bored you enough already, the last photo is what I discovered sitting in my "gathering room" on my birthday morning. I had made a comment, sometime back that I would someday like one of these rockers..........well, low and behold, I now have one. I have a patio and a front porch, but neither are covered, so for the time being this rocker will sit in my "gathering room" to be admired and used by me and me alone!

You can enlarge each photo my "clicking" on it. Thank you for taking the time to view my birthday page, if you care to leave a message, I would love that.

Blessings,
Barbara

It's Halloween Week.........

2008-10-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

And the Great Pumpkin will rise up out of
his pumpkin patch
with his bag of toys for all the good
children.

-Charles Schultz,

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Special Days this Week..

October 28: National Chocolate Day: also the Feast Day of St. Jude, patron saint of desperate causes.

October 30: National Candy Corn Day

October 31: Do we need to remind you? It's Hallowe'en! AND my Birthday, (also National Caramel Apple Day).

Blessings to All this Hallowe'en Week,

Barbara

Primitive Stitching.........

2008-10-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

"A Haunting We Will Go" by Stacy Nash made into a pillow.

"October 31 Pinkeep" by Stacy Nash. I made this chart because my birthday is October 31.

I love to do counted cross stitch, as if you didn't already know this! Well, I have discovered Primitive Stitching, it's still cross stitch, but the charts are older looking, very simple, and when they are distressed and baked in the oven, they age! This is Wonderful. I really got "hooked" on this when Tanya Anderson of The Sampler Girl, http://thesamplergirl.homestead.com, started a new group for Stacy Nash groupies. Stacy designs primitive charts and they are beautiful, wonderful, and each to stitch. Check her out at www.stacynashprimitives.com. The above two charts are ones I had in my stash and after Tanya started the group, I pulled them out and stitched them up. Today, the postman was good to me and brought the five charts I had ordered from Stacy, herself. Here's what I ordered...Christmas Partridge Pinkeep Pillow Pattern...Homespun Christmas Pinkeep Ornaments...Jack Treat Bag and Pinkeep...The Perfect Pumpkin Pinkeep...Winter Woolens Cupboard Sampler Pattern. I have other charts ordered from Pineberry Lane, The Primitive Needle, Primitivebettys, and Plum Street.

Tanya had a "Hallows Eve" party this past weekend for the SNG, and we had a blast. It was sort of like a slumber party, but much more fun. Tanya had party favors (free charts from Primitivebettys and Tanya herself), pumpkins to decorate, and drawings from designers. Stacy gave each of us one of her charts, and we got to choose which chart. Now wasn't that generous! We talked stitching, horror movies, food (we had to bring food), and we did all this in the comfort of our own homes. Now you can't beat that!

Here is one of the recipes posted by Kim:

PUMPKIN CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

1 8-OZ package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon, or similar)
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Beat all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Makes 1 1/2 cups. Serve with cinnamon Graham crackers and/or bagels.

This is yummy.

Blessings to All,
Barbara

Silver Dollar City

2008-10-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I was signed up for a Cooking Class in the new Culinary & Craft School at Silver Dollar City in Branson. We are just under 2 hours from SDC so we visit there often, purchasing season passes each year. My class was scheduled for 11 a.m. and we arrived shortly before 10 a.m. The photo above is what you see as you come around the bend coming west from highway 76, and it is the entrance to the road to SDC. Just Beautiful! We entered the city, I picked up my ticket for the class (also picked up my ticket for the class I am taking on November 6, which will be pies), the class this day was Savory Dishes. I was not too sure how this class would work or just what Savory Dishes would be.....but soon found out. We made our way to the new building, which looks just like someone's home, both on the outside and inside. When I checked in, the young lady at the desk asked if anyone in my party would like to take the class with me, I told her it was just myself and my hubby, and she said "Well, I just have one ticket left, if he would like to take the class", after looking around and discovering there were other guys in the class he said "sure, why not". After standing in line for a short while, we were admitted to the kitchen, which is any woman's dream...BEAUTIFUL. The classroom was set up like one of Emeril's cooking shows. We sat at one of the high tables, by the fireplace, one other lady from Liberty, MO joined us. Each spot had a Midwest Living Magazine, a recipe card for a pumpkin cheesecake, and a recipe for the days Savory Dish, which was to be Harvest Skillet. Now this dish is one you can purchase at different places in SDC and is very yummy. Our culinary master, Debbie Dance Uhrig, was a pure delight, not only in cooking, but keeping us entertained during the hour long class. The recipe turned out to be very simple to make and very tasty. One I can even make at home, when I occasionally cook! The hour simply went by much to fast. Hubby and I both enjoyed the time and the taste treat. After the class, Wayne said he thought he might like to take the pie class also, so we got him signed up for that class with me. So you know where we will be on Thursday, November 6.

Yours truly with one of the many decorations around SDC. The decorations are all just beautiful.

More of the decorations!

This is a tree made entirely from pumpkins! There are two of these located at you walk into the entrace to SDC.

This is the world's largest cornucopia filled with pumpkins.

September 11 - October 25 has been National Harvest Festival at SDC. This photo is just one of the many old time farm equipment which was featured during this festival.

Who knows what these figures are made out of? Any guesses? Well, they are made out of BUTTER, yes......they are carved out of BUTTER!

As we were leaving we stopped to see the draft Mules they had come out of Oklahoma to be on diplay during Harvest Festival. A couple of times during the day they are hooked up to a wagon and enter the city for people to see, pet and ride in the wagon. A wonderful experience for children of all ages.

If you would like a fun, entertaining vacation, I would suggest Silver Dollar City in Branson. Branson, the town itself, has lots to offer for all ages.

COME VISIT SOMETIME.

A Day Away.........

2008-10-08T13:43:00.001-07:00

This is the front & back of this cannister.

This is the two sides of the cannister.

Isn't this a beautiful ceramic cannister....and it has SUNFLOWERS on it. This is something I purchased in Eureka Springs, Arkansas yesterday. Wayne and I took a day trip with our local YMCA. This is the first trip that the "Y" has planned and taking, and we were asked to be a part of this trip. There were 43 "Y" members on this trip. We left the "Y" at 9:30 a.m. arrived in Eureka Springs at 11:30 a.m. Lunch was served to us at the Basin Park Hotel, which is in the center of downtown Eureka Springs. Now, this beautiful town sits on the side of a mountain and is VERY HILLY. It is sometimes referred to as "Little Switzerland", and I can certainly understand why, as I have been to Switzerland. After lunch we were on our own for about 2 hours to shop, visit the museums and historic churches. The cannister above was what I purchased at "Back Porch" shop. A very cute two room (very small rooms) with loads of beautiful items stuffed into it.

This is what I purchased at the cross stitch shop...3 Pine Mountain kits and 5 pieces of 16 count Aida fabric.

The photo's below show the inside of the fabric shop we visited. Elizabeth, the owner, opened the shop 36 years ago. All of the stitched designs on display in the shop are ones she stitched herself. You can certainly tell she loves the craft and she is a very lovely, gracious lady. She and her DH are wanting to retire and travel, but finding good help that knows how to cross stitch is not easy. I do believe she has a chart from most every designer. The shop is just full of everything.

The name of the cross stitch shop is "Fleece and Flax". I'm sorry the photo is not very clear, but we had a very cloudy day.

Well, what do you know...here you have me and DH, in the photo below, aboard the Belle of the Ozarks, cruise boat. Which was part of the trip to Eureka Springs. It was a cruise on Beaver Lake. It was very enjoyable, but it was COLD. We saw the Ozark Bluff Dwellers burial ground, a submerged homestead (the owner plants his gardon on his roof), and we cruised around a 200-acre game preserve island. We saw a beautiful bald eagle sitting on a dead tree and finally took off in flight, and he was beautiful in flight, so very elegant with his wing span. We also came upon a Blue Heron, and a deer. The foliage was just beginning to turn. Even though it was cold, this was the highlight of the trip. Oh, we also saw Beaver Dam. You can check some of this out at www.belleoftheozarks.com.

This is the 200-acre game preserve island.

Eureka Springs is a very old town and the city fathers have tried to keep the town authentic. It is said that the Basin Park Hotel and the beautiful Crescent Hotel has ghosts, but I don't think I want to find out! There is much to do and much more to see in Eureka Springs. We also made a stop at the Fudge Shop for some much needed sweets for then and some to bring home. We also needed coffee and doing all the shopping, so we stopped in at the coffee shop for cappuccino's and a yummy, very large peanut butter cookie, which we shared. Wayne also stopped in at the Leather Shop and purchased a new wallet (I'm not suppose to tell, but he washed his other wallet in the washer!) Shhhhhhh, don't tell, or I'll get in trouble!

All-in-All, it was a very enjoyable day and DH didn't have to drive, no parking to worry about, as the bus dropped us off in front of the hotel for lunch, and came back and picked up there. The people traveling with us were very friendly, many of whom we knew, and some we had not seen in a while, so we had some good visits.

I hope I didn't bore to much, but thank you for reading and looking at our day. Please leave a comment, I would love to read what you have to say.

Blessings,
Barbara

Fall decorations, an Autumn swap, and 2 finishes.....

2008-10-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

These two photo's are the pumpkin I made this weekend. I took a couple of separate patterns and combined them to make the pumpkin. I think it turned out really cute.

This is the Fall decoration on my dining room table. In a post a while back I showed you the turkey and pumpkin I came across when I was cleaning out closets, that our son had made back in grade school. The other pumpkin is one I made this weekend.

This is the pinkeep Joni made for me for the Autumn Swap, that was held on one of the online groups I belong to. This is so beautiful and certainly reminds me of October. I love it Joni.

This is the entire collection of items Joni sent me for the Autumn Swap. She not only made the pinkeep, but included some limited edition GAST threads, an Autumn decorated notepad, and a wonderful packet of pumpkin patch scented envelope. Thank you ever so much Joni.

This is from the chart, October 31 pin cushion, designed by Stacy Nash. I love this small token to Halloween. Instead of using it for a pin cushion, I put a twine hanger on it and hung it up, as a reminder for my DH, cause my birthday is October 31. The large safety pin and buttons are out of my MIL's button tin.

This is the Autumn Sampler chart, from LHN, I finished about 10 days ago. I showed it when I started on it. I am going to do the other seasons in this series and make them into a quilted banner.

October Is......................

2008-10-01T17:55:00.000-07:00

October. I love the month of October. The trees rain down their leaves, the evenings and early mornings are chilly (sometimes just plain cold), apples, apples cider, pumpkins and all the delicious recipes for pumpkin, mums, corn stalks, Halloween and trick-or-treaters, hay rides, chili, beef stew and cornbread, AND my birthday!

2 Finishes and 1 in progress.........and this and that!

2008-09-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

This Acorn design came from San-Man Originals, which I had purchased several years ago. I found it in my stash as I was cleaning out a closet. This came as a kit and all I provided was the fabric.

This is another San-Man Originals and was another kit and I provided the fabric.

And this work-in-progress is from Little House Needleworks, Autumn Sampler. I love the colors for this, they are Crescent Colours threads and so very bright and cheery, just like Fall. There are designs for each season, and I am thinking about stitching all of them and making a banner for the craft room I will someday have!

It is raining here today and very humid, however, I do have the doors and windows open. I love hearing the birds sing and watching them on our feeders. My arthritis is acting up today, and has been most of the week, but I have managed to put a few stitches in Autumn Sampler.

I've kitted up a couple of other charts, at least the threads, for two Little House Needleworks designs, Little House Neighborhood and Yesteryear. I've also ordered fabric for these two and LHN Heart of America.

I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and purchased more supplies for pinkeeps. It seems I have discovered several small stitched designs that would look nice as pinkeeps. I also purchased more fabric to make a Fall garland using Yo-Yo's.

Hubby is painting the inside of closets for me today. Then we will paint the rooms and move furniture around. He just loves it when I decide to do these things!

Happy Weekend to everyone.

Hugs,
Barbara

Child's work.............

2008-09-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

I'm in the process of cleaning out closets and painting the inside of them. While cleaning out the hall storage closet today, I ran across two wonderful treasures. This turkey and pumpkin, made out of brown grocery sacks, stuffed with newspapers and painted, the turkeys feathers, head and feet are cut and colored out of construction paper and stapled on the sack. Our son, Gordon, made these treasures when he was 10 years old and in the 5th grade. Gordon is now 41 years old. I can see remember day he came out of school 31 years ago with these two treasures he had made for mom and dad. He was so very proud of himself and, of course, I was very proud of him. We proudly displayed these two items for everyone to see. I used them all through his school years, each October and November, and even a few years after he left home for his travels and work with the Air Force. Then they were put in storage on the top shelf in the closet and mostly forgotten about, until today. They bring back so many memories, some happy, some sad. Well, this year they are going to be the center of our decorations during October and November. I Love these treasures as only a mother would, made out of Love from her child.

Blessings,
Barbara

A hugh surprise...........

2008-09-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

We have an outside cat, Shadow, who does not realize she is suppose to hunt for her food! So I feed her every morning and every evening. One of the first things I do everyday is put a scoop of food in her bowl, just outside our back door on the carport. By the time I am ready to take my coffee and go outside she is usually finished eating, and she usually never finishes it all, but the last week I have been noticing that her dish is always turned on its side. Wayne and I figured that the raccoon or the opossum was coming up and eating, BUT.........this morning we discovered who was eating her leftover cat food. A tortoise, as you can see in the photo, he tipped the bowl over and enjoyed his meal. I guess he has been coming for over a week now, so I will just continue to feed him and the cat. I can't stand to see an animal go hungry.

Blessings,
Barbara

September .........

2008-09-06T13:10:00.000-07:00

Grandparents Day
Sunday, September 7

The history of our grandparents is remembered not with rose petals, but in the laughter and tears of their children and their children's children.

~Charles and Ann Morse

Patriot Day
Thursday, Septmber 11

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.

~Abraham Lincoln

First Day of Autumn
Monday, September 22

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.

~Elizabeth Lawrence

Something Old - something new.............

2008-09-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

After finishing up my last stitching project, I wasn't sure what I wanted to work on, so I just let time take its flow. I was looking through Blogs this past weekend and came across a finish of Blackbird Designs, "Sunflower House", the photo above, and remembered I had this started, so I dug it out, and have decided I would finish it. Since I love sunflowers and collect items with sunflowers, this will be perfect. I think I had the same idea when I started this chart, but oh well, maybe this time I WILL finish it. I do love this chart.

This chart, "Autumn Sampler", is from Little House Needleworks, I love Diane's work and have almost all of her charts, and actually do have several of them stitched up and some kitted up to be stitched. Anyway, I have had these seasonal charts in my stash since she published them. Since I love Fall, this is the perfect chart to stitch. I comes with Belle Soie threads from Crescent Colours. I am going to stitch it on 16 count Aida in Ivory. I might even stitch the "Winter Sampler", who knows!

Sorry the photo's are so light, I just could not get a good photo with the light in my house today.

We are having a beautiful day here in the Ozarks, actually it is almost like a Fall day and I love it. I am so looking forward to the Fall season, and the making of pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bars, well almost everything pumpkin, and apples things also. We will be going to the apple orchard later this month at Marionville, MO to purchase apples, then we'll have apple butter, apple sauce, apple pie, apple cake, apple dumplings, and baked apples stuffed with brown sugar, raisins, nuts, cinnamon and nutmeg. Boy, I'm making myself hungry!

I do hope everyone is having a wonderful, relaxing day, no matter if you are stitching, reading, or knitting. Enjoy yourself and enjoy life.

Blessings,
Barbara

I just talked to our grandson a little while ago, and they have returned to their home in Ocean Springs, MS. They had gone inland to Raeleen's mom (Raeleen is our ex-DIL and our grandchildren live with her). They had no damage just lots, and lots or rain. He said that he and Courtney will be returning to school tomorrow.

Blessings,
Barbara

September.........................

2008-09-01T15:44:00.001-07:00

September has arrived, which means Fall is not far away. This time of the year always reminds me of the verses in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under Heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

To each of you on this Labor Day holiday, I wish you every Blessing.

Barbara

Stitching.... and this & that................

2008-08-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

This is a freebie from http://mausimomsfreebiesenglish.blogspot.com/ There is a chart for winter, spring and summer also. I just think they are cute and think they would make cute pinkeeps.

This is another freebie, but I can't remember where I found it at. I stitched it with Presencia threads, so it has a different look, but I like it. I'm not sure what I will do with this, maybe an ornament for my Halloween tree.

This is another freebie from Plum Pudding Needleart and I love it. It's going to be made into a magnet to hang on my refrigerator during October and November.

And, lastly, this is a Lizzie Kate design. Since Wayne and I love coffee I thought this would be really cute to hang above my coffee pot. I purchased the banner for it also and it has coffee beans on it.

Sorry for the wrinkles in these designs, I haven't pressed them yet, and you can tell I stitch with a hoop. I use a 5" hoop, because of the arthritis in my hands. When I started stitched I held the fabric in my hand, but over the years Mr. Arthur has come to live with me.

I am still stitching on "Harvest Blessing", and am going to start on "Fall Sampler" from Prairie Grove Peddler.

We have a Severs family reunion tomorrow, so Wayne has all his genealogy stuff out tonight looking through it and making notes about people he wants to visit with tomorrow and photo's he wants to take of different families.

We talked with our son, Gordon, who is stationed in Germany this morning. He had a birthday this past Wednesday and we waited until today to call, because of the time change. He and Tammy are doing very well, but they will be spending another year in Germany because of his job with the Air Force. They are going to try to come to the states for Christmas this year to see family and friends. We also visited with our grandchildren, Eric and Courtney today. They live with their mother in Ocean Springs, MS. They are in the area of the hurricane and, of couse, we are worried about them. Their mother, Raeleen, is a government employee at Keesler AFB there, and she told us that all government employees have been ordered to evacuate the area as of 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning. She wanted us to know that they will be moving to her mother's, who lives farther upstate in MS. Of course, we would prefer that they come here, but for the time being this is their plan, but they know they are more than welcome to come here.

I hope everything is having a GREAT Labor Day weekend. But, remember to be safe.

Blessings,
Barbara

Fall and Halloween stitching.............

2008-08-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

Stitching is coming along very well for me these days. I had to resign from my volunteer jobs at church, because of health reasons, and find that I am a more relaxed person and actually enjoy stitching more than ever. The below photo is what I am stitching on now. It is Waxing Moon Design, Harvest Blessings. I am stitching it on 14 ct. Aida called parchment and getting the exact look I wanted. Oh, I am stitching only the pumpkin with the leaves and acorns. I have some pumpkin fabric that I am going to use to make it into a hanging.

This next photo is a couple of freebies I've had forever and don't even remember where I got them from. Since my birthday is on Halloween I love all things that go along with Halloween.... candy corn, black cats, pumpkins, acorns, that Harvest Candy that have out, black and orange jelly beans and WITCHES! You also see the fabric I have for these designs, as I am going to make them into pinkeeps.

This next photo is another finish. It is Heart~in~Hand, Inspiration design. They came in individual cards, and you could either stitch with individually or all on one piece of fabric, which is what I did. I'm not sure what to do with this, but am leaning toward a fabric wall hanging.

I also have a couple of other projects that I am working on, and will share these with you in a few days.

The weather here in SW Missouri is just like Fall, and I am so ready for Fall to come, as it is my favorite time of year. I love the Fall colors, the leaves falling, and wearing Fall clothes. But what I like best about Fall, is sitting on my patio in the early morning hour (6:00 to 6:30 a.m.) with my cup of coffee, bundled up in a warm afghan watching the sun come up and the dew on the grass.

Blessings to All,
Barbara

A day in Kansas City..........

2008-08-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, we traveled to Kansas City, MO with our group from Freeman Advantage, which is sponsored by our hospital. We left Joplin at 7:30 a.m., after having muffins, coffee and juice in the hospital lobby. We arrived in KC in time for lunch at Harvery House at Union Station. Harvery House is known for their hamburgers/cheeseburgers/onion rings/french fries, and we had all of them. Very delish! We then walked The Link which connects The Westin, the Hyatt Regency, the Shops of Crown Center, Crown Center Offices and the Science City at Union Station. It is a wonderful way to cross the busy streets of KC. We had a short time to window shop before going up to the American Heartland Theatre to see the play, Always Patsy Cline. It was a very enjoyable play. After the play there was more shopping, then we boarded the bus for our return trip to Joplin. A very enjoyable day, without driving, fighting the traffic, and trying to find your way around in KC. The next day trip is planned for December.

New fabrics, threads and stitching........

2008-08-05T17:16:00.000-07:00

The above photo is the fabrics I purchased recently at the Bittersweet Quilts shop. This shop is wonderful. She has over 2000 bolts of fabric and the owner is so very helpful. I have signed up to take a quilting class this fall. She also sells Presencia threads, which are made in Spain. I purchased 6 skeins of this thread, all in Fall colors, so am anxious to stitch up a Fall design and try these threads out.

I have been doing some cleaning and sorting, trying to get my small bedroom made into a craft room, and I came across the above chart I was stitching on back in 2006. I believe I was working on this chart while I was down with my hip replacement and broken femur bone. It was a free Quaker design by Carinne and was given out in six parts. I have all of the motif designs, but there is a border on the top, which I don't have. If anyone is familiar with this design, perhaps you have stitched it or just have the chart, would you mind to share the top part with me. I would very much like to finish this design.

Wayne and I are off to Kansas City tomorrow for a day trip with the Freeman Advantage group that we travel with. We are going to have lunch at Union Station and see a 1 p.m. matinee Always...Patsy Cline. This will be at the Crown Center American Heartland Theatre.

It is still ~ HOT ~ here, hope everyone is staying cool.

Blessings,

Barbara

I love sunflowers..............

2008-08-02T16:59:00.000-07:00

We have three volunteer sunflowers coming up this year, and this is the first one to bloom. This one is just opening up and I think is beautiful. I love to drive down a road and see a field of sunflowers in bloom. I would give anything if we had enough room here for a field or two of them.

My gathering room is decorated in sunflowers. Many of the items have been given to me by friends and I love each item.

These past few days have been a bit sad, as a very dear friend has passed away. Nancy went in the hospital on Thursday, July 24 for heart surgery. On the following Tuesday she had a massive stroke and fell into a coma and passed away yesterday (Friday) at noon. Several of my sunflower items have come from Nancy and she always crocheted me bright yellow dish cloths for my kitchen. Nancy and I became friends when I joined TOPS. She was the treasurer and always kept us on our toes with our dues and little extra's we paid to the club. In 2006 when she had her knee replaced, she asked if I would fill in for her as treasurer and I agreed, of course, I was told it would only be for a few weeks........well, I'm still treasurer, Nancy never wanted the job back. She would tell people, "well, Barb, does such a good job, why would I want to mess things up". Nancy will be greatly missed by everyone in the club, as she was just one of those persons that always had a smile and a pleasant word for everyone. She always sat in the same place at every meeting, always went to lunch with us after the meetings, and always traveled with us to out of town meetings. She was also a wonderful Christian lady. I will miss her greatly.

More Flowers...........

2008-07-28T11:41:00.001-07:00

And we have more flowers................

The top photo is my very small butterfly garden. It is located at the east end of our house, but we have decided to move it to the backyard by our flower garden. We think we will enjoy it more there. We have a butterfly bush, lantana in the pot, and a purple verbena. Small not, but next Spring it will grow.

The next photo is my hosta's on the east end of the house. I love hosta's, mainly because they don't require much care. However, when they bloom they are beautiful.

Next, we have my lily garden, these very hardy plants blooom from Spring until Fall, all we have to do is water them.

This purple clematis is planted in the original flower bed in the back yard. When I purchased it they told me it was white, someone must be color blind! This is the first year for this beautiful plant, but it is growing rapidly and now I have two blooms on it.

And lastly, we have the other half of the flower bed. This is the one that DH and the animals were getting ready to put in. The fence is taller than we actually started with, but Fred kept jumping the shorter one and watching over the plants.

I hope you have enjoyed my flowers and much as we do. We are talking about planting wild flowers in the back yard next year.......black-eyes susan's, Queen Ann's lace, wild violets, and many more. I think DH is trying to get out of mowing!

I hope everyone is having a peaceful, cool day.

Blessings,

Barbara

Our flower garden...........

2008-07-27T14:00:00.001-07:00

The top photo is our existing flower garden, and we decided to enlarge it. The bottom photo is Wayne, Fred (left) and Maggie (right) getting ready to lay the timbers for the frame of the new flower bed.

Wayne and I both love flowers and gardening, watching the birds and hummers as they come to the feeders we have out. We've also had baby birds, again this year in several of our bird houses, and that is always a joy to watch as the parent birds feed the new ones.

I have always wanted a butterfly garden, so this year we decided, very late in the summer, to start a small one, so tomorrow or the next day I will share photo's of that with you.

Until next time................

Barbara

I received an Award.........

2008-07-25T17:48:00.000-07:00

Heidi from www.needlenecessitites.blogspot.com was kind enough to send me this award, even though I haven't posted anything to my Blog in months. Thank you so much, Heidi.

I am suppose to pass this on, but since I don't usually leave messages on other Blogs other than our stitching group, I really don't have anyone to pass it on to. So to each of you on the stitchinggroup, you are the best, and if I have visited someone's Blog (other than the stitching group) consider yourself Kreative.

I wish everyone a GREAT weekend and remember to stay "cool".

A Beautiful Surprise.......

2008-02-27T19:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Margaret,

What a beautiful gift you have sent to me, thank you so very much. I was at church cooking this afternoon and DH called and said I had received a package from Margaret in Spain. I told him to bring it to me as soon as he could. Well, lo and behold, it is a beautiful apron, (I love aprons and collect them), which Margaret had made and stitched designs for the pockets. It is just the sort of apron I like. She also made a hot pad to go along with it. Margaret, all the ladies at church "made over" this masterpiece, and several told me I didn't need another apron, but they certainly did. Margaret is a wonderful, caring friend who is British, but not lives in the beautiful country of Spain. She and I met several years ago on a stitching group, and are now in a very special group with other very caring ladies. They have all been very special to me the last few months, during my DH illness and surgery. I cannot thank you enough for this very thoughtful gift dear friend. Wayne said it is to be worn only for special occasions.

What I'm stitching on..........

2008-02-24T15:36:00.000-08:00

This is what I am stitching on right now. I only have 3 lines left to stitch, then I need to decide on fabric for the backing, as I am going to make this into a banner. It will be for Wayne' birthday next month.

A Lovely Surprise!

2008-02-22T18:51:00.000-08:00

Since my DH is still recovering from his past hospital stay and surgery he is suppose to walk everyday, so he goes to Wal-mart twice a day and walks around the store. This morning he went rather early as we had a 10 a.m. doctor's appointment in Joplin. Since I was not quite put-together he went alone to do his daily walk, which usually takes him about 45 minutes. When he came home he had a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me, which was certainly a surprise. You see, for Valentine's Day he gave me a beautiful card with a crisp $100.00 bill in it, to purchase stitching stuff, as he calls it, and a large box of Chocolate Covered Cherries (I love those things!).
So, needless to say this was a "lovely surprise". He said they were to cheer me up since I've had the flu this week. YES, I took a flu shot last fall, but it did not cover what I've had this week! This lovely bouquet certainly did cheer me up. So I came home this afternoon and made him a Caramel Apple Cake, which I have posted the recipe on my other Blog, www.granniesrecipes.barbara.blogspot.com

A Valentine's Day Exchange.

2008-02-21T16:39:00.000-08:00

The stitching group I belong to had a Valentine's Day Exchange, and I received a wonderful gift from Nancy V in Ohio. She is a most wonderful caring lady and the mom of our list mom, Heidi.

I was so thrilled with the gifts she sent to me....A wonderful bag to put my stitching projects in or other things I might want to tote along with me. She even took the time to stitch my name on the front of it in a very pretty heart shape of veins and flowers. It is lined with red gingham fabric and a has a large pocket on the outside. The other gifts she included was a box of Russell Stover candies, a pair of red mittens which she knitted and a heart-shaped snowman. All these items were wrapped individually in red tissue paper, and on a couple of them she had cut out red checked hearts and pasted on the paper.

I love all the items Nancy, thank you so very much. To see what I sent to Nancy, check out her Blog at http://www.knittingpathsoflife.blogspot.com/

I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day, I know I did.

More lovely gifts

2008-01-11T18:05:00.000-08:00

More lovely gifts have arrived in the mail from very dear friends. All these gifts have been wonderful pick-me-ups for me. My hubby is still having some problems with infection and its been very stressful here.

The top photo is a beautiful Christmas card from Francoise, who lives in France. She included in the card beautiful threads, 1 from Vicki Clayton hand-dyed fibers in a color called Reseda. I love the silks from Vicki, they are so easy to stitch with. The other two threads are blues, #932 and #3325, they are DMC pearle cotton threads, beautiful colors and I really like blue. Thank you so very much Francoise. Francoise is also a cross stitcher and does beautiful work. She also loves the color pink. Some day I would like to meet this very lovely lady.

The other photo is from my email stitching friend, Jane. She lives in California, Missouri. She and I met on a stitching group many years ago, the group has since dissolved, but she and I have stayed in touch through email. This was not a Christmas gift, just a thoughtful gift since DH and I are under so much stress. Jane is a beautiful Christian lady and she and I are prayer partners. We email each day and talk on the phone at least once a week. The angel was just her way of saying their are angels watching over us. Thank you Jane, you are very special to me.

The stitching group I belong to is doing a Valentine exchange and I got Nancy V's name. Nancy lives in Ohio and is a very lovely, caring lady. She is Heidi's mom, and Heidi is our group list mom. I already have a couple of items ready to send to Nancy. After my second eye surgery this Monday, I hope to be able to get my project for her stitched up. Nancy also collects "snow people". Now Nancy does not cross stitch, but she is a knitter and knits beautiful items, maybe she'll take the hint and knit me something!

Eleanor Roosevelt was a strong, beautiful lady, whom I have admired for many years. I love this statement she once made,

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

A lovely gift

2008-01-05T17:27:00.000-08:00

The "snowballs" you see here came in my mail yesterday. They are from a lovely lady and wonderful friend, Nancy, who lives in South Carolina. I've never met Nancy in person, but she is a very caring, loving person. She is also a cross stitcher and does beautiful work and she likes to dabble in other crafts and the "snowballs" above is one of those crafts. They are actually "rag balls" and very beautiful. I have them in this carnival glass dish that was a favorite of my MIL's and they compliment my "snowman" tree very well. Thank you so much Nancy. These will be treasured forever.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

Here you see my snowman tree! Wayne and I made most of the snowmen on it. My DH has a talent for drawing and painting and is very good with small items, like snowmen noses! He drew out the patterns and I sewed and stuffed them, made scraves, sewed on buttons and made hats for some of them. It was a fun project. Next month, February, will be Valentines.

We've had a very relaxing day here today. We had French toast and bacon for breakfast, watched a couple of parades, and ate beef stew and corn bread for lunch, with apple pie for dessert. Wayne has watched some football and I have been stitching and working on some craft items.

It is very cold here, 35 degrees. Fred has been sleeping in the utility room since it gets so cold at night. Maggie and AnnaBelle snuggle up together at the foot of our bed.

I hope each of you have had a peaceful New Year's Day and many Blessings for the New Year.

What I've been working on!

2007-12-31T08:29:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share with you what I've been working on the past few days.....snowmen! Last year I purchased a couple of small snowmen for our tree, and this year I went back to get some more, but the store didn't have them. DH said, well, why not make your own surely it can't be too hard! Well, with his help here is what we have come up with. All this out of my scrap bag of fabrics and craft supplies. We have made enough to cover my year-round tree. I've decided I want some lace for garland for the tree, but need to make a run to Wal-mart for that. Hopefully, tomorrow I can get a photo of the tree taken and posted. We are very proud of ourselves!

The top photo is an angel that was given to me by a friend from church. It is made using yo-yo's, a thin dowel stick, a very small flower pot and a round ball for the head. The halo is wire, and the head and halo are painted gold, as is the small flower pot for the base. The angel wings are gold ribbon wired together and hot glued on the back. There is a card around her neck which reads.....

Friend Angel

This darling little angel

will watch over all

you do. She'll be a

reminder that you are

loved too!!!

These would be very easy to make also.

I can't believe I'm into all this craft stuff! Oh me, oh my, there is never enough time to do all the things in my "to do" baskets! If I live to be a 100 (which I plan on doing), I will complete everything.

I also want to take this time to wish each of you a very Blessed New Year and hope good health for each of you during the coming year.

Happy New Year!

Sharing a Bit of Christmas, finally!

2007-12-29T12:33:00.000-08:00

The top photo is our new snow family that came to live with us this holiday season. They will bet to remain with us during the month of January, before being put into their boxes to rest for several months!

The second photo is small gifts I received from friends on a stitching group I belong to. We are a small group of ladies that enjoy stitching and sharing. From Judy, there came a card with a mitten shape on the front with a needle attached, now how did she know I have a hard time keeping up with needles. From Nancy, a beautiful card that will look very nice on my January snow tree. From Britt, in Germany, another beautiful card with a miniture ornament inside. From Christine, a really cute card with a snowman being adorned like a cowboy, and inside was a skein of WDW thread, Sugar Plum. From Joni, another beautiful card with two skeins of Carrie's Threads. I have never stitched with these threads, so will have to find a chart to use them on. The colors are Olives and Too Blue. And from Heidi, our list mom, a beautiful card which I can't read, since it is in Dutch and a ribbon set for making pinkeeps in 2008. Thank you ladies for thinking of me. I love each item and your thoughtfulness.

The third photo is a couple of gifts I received from Tresa, my best friend from church. Tresa is so talented. She painted the Santa on a brick and added the cap. This was my gift from her last year. And this year she made the cat from holiday fabric. They add so much to our holiday decorations.

And finally, this was our Christmas tree this year! With Wayne's health the way it is, we didn't want to bother putting up the large tree and doing all the decorating that we normally do. One year, I didn't get Christmas decorations down until July 4th, and would not have taken them down then, but we were having a family event here.

I hope each of you had a Blessed Christmas and I wish each of you many Blessings and Good Health in the new year of 2008.

Blessings,

Barbara

An Interesting Day!

2007-12-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

My DH had cataract surgery yesterday on his right eye. He spent most of yesterday afternoon napping in his recliner. This morning we had to see the doctor in his office to get the patch removed and the eye checked. The nurse removed the patch and PANIC......he could not see, everything was a blur. But, before we left the doctor's office things were better and Dr. Butler said it would take a couple of days for the eye to clear up, but that everything would be fine. So today we have spent the day putting drops, to different kinds, in his eyes and watching the clock to make sure we do it every two hours. We get to do this for 3 days, then only one kind of drop for the next 4 weeks. Then, next Monday, he has the other eye done, and we do the same thing all over again! Life will be very interesting here.

I haven't done much with my Christmas decorating. I need to get myself in gear, as we are having friends over this Sunday evening for refreshments. Also, need to decide what I'm going to serve. I know I will be having hot apple cider and the Creamy Apple Dessert I posted on my recipe Blog, www.granniesrecipes.barbara.blogspot.com

I'm still stitching on some small Christmas decorations for my tree. A friend at TOPS this morning (I weighed in at 7:30 this morning and left), gave me a handmade quitted ornament for the tree. It is a Santa and so very cute. Maybe I will get a photo posted in the next few days.

Time for more drops in DH's eye!

A new month begins!

2007-12-01T16:57:00.001-08:00

Today is the first day of December and I have all my Fall decorations down and put away. Now it is on to Christmas decorations. We aren't going to put every thing up this year....there will only be one tree, here in the gathering room, center pieces on the dining room table and kitchen table. A few assorted items on other tables around the house, wreaths on all three doors, candles in the windows, and Christmas CD's in the player. No fireplace mantel decorations, no large flocked tree in the living room and gathering room, and no small trees in the three bedrooms.

But...we will be thankful for our health, our home, our son and DIL, and our wonderful grandchildren. Wayne and I will spend a very quiet Christmas here at home, as the doctor's do not think it wise for him to travel this year, with the urinary tract problem and the COPD. My shopping is done. I need to wrap everything and get it all in the mail this next week.

Wayne is having his first cataract surgery this Monday on the right eye and the left eye done the following Monday. We are also anticipating prostate surgery sometime this month. He has been busy all week doing things in the yard, getting wood where I can handle it for the fireplace and the wood stove. Making sure both vehicles are serviced and in good condition, as I will be doing most, or all, of the driving.

Today was very windy, however, the temp did get up into the lower 60's, but it sure looked much colder from my kitchen window. It really looked like it could snow, but the temp was way too high.

Well, I've rambled enough for today. Time to stitch a bit and watch the Missouri/Oklahoma game. Of course, we are hoping Missouri wins!

Another year old!

2007-10-31T19:21:00.001-07:00

Well, it's Happy Birthday to ME! Yes, I am a Halloween birthday gal. I was born 65 years ago today, except it was on a Saturday and I was born at 12 noon. I always told my mom I was born in time for lunch!

We had a guiet day. I had a meeting at church with our pastor this morning, home for lunch, then to Joplin to have my eyes examined and set up cataract surgeries in January for myself. We ate dinner at a place in Joplin, called The Red Onion, a very nice place and excellent food. We shared a great dessert, Pumpkin Cheesecake, very rich, but very tasty. We did stop at a book store between the doctor's office and dinner, but neither one of us found anything we wanted to purchase. Then home for cups of pumpkin spice International coffee before a cozy fire in the fireplace.

I heard from our son in Germany. He called while we were having lunch to say Happy Birthday and see how we were doing. I had received a package from them on Monday, and waited until today to open it. I will post a photo tomorrow. The grandchildren called this evening with wishes for "grannie" and to tell me of their fun and games tonight. So my day was complete.

We have to be back in Joplin in the morning at 9 a.m. for DH to see the urologist and hopefully get a good report.

I hope everyone's day was as good as mine,

Barbara

Almost like Fall!

2007-08-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this weather. We have had 3 digit temps since the 1st of August, then yesterday it was in the 90's and today it's in the 80's. It looks and feels just like a beautiful Fall day, and I love it.

We've had an eventful weekend here in the Ozarks. The funeral service for the three shooting victims last Sunday was held yesterday, in Anderson which is aboout 10 miles from here. Today the Congregational Church, where the shootings happened had a memorial service. The Micronesian's from all over came for the funeral service and the memorial service. They are a very close community of people. My DH has worked for some of these people over the years and found them to be very kind and friendly people and love to be living the USA. There was also a healing service later this afternoon to help our community as a whole get over this terrible tragic. My heart goes out to all of these people.

Not much else is happening here. We attended Sunday School and church this morning, and went to a friend's house for lunch. Debbie asked me bring the dessert and I made a pineapple pie and a chocolate snack cake, and came home empty handed! You can see the recipes on my recipe Blog.

I cross stitched a bit yesterday, not making much progress, but every stitch counts!

I leave you with this:

Weatherwise, it's such a groovy day.

Frank Sinatra

Blessings to all, dear friends,

Barbara

Five months ago!

2007-08-17T17:37:00.000-07:00

Oh my, I can't believe it been also 5 months since I last posted on my Blog. A lot has happened since April 1. We were having a normal Sunday, or normal to us. DH and I were getting ready for bed and he started complaining of not being able to get a breathe. He was a smoker! It got so bad that I had to call 911 and get an ambulance here at once. My DH was suffocating to death. The ambulance did arrive in a matter of minutes with oxygen and everything of necessary means. They took him to the hospital and immediately admitted him and he spent the night in ICU attached to all sorts of medicial machinery. The next day he was admitted to a private room and stayed the week in the hospital on oxygen and taking steroid medicine. Needless to say, my DH DOES NOT SMOKE now. However, we have had a long struggle with meds, a sore mouth from the Advair and the nebulizer. Now, he is struggling with pains in his abdomen. They have ruled out gall bladder and an ulcer. This week we have been to the doctor 3 times for tests. They are still thinking it might be gall bladder, even though the test did not show that. Today was a cat scan of the pancreas and liver. Hopefully, we will know something the first part of next week. He is able to work some and gives him some pleasure, as he enjoys his work and the people he works for, (he is a self-employed contractor).

And, to add to all this, the stress of all this, added to my Lupus problems. It really flared up this time in my hands. Fortunately, I have been able to keep myself on my feet, but close to home. I have not been able to do any cross stitch or quilting during these months. I'm doing good to cook and keep house and care for DH. The last few days have been good however, and we are very thankful for that.

The weather here is VERY HOT, temps in the 3 digits. Everything is very dry and starting to look very droopy!

And finally, our beautiful little town, has a tragedy here last Sunday. A man entered a church here in town, actually the beautiful old church across from the building that we owned in town, and killed 3 people and injured several others. But, our town, always comes together, and supports each other, no matter what nationality you might be. Tomorrow is the funeral service for the 3 men and Sunday, the church in town is having an afternoon memorial service for their families and the families of the injured people. It is just a shame we had to make national news about something so sad.

Last Sunday was promotion Sunday in our church for the Sunday School children. I now have new 5th graders and my 5th graders are now 6th graders. I lost a group of great kids, as the 6th graders moved on to the youth department, but gained a new group of great kids. This Sunday I am having donuts, milk and juice for them and will be spending time getting to know our new members.

I am also going to head up the Wednesday night meals again at church. I won't be doing a lot of cooking, but they want me to be in charge and see that things run smoothly. I have all the menu's planned for the next six weeks and have several ladies lined up to work and grocery shop. I had actually resigned from this position, and our pastor came to visit with me, so, we'll see what happens.

I cross stitched the following Bible verse many-a-year-ago and it hangs in my dining room. I have read it several times a day during the past few months.

He gives strength to the weary and

increases the power of the weak...

Those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength,

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:29,31

Blessings to you, my friends,

Barbara

Our Barn and my Forsythia bush

2007-03-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

Here you see my forsythia bush that survived the ice storm and my Iris that are coming up. The forsythia are beautiful this year, and tells us that Spring has arrived. The other photo's are of our new barn, that was built by the Mennonites and delivered to us this past week. It is 10' x 16'. A perfect place for storage and my DH tools, since we no longer have the building in town.

2007-03-21T12:07:00.000-07:00

The above photo is our grandson, Eric. Today is his 15th birthday, and here you see him horsing around. I told him to smile pretty and this was what I got in response! DH will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow. My stepdad had his birthday yesterday and my mom will celebrate her birthday next Wednesday.

Today is the first day of Spring and it is beautiful here, sunny, in the upper 60's, BUT the wind will knock you over, it is so strong. However, I do love this time of year. The purple clovers have all bloomed out in the yard, my forsythia is blooming and the trees are starting to bud out. My jonquils have bloomed and are almost gone, since I lost some during the icy, cold weather. We also lost our mock orange bush and I'm not sure about my Rose of Sharon. Hopefully, this weekend will be nice and DH and I can work out in the yard and finishing cleaning up and do some planting and playing in the dirt.

"A good laugh fills your home with Sunshine."

Happy St. Pat's Day!

2007-03-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

March is here and I am way behind. This month our grandson, Eric will turn 15 and my Dear Hubby will also add another year, as will my Mom and stepdad!

The yahoo stitching group I belong to did an Irish Exchange this month for St. Pat's Day. We were instructed to mail a St. Pat's Day card with 6 skeins of green thread. My partner was Margaret, who is from England, but now lives in Spain. Margaret and I have known each other for several years now and she is a very gracious, caring lady. And her stitching is beautiful. I received from her a lovely, beautiful pinkeep, with a quaker motif stitched in green, trimmed with green ribbon and pearl pins. This is so lovely and something I will add to my treasure box and keep forever. She also included, not only 6 skeins of thread, Crescent Colours Meadow Green; Six Strands Sweet, Spice Drop; WDW, Hunter; and 3 silks from Vicki at Hand-dyed fibers, Hunter, Spring Green, and Emerald. All of these were from her own stash. She also included a card with a quote from Maya Angelou, "There is an intimate laughter to be found only among friends." Also was included a small packet of kleenex with Froggy Friends designs on them and a beautiful post card, since she could not find a St. Pat's Day card, with scenes of Spain and places that Margaret has visitied. All of this was enclosed in a lime green drawstring bag. You can see all of this in the top photo on the left, and the photo on the right shows the pinkeep.

And to my pleasure a few days later, I received a card from Margaret, saying that a good friend in England had helped her find a St. Patty's Day card for me, and to add to all of this, she had filled the card with shamrock confetti and included another skein of thread from Ozark Sampler, Sea Cucumber. Dear Margaret, I cannot thank you enough for all of these wonderful goodies. You have been so gracious to me over the years.

To each of you I wish you a very Happy St. Patty's Day, remember to wear green and have a cup of green tea, its good for you!

Another Christmas finish!

2007-02-26T12:08:00.000-08:00

Here you see my second Christmas ornament finish for 2007. This one is from Lizzie Kate, Happy Holidays, from the 2006 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments magazine. It turned out very nicely and was a quick stitch. I stitched it up Saturday while it was raining. I am thinking of stitching it on a piece of green felt with a green ribbon hanger and pulling threads to fringe the edges of the fabric.

I didn't get much stitched on Beatrix Potter this past Saturday during our 3 p.m. time. We had some friends drop it and it was lovely to visit with them and have coffee and pie. I actually had an apple pie fresh from the oven with ice cream.

Today is a busy day with doctor's appointments for myself, delivering meals-on-meals and Maggie has a vet appointment this afternoon to start her shots. And I need to pick up some meds for Annabelle. It seems she has taken the "kennel cough" from Maggie. Now this is going to be fun giving meds to a cat!

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the heart.

Maggie Mae!

2007-02-24T09:36:00.000-08:00

Well, Maggie Mae has certainly made herself at home here with us. Here you can see her sitting on Annabelle's climbing/scratching post looking at the birds through the window! She also plays with the ball on the string, which is more than Annabelle does! Of course, Annabelle is still very upset, because we have a DOG in the house!

Unfortunately, Maggie has been sick this week. She has had "kennel cough". The vet tells me this is not uncommon for puppies coming out of animal shelters. So we have been giving her antibiotics, cough syrup and children tylenol. She goes back to the vet this Monday afternoon. But, believe me, I can tell you she is feeling much better. She is just a sweetie.

While at Wal-mart yesterday, I picked up a new book, Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky. I've read a few good reviews on this so thought I would give it a try. I've read one or two other books by this author and enjoyed them. Hope this one is good.

Today, is a rather quite day here at home. I've stitched this morning on my Christmas ornament that is on my February schedule. I'm doing the Lizzie Kate, Happy Holidays, from the 2006 Just Cross Stitch Christmas ornaments magazine. It is working up rather pretty. This afternoon at 3 p.m. I will stitch on Beatrix Potter's Quaker Sampler. This is the time the stitching group, FTLOS, has set aside to stitch on a project.

Be not simply good, but good for something. Thoreau

My Stitching and More!

2007-02-22T12:01:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm sharing some of my stitching. The top left photo shows the Santa I stitched in January for the ornament of the month SAL we are doing in one of the cross stitch groups, For the Love of Stitching, I belong to. I am going to back it with red fabric and put a red ribbon hanger on it. This month, February, I am working on the Lizzie Kate ornament, Happy Holidays, from the 2006 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament mazagine.

The photo on the right shows the new stash I received in the mail on Tuesday. I ordered this from Amy at Down Sunshine Lane. By the way, Amy gives great service. The Lizzie Kate, Coffee Crazy, chart is adorable. I also ordered the banners and pillows to display the charts in, and these are so cute when you see them in person. The new Blackbird Designs book, With Needle & Thread is wonderful. One of the designs in it is, Tis Halloween, and since my birthday is on Halloween, this will be a must to stitch, and it is stitched with Crescent Colors threads, which I love to stitch with. Another design in the book that I especially like is, My Quaker House. Actually I really love all the designs in the book.

The two bottom photo's are of Beatrix Potter's Quaker Sampler which I am presently working on the same group I mentioned above. Mine is stitched on 18 count Antique Ivory fabric, using DMC thread 815. I haven't had a lot of time to work on it, but do enjoy stitching this chart.

I have another order coming from Mary Kathryn at Handcrafts Online. She is another great lady to do business with, and also gives excellent service. Receiving new stash is always like receiving a wonderful birthday gift or Christmas gift for me!

My only wish is that I had more hours in the day to stitch. For me, it so relaxing to sit down and put needle to fabric to create something beautiful. I love to cross stitch. As Helen Keller once said, "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."

Catching Up!

2007-02-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day has come and gone. My Hubby brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and I wanted everyone to see what my friend, Renee sent to me from France. This is a friend, I just recently got acquainted with through our Blogs. She hand made the Valentine and cross stitched an initial "B" on it for me, the bookmark is also cross stitched with another "B" on it. This bookmark I have placed in my Bible and use it daily. The free kit is a DMC kit, called The Sloe Fairy with Aida fabric, DMC threads, needle, chart and picture mount all included. Thank You so very much Renee.

The other photo is a table runner I quilted for my dining room table last week. My friend, Marie, who recently had by-pass heart surgery, was a guest in our home last week and it was easier for me to quilt this table runner, rather than work on my cross stitch. I love patrotic items, and sunflowers! By the way, Marie, is doing very well.

The weather here has turned to Spring! It was in the upper 60's today and suppose to stay this way until Saturday, when it drops down into the 30's again.

The stitching group, for the love of stitching, is doing a SAL of the Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler. I am stitching on 18 count Antique Ivory fabric with DMC thread 815. A lovely lady, Roberta from Florida is leading this SAL. I have been trying to stitch on mine each Saturday at 3 p.m. and several in the group join together to stitch and have a cup of tea or coffee.

Today, when I came home the mail brought me the wonderful package of goodies I had ordered from Down Sunshine Lane, a great online cross stitch shop. I will share my goodies with you tomorrow.

I want to share this recipe with you today. It is a Paula Deen recipe. Enjoy!

Pine Bark

35 Saltine crackers

1 cup butter

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

5 (4-ounce) milk chocolate bars, broken into pieces

Preheat over to 400 degrees.

Line a 15 by 10 x 1 inch jelly roll pan with tin foil. Lightly spray foil with a non-stick cooking spray.

Place saltine crackers, salty side up, in prepared pan. In a saucepan, boil butter and sugar for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract. Pour mixture over crackers and bake for 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from oven, top with candy bars, and spread evenly as chocolate begins to melt. Cool slightly and transfer onto waxed paper. Allow to cool completely.

There is no better exercise for strengthening the heart than reaching down and lifting up another.

We have a new addition to our family!

2007-02-11T17:49:00.000-08:00

The photo at top is me with my new hair color and hair style!!!! Boy, it is WHITE! And with me is my new baby! The photo is really not very good of either of us!

This photo is our new baby. This is Maggie Mae! We adopted her Saturday, February 10. The Humane Society said they thought she was about 2 years old, she is brown and tan, and she has some longhaired dachshund in her, but her legs are longer than a dachshund. I will be taking her to the vet this week, so I will see what he says about her breed. She is very lovable and loves in sit in my chair with me. Our cat, Annabelle, is really having a hard time with having another animal in the house. She has been hid out ever since we came home with Maggie. I only hope this situation works out. All Maggie wants to do is play with her, but Annabelle thinks she owns the place! Cats, strange creatures!

Sharing a Bit of My Life!

2007-02-08T20:32:00.000-08:00

The above photo is about half of the students in my 5th/6th grade Sunday School class. These preteens are a real challenge to teach! They know more about life at 11 and 12 years of age than I did when I married at age 23! They are a lively, chatty, lovable group of preteens, and a joy to be with each Sunday. It takes me a part of each day to study my lesson for the week and many hours in prayer during the week to prepare to teach. Since we can't be with our grandchildren very often, these preteens fill that void. My granddaughter, Courtney, was a part of this group when they lived with us and then again this past summer. Courtney, is the one that inspired me to volunteer to teach this age group when they were looking for a teacher. I had always taught 3rd /4th graders, and they are a real joy to teach, but this group of boys and girls has my heart!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. " Proverbs 22:6

A Quiet Weekend!

2007-02-04T17:25:00.000-08:00

This has been a quiet weekend for us. The temps are very cold, nothing about 32 for several days. The above photo is Mr. Woody Snowman, who keeps me company in my kitchen every winter. I made beef stew and cornbread for us and we delivered some to my friend, Marie and her daughter, Theresa. I also made a Cream Cheese Danish, which is yummy.

Cream Cheese Danish

2 cans fat-free crescent rolls

Spray a 9 x 13 pan with "Pam".

Press 1 can of crescent rolls into bottom of pan. Making sure to press seams together. You may have to stretch the dough to fit the bottom only.

Mix together until creamy:

2 8-oz packages of fat-free cream cheese

1 cup Splenda

1 egg yolk (save white)

1 tsp vanilla

Spread cream cheese mixture on top of crescent rolls. Cover with second can of crescent rolls. Slightly beat egg white and brush on tope of crescent rolls. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Drizzle with 1 cup powdered sugar and 2 tsp milk.

A Very Sad Day!

2007-02-02T20:24:00.000-08:00

Today has been a very SAD day for me. My dog, EmilyAnne, was hit by a car last night and died. Emmy and Fred, our 80 pound, outside dog, who has been living in my utility room for the past 3 weeks because of the weather, somehow got out of their fenced in back yard last night and made their way to the highway. Emmy was killed instantly, which I am thankful for. My DH was out in his truck looking for them and came upon her just after she was hit. Fred made his way home across the field, and when Emmy was not with him I knew something had happened to her. DH picked her up and brought her home and he buried her this morning. She was 6 1/2 year old, and I had gotten her when she was 6 weeks old. A little ball of black fur. She was truly MY dog, my shadow. I miss her terribly and have had a very SAD day. She was not a pedigree dog, just part terrier and dashhound, but a little bundle of joy, that shared my life for such a short while.

"To get the full value of JOY, You must have Somebody to divide it with." Mark Twain

My little corner of the World!

2007-02-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

February is here. Oh my, where does the time go! We have snow with ice under it, very slick here. But....I don't want to talk about the weather today. Today, I want to share my little corner of the world with you. This is my stitching, reading, Bible study corner in the Gathering Room of my home. This is where I spent part of my time, doing what I enjoy. The photo on the right shows my Little Corner of the World! You can see I have cross stitch items all over, a few books on the end table. BTW, the end table is one my DH made from an old sewing machine stand. My Ott light to help me see those charts and baskets of threads, needles, scissosrs, hoops and whatever else I might need. This is also where I enjoy cups of tea and sweets!

The photo at the left shows one of my Pine Mountain Round Pillows I did a few years back when they came out with them. It was a monthly item, and I did all twelve of them.

The stitching group I belong to is doing a challenge each month. We are doing Christmas ornaments, several different SAL's, plus learning to do other crafts. I am trying to do a Christmas ornament is month and did stitch one in January. It is a small Santa and will post a photo for you later. I also stitched a Pine Mountain Valentine pillow and have another one in the works. I will post photo's of those also.

February the month of love! I love the month of February, it is a short month and we get to share our "love" with family and friends. I will be putting together a box of goodies for my grandchildren and Courtney's birthday is this month, she will be 12 years old.

My dear best friend, Marie, who has heart surgery this past Friday, came home yesterday afternoon. She had four by-passes and is really doing well for a 78 year young lovely lady. Her daughter, Theresa, has been here all week and will be staying through all of next week. They treat me like family and I love them like family. Marie and I are in TOPS together. She is such fun to be with, loves to shop, but she does not do cross stitch, but she does knit. The yellow and brown afghan on the back of chair was made by Marie for my birthday last October.

"This is the day which the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Renee!

2007-01-26T20:09:00.000-08:00

Renee,

You have left such nice comments on my Blog, but I cannot find your Blog to read. Please leave your Blog name for me to visit. I would love to read about the history of DMC threads, and yes, I will have a cup of coffee ready to enjoy while I read.

Things have been hectic to say the least!

2007-01-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been over two weeks since I last posted to this Blog. But Mother Nature got in the way with a severe ice storm here in the Ozarks of Southwest Missouri. We had three inches of ice on everything! Trees broke, power went out and left many people in the dark for over a week. Winter hit us on Friday evening, January 12 and on Saturday morning, many people got up to no electricity and no phone. Our electric did not go out until Sunday afternoon at about 4:30 p.m. and when you live in the country and are on a well, you have no water! BUT, I knew we would probably loose the power, so I had drawn water in the bathtub and in several 5 gallon pails and empty plastic milk cartons I had saved. Fortunately, we do have a wood heating stove in our home and three gas heaters for back-up. We were able to stay warm, but I cook on electic, so could not cook on the stove, but did manage to cook a little on the wood stove. We went until Wednesday evening about 9 p.m. without power and it came back on! Hip Hip Hooray! We had power all day Thursday and Thursday evening, THEN on Friday about 11 a.m. NO power again! Oh no, NO water in reserve! What to do............PRAY! Yeah, at about 4:30 it came back on. We do feel blesssed however, because today as I write this, two week later, there are still a few families without power.

My hubby has been very busy with his work, plumbing, trying to restore busted water lines in homes and businesses. And I have been doing my part, by helping to cook and feed the power companies that have sent their men into our town to help restore the power lines. The Missouri Baptist Convention has sent their chain-saw group to help trim and cut trees, clean-up yards and stack all the brush for pick-up. Our beautiful town looks like a war has hit us, there is so much damage all over town. It is hard to believe what has happened to us here. The photo's you see are just a small fraction of the damage, and they are only of the area here in my own front and back yards.

But, also, as I write this, life as we know it, is returning to normal. We did have church last Sunday and had a very good crowd. Hubby and had I two different families stay with us for a few days and enjoyed their fellowship greatly.

My best friend, Marie, was staying with here neighbors, who live next door, and they had a generator, so she was having a ball with them and their family. She said at one time there were 14 people staying there! She got to return to her home on Sunday, January 21. THEN, on Wednesday of this week, dear Marie had a heart attack. I just could not believe this was happening! Today, Friday, she had open heart surgery with 4 by-passes. The doctor says she is doing very well and came through the surgery well. When I left the hospital today, she was still asleep in ICU, and they said she would sleep for another 8 to 12 hours. They said she would probably move to her own private room sometime tomorrow and start rehab. I love this woman like my own mom. Her daughter, Theresa and I have become like sisters during these last few days, and her son, Carl, has a very special wife, Pam. They are such special people.

A Most Wonderful Surprise Today!

2007-01-11T12:14:00.000-08:00

There is a wonderful lady on a stitching group I belong to named, Heidi. Heidi lives with her husband, Jos, in Holland. I've mentioned her before on this Blog. She is a very talented your lady, who not only does cross stitch, but also quilts and a number of other crafts. Back before Christmas, she had sent me a beautiful cross stitch Christmas ornament magazine. Of course I can't read a word of the language, but I can read photo's. There are 34 pages of nothing but Christmas items to cross stitch. I love the banner on the front cover and hope to start stitching on some of these small charts in order to make this banner. Thank you so much Heidi for this treasure.

SO, THE SURPRISE..........................

This morning I was trying to get Skype to work on my computer, and as usual was having problems. I want to be able to actually talk with my wonderful stitching friend, Heidi, who lives in Holland. Jos, Heidi's DH came on line and was trying to walk me through the process and asked for my phone number. I thought that had something to do with getting Skype to work, so gave him my computer number and also our business number. Low and behold, about 5 minutes later, the business phone rang and it was Jos, I could not believe it!! He called to help me with the problem on Skype and finally decided that I needed to pull the computer out from the wall and check the wires for the microphone. I told him to give, "my love" to Heidi, and he said hang on, she is here, and sure enough there she was. This was almost like having her in person. She sounds just like I thought she would, so kind and pleasant. I was so excited that I couldn't hardly think of anything to ask her or talk about! We did visit for a short time and after hanging up I actually had to shed a few tears from excitement and happiness. Heidi, please forgive me for being such a "cluck" on the phone. This has simply made my day, not only for today, but for the week.

A Beautiful Gift ~ from a wonderful friend.

2007-01-05T13:24:00.000-08:00

I received these beautiful pinkeeps from a very lovely, caring, generous lady during this past Christmas season. Nancy R. is a member of our online yahoo stitching group, " for the love of stitching". Nancy does such beautiful stitching and these pinkeeps are something that I will cherish and keep forever. Thank you so very much Nancy.

Nancy is decorating her home in South Carolina with her stitching projects. She has several of the first lady samplers, that are designed by Tanya Anderson, The Sampler Girl, finished and already hung in her home. Presently we are stitching on For Mrs. Jefferson: A Colonial Love Song. Nancy is leading us in the SAL. It is a beautiful, colorful Sampler. Tanya's website is: http://thesamplergirl.homestead.com/home.html

January ~ Snowpeople!

2007-01-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

My Christmas decorations are down and my snowpeople are out! Meet Herman and Hannah, they sit on the shelf above my kitchen sink. Then we have Willy, Gilly, and Jilly they sit on the snowman quilted table topper on my kitchen table. And at my back door we have Fritz and Freda to greet our guests.

Beginning a New Year

2007-01-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

We have begun a new year today. I can't believe that another year has passed. Some bad news today, a cousin, Suzanne, of DH has passed away due to cancer. She was a year or two younger than DH. Her service will be tomorrow. Unfortunately, she lives in Texas and we are unable to make the trip, but our Blessings are with the family at this time.

I've spent the day re-organizing my stitching and making a, very long, list of projects started, some UFO's I want to finish, ornaments I want to stitch during this year, exchanges I'm going to be doing for friends, and SAL's I am involved with and other's that will be starting. The list is a little intimidating at first look, but it does give me some goals for this new year. With many thanks to Heidi, a really lovely, friend from, For the Love of Stitching group, I think this list will help with my goals for the new year. Heidi is a multi-talented young lady who lives in The Netherlands with her DH Jos. This group has come to mean so much to me, as we have developed very close friendships during the past year. I've also joined another very active, chatty group, Stitchers Time Out (STO). I really don't know where they got this name, because there is never any "time out" on this group!

My heart also goes out to Mrs. Betty Ford, on the loss of her beloved husband, Gerald.

My Blessings for each of you, dear friends, is that you might have during this new year, the Blessings that your heart desires.

"You must do the things you think you cannot do." Eleanor Roosevelt

Nature

2006-10-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

"See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...we need silence to be able to touch souls." Mother Teresa

Friday, October 27, 2006

2006-10-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

The Lord cares for the land and enrices it abundantly. Psalm 65:9

A wonderful Fall recipe:

Apple Dumplings

2 cans of Crescent rolls

4 large Granny Smith apples

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 sticks butter or oleo

1 tablespoons cinnamon

12 oz. can Mountain Dew, at room temp.

Peel and cut the apples into fourths. Unroll and separate the crescent rolls and place a slice of apple on each roll-up. Place in a buttered 9 x 13 glass pan. Mix sugar, cinnamon and melted butter. Pour over dumplings. Pour the can of Mountain Dew over all. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

These taste so good served with cinnamon ice cream or vanilla.