tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35683180309157876002024-03-13T10:11:20.412-05:00StitchinByTheLakeStitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.comBlogger1084125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-89023591860242802042017-03-10T10:00:00.000-06:002017-03-10T10:00:00.593-06:00Time Flies....I know, I know....I've been away. Last time I posted, in December, I was recovering from hand surgery. I'm all done with my occupational therapy and I still have no pain, thank goodness. I do still have some mobility issues with that hand - I can't make a good fist and I drop things sometimes and the middle finger doesn't work exactly right. But I have no pain so I'm glad I did it.<br />
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Before I got through with the OT my back issues flared up again and I've been in Physical Therapy for that! It's better now but the up side of that was that I had time to sit in my stitching chair and do some cross stitch. I've even started a Youtube channel and have posted several videos of my cross stitching - please stop by if you're interested. stitchinbythelake or Marlene Bush either should find me.<br />
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Not all of the things below are new pieces, but many of them are.<br />
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I've also been on a couple of quick trips - one to Canton, Texas with our kids to the big flea market there (my children gave me that trip for my 70th birthday last October and we just now got a time when we could all go at once!) and a trip with my sister to see her daughter in Austin. Lucky for us we went right through Waco, Texas and for those of you who are fans of JoAnna and Chip of Fixer Upper fame, yes we did stop!<br />
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And....it's spring in Arkansas! Everything is blooming - forsythia, tulip trees, japonica, daffodils, carolina jasmine. All of it. And tonight it's supposed to be 30 and a snowy/icy night. :( I'm hoping our newest residents weather this.<br />
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No, I can't see them either but I think they're there hiding down in the bottom. Wrens, maybe?<br />
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So....that's what I've been doing. What about you? StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-20754891476173643542016-12-22T16:20:00.000-06:002016-12-22T16:20:06.434-06:00Stuff and NonsenseDid you think I was never coming back? I was beginning to! When I last posted I told you I had surgery on my right hand. At that point I was looking l like this:<br />
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When that came off I looked like this (warning - might be a bit graphic):<br />
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Actually, I thought it looked pretty good! You can see that on the finger the surgeon made a V cut so that the scar tissue wouldn't hamper movement. That finger got a plastic joint. The thumb, though, got a ligament from my wrist rolled up and put between the bones to form a cushion.<br />
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All the redness is gone now and the scars are already white and fading. I have no pain in those joints any more but unfortunately my grip is not up to par yet. I couldn't make a fist before and still can't make a good one now but it's better than before for sure. I'm even able to open some jars now if they aren't too stuck. :)<br />
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Of course this limited my stitching so I've done what I could - which oddly enough was more cross stitching than anything else. <br />
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On the sewing front I've made about 20 of these project bags - several of which I have given as gifts to my stitching friends:<br />
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They are pretty large - about 12 x 14 - and the tutorial is from Vonna Pfeiffer, <a href="http://thetwistedstitcher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Twisted Stitcher</a>. These are perfect for holding everything I need for a wool applique or cross stitch project. And speaking of wool applique, we were weren't we?, my sister sent me this pattern from The Buttermilk Basin that I've been wanting! I can't wait to get this one ready for stitching!<br />
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It's just beautiful when you see it all stitched.<br />
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I also finished a couple of cross stitch ornaments:<br />
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This one is Roly Poly Santa by Robin Laukhuf of Olde Willow Stitchery Threads and was in the 2016 Christmas-Winter Magazine.<br />
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And this one is Eve of St. Nicholas by Lori Markovic of La-D-Da and is in the 2015 Christmas Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher Magazine. I've done a couple of others too but they are either on the tree or in some decoration I've done!<br />
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I also took a short trip with my sister to see her daughter, my niece, in Austin, TX. Our path took us through Waco, TX so we made a little side trip to see:<br />
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The Magnolia Market - the shop you've seen on Fixer Upper on HGTV, designed and built by Chip & Joanna Gaines. If you don't watch HGTV you won't understand this. :) We went on a Saturday, which I will never do again because there were literally hundreds of people! But she sure had some pretty stuff.<br />
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And one last cross stitch piece you might enjoy:<br />
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Santa's Workshop is by Bonny Woomer of The Nebby Needle and this one was also in the 2015 magazine I mentioned above. It took some searching but I finally found an old rusty skeleton key to add to it and this is probably my favorite piece I've stitched this year. <br />
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And here's wishing you the key to Santa's Workshop and lots of love and laughter during this season. Merry Christmas!StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-25818417897389986062016-10-01T12:13:00.000-05:002016-10-01T12:13:39.018-05:00An Eventful MonthIt started with this...<br />
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I had surgery on my right hand on September 6. Arthritis has taken a toll on my joints and I was down to bone on bone in a joint at the base of my thumb and in my middle finger. Add in bone spurs and a cyst in one of the joints and the pain was awful. Worse than that, I couldn't sew.<br />
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The surgeon replaced the joint in the middle finger with a plastic joint. For the thumb joint he took a cartilage out of my arm that he said I didn't need, rolled it into a ball, and put it between the bones as a cushion. It should last about ten years.<br />
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Prior to surgery he said he would bandage the hand for two weeks before putting on splints. Ya'll, that's no bandage under that wrap...it's a cast! I was not prepared....<br />
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At two weeks I graduated to this...<br />
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I get to take it off three times a day for hygiene and exercise. And I have PT three times a week. I have affectionately renamed it. Instead of Physical Therapy I call it Pain and Torture.<br />
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I have a couple of more weeks in the wrist splint, but longer in the finger one. The finger hasn't healed as quickly as we hoped.<br />
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On another note, today is my birthday. I'm 70 years old, which is officially old. Now don't go telling me I'm only as old as I feel. Take a look at that hand and guess how old I feel. In honor of the day I tried to take a selfie to mark the day. After deleting 17 blurry pictures of my chest, my ear, and the wall hanging behind me I finally got one. It agrees with my 70 being old observation.<br />
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Observations on being 70:<br />
1. My hair has gotten a little curly. After wondering for 50+ years how my daughters both ended up with curly hair, now I know.<br />
2. I'm really just now getting wrinkles. Genetics matter.<br />
3. Never feel smug about not having hot flashes. Eventually they come to us all.<br />
4. Eat cake first has a lot to be said for it.<br />
5. I rest a lot more these days. I take mini naps. I don't mind either of those things.<br />
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And, after me praying for a good while and them resisting, my grandson and his wife brought me this a couple of days ago...<br />
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Great-grandmother. That's me. Well, at the end of April that's me. A new adventure!<br />
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I did some stitching before my surgery but nothing is finished so in a couple of weeks I'll be back to show those. This two finger pecking to type is not fun.StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-1933073028124457592016-08-18T15:55:00.001-05:002016-08-18T15:55:49.615-05:00Zucchini Relish Anyone?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week my friend and neighbor cooked supper for Jerry and I - she brought pinto beans and rice and cornbread, a real southern meal! She also brought some zucchini relish to put on our beans. Her aunt had made it and given her a jar so she shared with me. It was so good I requested the recipe and made it today. It would be delicious on anything you use sweet relish for. Would you like the recipe?<br />
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12 cups diced zucchini (she used a food processor but I used a Vidalia Onion Chopper)<br />
( I used 6 pretty large zucchini, which ended up being just over 12 cups)<br />
4 cups diced onion<br />
2 green and/or red peppers, diced<br />
<br />
Mix this together and stir in 5 Tablespoons canning salt. Mix well and let stand overnight. (I left mine about 4 hours). Drain and rinse well in a colander. Add this to a pan containing:<br />
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2 1/2 cups vinegar<br />
4 cups sugar (you could add more but it's really sweet with just 4)<br />
1 Tablespoon dry mustard<br />
3/4 Teaspoon turmeric<br />
1 1/2 Teaspoons celery seed<br />
1/2 Teaspoon black pepper<br />
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Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes. I water bath canned this for 15 minutes for my altitude. It made about 72 ounces. You can use pint jars but I chose the 4 oz jars because we don't eat that much at one time and I thought these would be a good size to give away. I also added a teaspoon of diced jalapeno pepper to some of the jars (after I marked the lid!) for my husband. He loves a little heat but I don't.<br />
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Enjoy!StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-78259879994698393022016-08-16T19:39:00.000-05:002016-08-16T19:39:10.282-05:00Rain, More Rain, and Rainy Day ActivitiesIt's been raining here since noon Sunday and, according to the weather channel, it will continue to rain through next Sunday. Since we live on a small lake we watch that pretty closely. Our water is up but not dangerously so. I find it hard to get motivated to complete my chores on rainy days - I'd much rather sit and read a good book. But some things don't wait for me to get motivated!<br />
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A local grocery store had bananas on sale so I'm dehydrating 4 trays of them.<br />
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Yes those are really bananas and yes, they are really white, aren't they? I put them in a citric acid solution as I cut them up so that they won't turn brown but these have stayed especially white. I'll store these in mason jars and will seal the jars with my Food Saver. Later I'll be able to rehydrate them and use them to make banana bread, or we'll eat the "banana chips" as snacks.<br />
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I've canned peaches today too. <br />
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These were really beautiful peaches that I found at the grocery store. The sign said $1.48 a pound but at checkout they rang at $.88 a pound....wish I'd bought more! They were quite large and had no blemishes so 20 peaches made 8 pints. These will make great cobblers this winter.<br />
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And I finished another patriotic pillow this week too.<br />
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I love patriotic patterns and have made several now, but I still have more I want to stitch. I'm doing a collection I guess...I'll probably put them in a basket in my sun room when I have enough to fill it up.<br />
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And finally, school has started here in Arkansas. Out of my 8 grandchildren I have one who is a junior in college this year, 2 who are seniors in high school, one tenth grader, one fifth grader and one second grader. Two of my grandchildren are already out of school and working, and one of them, if I have my way, will sometime in the next year or two be starting a family. I'm ready for a great-grandbaby. :) Of course, that grandson hasn't yet agreed to the whole baby thing but he's been married for three years now so I'm sure he'll be ready soon!<br />
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What do you do on rainy days?StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-27026919714951011242016-08-10T14:16:00.000-05:002016-08-10T14:16:37.146-05:00Boiling EggsI bought a dozen eggs yesterday. Well, actually, I bought 4 dozen because Walgreens has them this week for 69 cents a dozen and they let me buy 4 dozen. They aren't organic, or cage free, which I usually buy, but for 69 cents I just couldn't pass it up. Today I boiled a dozen. That's right...I bought them yesterday and boiled them today. Everyone knows fresh eggs don't peel well so I rarely ever do that. But just look at these!<br />
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Every single one of them peeled perfectly. Every. Single. One. How did I do it? Here's how:<br />
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You'll need an electric pressure cooker, one cup of water, and the eggs you want to boil. Put the water in the pressure cooker. Put a rack in the bottom and the eggs on the rack. Pressure on fish/vegetables/steam for six minutes. That's it. I will never boil eggs again! <br />
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These will become deviled eggs later today.....who knew I could get so excited over boiling eggs! StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-69604178231837205492016-07-25T18:27:00.000-05:002016-07-25T18:27:07.240-05:00A Summer of SadnessI sit in my bedroom looking out on the beautiful lake just beyond our seawall. There's a breeze blowing, not a cool one, but at least the air is stirring. Flowers bloom, ducks paddle by, and birds light on my patio screen peeping in at me. Inside my heart is breaking at the news of yet another senseless act of violence. <br />
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I remember well when the word murder was spoken so seldom that I was startled when I heard it. Now it's not just one or two but 32, 49, 27 people. Crazy numbers created by crazy people and shoved down the throats of those of us who abhor hate and violence in all forms. People are killed because they are gay, or black, or wearing a blue uniform, or are too old to defend themselves, or are too young to know they should be at home in their beds, or because they are children sitting in a classroom or because they were in a mall at the wrong time.<br />
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And the violence isn't just physical, but verbal as well. We hurl accusations at people because someone's speech writer didn't give credit to someone else's speech writer for words that have been spoken or thought by thousands of Americans before them, or maybe it's because their designer coat cost more than my first house and the opposition's dress cost less than my weekly grocery bill (and maybe we're just jealous because we don't have that beautiful coat or dress!), or because someone's e-mail was leaked as if any e-mail is ever safe from prying eyes. The f word is used like it's everyday common language and it sickens my soul. We hate each other, or act as if we do, because our political views are not the same, or our forefathers committed acts of atrocity that we never had a part in, or we grew up thinking one sin was worse than other sins, and other people's sins were somehow worse than our own. <br />
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When will we ever learn that love is the only answer to a world full of hurting people? Can't I love you and you love me and can't we live in peace raising our children to do the same? Can't you worship in your own way and even though I don't understand, can't I respect it and you? And can't you do the same for me? Can't we teach our children to respect all people, no matter their annual income or their gender or marital status or their religion or their address or their skin color or what kind of uniform they wear? <br />
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Recently my husband and I traveled through Germany, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria. We've been to England and Ireland and Israel and Mexico and Canada. And you know what? Every country we've been in is filled with people just like me. And just like you. Men and women and children getting up in the morning, eating breakfast (and some not having breakfast to eat), going to work and school, kissing their children and hugging their wives or husbands, patting their grandmother's head, living their lives. Just like me. All of those countries...full of people, just like me.<br />
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I know, I know....there are sick people out there who commit unholy acts. But those unholy acts start small. They start when another kid in class bullies them, or when they aren't chosen for a job because of the color of their skin or because they couldn't afford to dress well for an interview, or when they're excluded from the "in crowd" or people who profess to love their neighbors look right through them and see only their "sin." They start when their parents tell them they don't have to respect the principal or the teacher or the policeman.<br />
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I don't care if you are Democrat or Republican, but honestly I wish I didn't know which of those sides you were on. I don't care if you are Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or no religion at all, but I wish I could only know that by your actions, and I wish that all of those beliefs resulted in the same kind of actions....loving your neighbor. I don't care if you are black, hispanic, asian, or caucasian. I don't care if you are gay or straight or something else entirely. My faith tells me that God made you in His image and you are, therefore, beautiful. I will try always to treat you that way and if I don't then you have my permission and my encouragement to call me on it. <br />
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<br />StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-79015102311578134152016-07-21T11:36:00.000-05:002016-07-21T11:36:08.512-05:00Summer in Arkansas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Angel Wing Begonia<br />
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Some kind of day lily - not sure about this one!<br />
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This Easter Lily is going to be a really, really, really late bloomer!<br />
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Mandevilla<br />
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And even the herbs are loving this heat!<br />
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Lavender<br />
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Oregano<br />
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Rosemary<br />
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Sage<br />
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Thyme<br />
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The lemons are growing quickly!<br />
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And Grandma's Rain Lily just keeps on and on blooming.<br />
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It's a hot, hot summer day in the south ya'll. Time for a tall icy glass of sweet tea!StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-28468447796619350092016-07-20T22:10:00.001-05:002016-07-20T22:10:26.619-05:00Hot Summer DaysIt's so hot here during this time of year - well, I suppose the heat wouldn't be so bad if the humidity wasn't so high but it sure makes it hard to breathe when you're outside. My poor husband is the one who does the watering of our plants and it takes a good hour so he comes in dripping wet, and not from the sprinklers!<br />
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I finished another small patriotic piece last night.<br />
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I'm not sure what I'll make this into - I have a ton of small pillows and a couple of patriotic door hangs so I'm looking for something different. Any ideas?<br />
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I was in WalMart a couple of days ago and they had school supplies out and some already on sale! They had the small notebooks, not spiral ones but the old fashioned kind with a paper binding, on sale for 50 cents so I bought four. No thoughts except they were cheap and who doesn't love a new notebook. I've made covers for two of them and will do the other two the first of the week.<br />
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We went to the Farmer's Market Saturday and I picked up some tomatoes, okra and zucchini. The tomatoes are so wonderful right now and the zucchini were beautiful. Thankfully there are two or three organic farmers there so I feel pretty comfortable buying from them. I made zucchini bread that was from a recipe I found on the internet and it was pretty good but I think next time I'll add a little crushed pineapple to it. That sounds good to me. I also tried a new recipe today for Zucchini Gummy Candy. The verdict is out on that so I'll let you know. Just in case you want to try it here's how:<br />
4 cups zucchini, cut in 1" squares (take the seeds out before cutting) (I used 5 cups)<br />
3 cups water<br />
1 1/2 cups sugar or splenda<br />
2 pkgs Kool Aid (no sugar added)<br />
Boil the water, sugar and Kool Aid, add the zucchini and boil for 30 minutes. Drain and put in dehydrator until the zucchini is leathery, not crisp. It took about 12 hours for mine today, and it's a bit sticky. I think since it's supposed to be candy it's not quite sweet enough. Next time I'll up the sugar a little.<br />
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We're having a family weekend - all the kids and 6 of the 8 grandchildren. That doesn't happen often! I think there will be 15 of us....oh my. I'll let you know how it works out. :)StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-34265710793716600952016-07-13T22:03:00.000-05:002016-07-13T22:03:04.234-05:00More This and ThatI forgot to tell you in my last post that my husband and I have been on vacation! We aren't big travelers but we did something unusual for us and took a Danube River Cruise. We began in Budapest on the AmaViola - what a beautiful city and what a beautiful boat. This is my favorite picture from Budapest, taken on our night river excursion.<br />
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I believe this was their Parliament building though, to be honest, after a while the buildings began to blur on me.<br />
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My second favorite place was the Benedictine Monastery in Melk, Austria. It was founded in 1089 and reminded me of Downton Abbey, only way, way bigger!<br />
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I believe they said one wing had 60 bedrooms - necessary because visiting dignitaries and royalty traveled with an entourage!<br />
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Another favorite place was Schonbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the Hapsburgs, who reigned in Austria for over 600 years. Gold leaf was, apparently, quite popular among the royalty of that time!<br />
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I have no idea where this was taken - can't remember - but you can tell we were enjoying ourselves. :) My husband's faithful hat has traveled everywhere with him. He isn't supposed to be in the sun and it was blazing hot that day.<br />
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We cruised from Budapest up to near Munich. Slovakia, a country I've seldom heard of, was quite beautiful, by the way.<br />
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When I got back home my flowers were blooming like crazy. My vegetables could take a lesson from them!<br />
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This angel wing begonia was given to me by a dear friend at least 20 years ago!<br />
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This lemon tree was a Mother's Day gift this year - I might actually get lemons from it!<br />
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And this Mandevilla was a gift last year - we wintered it inside of course. <br />
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Since it's summer and other people's gardens are actually producing I'm still doing lots of this:<br />
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<br />StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-70681300757996194902016-07-11T21:37:00.000-05:002016-07-11T21:37:52.934-05:00This, That and The OtherIt's been really hot here for the last two or three weeks, maybe longer. And we've had no rain for a couple of weeks, so my "garden" hasn't done well. We only have a few containers on our deck but the past couple of years they've done pretty well. This year I planted 2 cucumber plants and I've harvested...get ready for it...one cucumber! And it's pretty pitiful looking. :) This isn't it - I found this online - but it looks a lot like this.<br />
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Hmmm...two cucumber plants cost about $7 so it's a pretty expensive cucumber!<br />
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I also planted two squash plants and I've gotten three squash, but it does have a few babies so maybe there will be more. <br />
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But the tomatoes are looking good and my herbs are growing and growing and growing. I've harvested and dehydrated big batches of basil, cilantro, thyme, and stevia. I have several others that I'll be storing pretty soon - oregano, mint, rosemary, lemon balm.<br />
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I've gotten some finishing done on a few cross stitch pieces and I'm adding to my little pillow collection these two:<br />
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And another patriotic piece I did as a door hanger...<br />
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I apologize that I don't have the designers to tell you - I've reorganized my patterns and wouldn't you know, can't remember right now where I put the already-stitched ones! :) However, I can tell you that the following spool is by Milady's Needle.<br />
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The pattern shows a small pincushion on the top but I'd rather use it as a scissors keep so I'm leaving it plain. I have one other of her patterns that goes on a spool too so I'm anxious to get it stitched up.<br />
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I'd like to add a small rusty jingle-type bell to the bottom of the 1776 piece but I can't find one. I read somewhere that Hobby Lobby has them but I've looked there and can't find any. Anyone know where I can find them?<br />
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I have some other things to tell you but I'll be back in a few days to do that....it's my bedtime!StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-12965815023663822012016-06-12T10:16:00.003-05:002016-06-12T10:16:56.956-05:00I'm Trying Really Hard....I'm trying really hard to get back to blogging, but this time of year is full of things to do and I feel a bit like the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland....running here and there yelling, "I'm late, I'm late!" I've done a bit of this:<br />
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And the flowers have to be tended to:<br />
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I had some aprons I wanted to "decorate" and gift to friends and family. These were aprons I bought half price at Hobby Lobby, and just added the embellishments to.<br />
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These weren't pressed yet but I think they're pretty cute and will be a big hit!<br />
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I've also done some spring cleaning - all the blinds and windows, pantrys and closets. I'm not showing you those but trust me, they're clean. :)<br />
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I finished the stitching but not the finishing on this cross stitch piece.<br />
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And just yesterday got the last hand stitching done on this Independence Day pillow.<br />
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I've probably made a dozen of these but everyone who comes by my house wants one so I only have this one left right now!<br />
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In my cleaning frenzy I found a couple of old pictures that I'm going to put on here for family primarily but you might enjoy them too.<br />
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This was the one and only time in my life I ever had a birthday party - I was 5 and wanted desperately to be a cowgirl. This little outfit was my gift. :)<br />
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This is a picture of my parents I believe right after daddy got home from WW II. I look a bit like my mother I think. <br />
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This is a picture of my husband and I with our three "kids." The one standing by her daddy is the oldest, the one standing next to her brother is the middle child, and the boy is the "golden child" as his sisters call him. He was a late baby born when they were 8 and 11. What do you think? Do I look like my mother?StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-88720542584255463802016-05-05T10:22:00.000-05:002016-05-05T10:22:14.788-05:00A Morning In The Life of a Retired WomanGet up at 6:00 a.m., make a cup of tea, and go to your "prayer chair" for an hour of Bible reading and prayer.<br />
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At 7:00 put the bread you left rising the night before into the oven and turn off the chicken stock you left in the crock pot all night. Strip your bed and put the sheets in the washer. Mix up WW Blueberry Banana Muffins and when you take out the bread put those in the oven. Stop and eat breakfast.<br />
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Put eggs on to boil. Peel apples and make an apple crisp (also WW). When the muffins are done put in the apple crisp to bake. Chop celery, peel the eggs and make chicken salad from leftover chicken. Move the sheets to the dryer and put a load of towels in the washer.<br />
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Take the apple crisp out of the oven and chop more celery for the Chicken Cacciatore you plan to make later today for canning. Get the sheets out of the dryer, put the towels in the dryer and put on a load of dark clothes; then make the bed. Notice your husband outside power washing the outdoor rugs. Wash the dishes used thus far this morning and put the bread away now that it's cooled. When the chicken stock is cool enough, strain it and put in the refrigerator so that when it cools you can skim the fat before canning it. It's 10:00. Get dressed.<br />
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If you stop by my house at 10:00 and I'm still in my pajamas don't ask if I'm having a leisurely morning unless you're standing at least 10 feet away. Maybe 15. Don't ask my husband about his leisurely retirement either.<br />
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<br />StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-47568456291147710292016-04-13T14:45:00.000-05:002016-04-13T14:45:01.711-05:00Who Says Retirement is Boring?Certainly not me! I have no idea how I worked as long as I did because there's far too much to do at home! If I've not visited your blog I apologize - I try to get in a few reads every few days but I've not been very successful. I'm saving them though so when I have an hour to sit I can go back and catch up on everyone. :)<br />
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I've finished a few of my cross stitch pieces and can't wait to show you. First up is this piece that is part of a collection....I showed you the large pinkeep by Scattered Seed Samplers a couple of posts ago. This drum is done in the same colors and complements it beautifully. I couldn't stuff mine quite as tight as she did but I love it just the same. And take a look at the back of it - so beautiful!<br />
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This is the second piece from the Virtues collection that I stitched....can't wait to do the rest of these.<br />
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I don't remember what this pattern is called but I do remember that I only stitched the center part of it. I wanted something that shouted spring and I wanted to do a quick stitch so this worked perfectly for that. And yes the azaleas above and the Carolina Jasmine in this are in my yard. Love them!<br />
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And this was a quick one I did for St. Patrick's Day.<br />
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Switching now to wool - isn't this the sweetest little church? I put it on the lid of a basket. <br />
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I've also done some canning - needed to restock my pantry. Ten pounds of potatoes -<br />
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Seven quarts of pinto beans -<br />
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And 7 quarts of chicken soup -<br />
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My BFF gave me some old glass jugs she found when she was cleaning out her dad's auto shop. He had stored oil and other yucky stuff in them. They are beautiful leaded glass and I have no idea what I'll do with them but just couldn't see them go to the trash bin. Here's a before/after picture of what they look like.<br />
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Got any thoughts about how to use them?<br />
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And lastly, I got to babysit with one of my granddogs for a few days. Her name is Ellie, and when we made our frequent trips outside she made a friend, named Bingo. This is Bingo coming to invite Ellie out to play. I told him no, she's not old enough to see men friends. :)<br />
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Hope you're having a beautiful week!StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-7371010764662287562016-03-13T21:43:00.000-05:002016-03-13T21:43:01.165-05:00And Then Another Thing Happened....Do you ever feel like the hands on the clock are spinning out of control? You know, like on those cartoons when the hands go around and around and around? I do. I can't seem to keep up with the days!<br />
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We've been away for a while on another mission trip. Those of you who have read my blog for years know this is a frequent occurrence. We were only gone a month this time (sometimes it's as long as four months) and it rained like crazy while we were in south Louisiana.<br />
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And when we got home it started raining here and rained for 5 or 6 days! And poor Louisiana, well it just got worse there. They've had lots of flooding and people lost their homes and had to be evacuated. We drove to a town a couple of hours away from us on Wednesday to see my brother, who is in the hospital there, and it looked like this above, only deeper water. Scary times.<br />
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We see spring everywhere here, from the neighbor's tulip tree<br />
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to the Carolina Jasmine which is threatening to pull it's trellis to the ground!<br />
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I love this vine but it runs everywhere and we've already had to pull it out of some nearby azaleas. <br />
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I even have this one little hyacinth I planted 10 years ago that comes up every year<br />
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and this wonderful stuff that I don't know the name of but which is the most persistent plant I've ever had!<br />
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We've kind of gotten spring fever and wanted to buy some potting soil - have you noticed the prices this year?<br />
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Inside my violets are all blooming -<br />
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And I've been doing some stitching! I've actually finished the cross stitching on several things but only these two are really finished and ready for display.<br />
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You can't tell in this picture but the bunny noses are done with a cashmere thread - just adorable! And I love the way the variegated rick rack looked with this fabric.<br />
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Is there anything more spring time that bright colors?<br />
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Meanwhile, I have a long list of things to-do - it never seems to end. Visit folks in the hospital, walk 2 miles a day, wash my kitchen cabinets and oil them, go to a couple of yoga classes, get a pedicure, send some get-well cards, clean up my sewing room, go through my winter clothes and get them ready for moving to another closet or to the storage building, plant my spring herbs, join the Silver Sneakers class at the Y, dehydrate the last of my frozen soup vegetables....the list goes on. How about you....is your spring to-do list never ending like mine?<br />
<br />StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-23369188048934536452016-01-30T21:45:00.002-06:002016-01-30T21:45:57.695-06:00A Mini PostA mini post - what in the world is that? I think it means I'm going to write a little, but not a lot. Of course quite often I think that and when I get started I'm still talking/writing an hour later. <br />
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The weather in Arkansas has been completely insane for a couple of weeks. We had rain and we had snow and we had 70 degree days that fooled the forsythia and japonica into thinking they should open up a few buds. But the crazy days have produced the most amazing sunsets!<br />
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Sometimes I just stare in total amazement.<br />
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I'm stitching....only in the evenings when things get quiet. But at least I'm stitching. I finished this piece by Scattered Seed Samplers last week. I think she intended it to be a pinkeep but it's much larger than I picture that way. However, I have fallen totally in love with it.<br />
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In the book of Matthew there are multiple places where Jesus tells us not to worry about anything, not even about what we will eat. He reminds us how valuable we are to our Father - that He cares for the sparrows and we are worth far more than them. As I was stitching I was reminded of this lesson and found comfort in that thought. So this became my Sparrow Pinkeep - a gentle reminder that worry is pointless. And since I'm the queen of worry I'm going to love having this nearby.<br />
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I hope you're having a worry-free weekend!StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-70094084701657305412016-01-21T12:02:00.000-06:002016-01-21T12:02:25.200-06:00Seasonal Affective DisorderI don't think I have Seasonal Affective Disorder but I sure can understand when people get extremely depressed during these gray days of winter. I find it hard to get motivated and have trouble focusing on projects. I'm making myself continue to work on UFOs, though, and have spent some time in the sewing room this week. <br />
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This pattern is called Christmas Gathering and is by Plum Street Samplers. But it reminds me of Noah and the dove he sent out from the Ark which eventually came back with an olive leaf. The small green wreath isn't an olive leaf but but it does bring that story to mind for me so I've renamed it "Noah's Dove." I made it into a small bag which can be hung from a doorknob or on a front door with some sprigs of pine in it. It could even hold some sewing bits and pieces.<br />
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I have several Prairie Schooler Santa patterns but this is the first one I've stitched and will definitely make some changes if I make another. The colors recommended are muted and certainly pretty but my taste is a more rich, hand dyed color scheme. Obviously I chose this one to be my first because of the treadle sewing machine - I love it! I made it into a small hanging and added the gold cord to hang it with and to finish a couple of edges. I plan to hang it from a knob on my treadle machine next Christmas.<br />
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Andrew, our youngest grandson who just turned 7 last month, had his first duck hunting experience last week. I asked if they killed anything and my son's answer was, "time." As you can see from all the clothes he has on it was a bit chilly - I doubt Andrew will be anxious to go again soon. :)<br />
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My early morning routine includes sitting in my recliner with a large cup of hot tea, my Bible and this view. While the morning gave a beautiful promise of sunshine it didn't keep the promise - it was another gray day after the initial pink sunrise. <br />
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How are you managing to get through these winter days?StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-91686241592227229992016-01-12T04:56:00.000-06:002016-01-12T04:56:28.348-06:00Where Does The Time Go?I've lost time. It happens to me frequently. Today is Tuesday but I look up and suddenly it's Saturday. How does that happen?<br />
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When I worked I longed to be retired because I pictured it as such a restful time...full of days where I lounged around reading a good book, eating chocolate. I don't know about you but it doesn't happen at my house! I've been busy the last week or so but I'm not sure exactly what I've done. I finished another pillow - are you getting sick of these yet?<br />
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I think this might be my favorite - the antlers and sash are a deep brown narrow wale corduroy. I confess I saw a similar pillow at a local department store one day and refused to pay the steep price tag for it. I came home, searched Google Images and found similar antlers, and made my own pattern. It works beautifully in our "boys bedroom."<br />
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Several weeks ago I finished a cross stitch piece from Just CrossStitch magazine - a cup with an herb in it. There was a series of four and I planned to do all four and hang them in my kitchen. Until I remembered I have no spare walls in my kitchen. So I made this one into a cover for my box of essential oils. I love the way it turned out!<br />
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Both of these were UFOs and in my ongoing effort to get some of that empire state building size stack a little smaller I also prepped this kit,<br />
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and got this one out to prep next.<br />
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I think my favorite thing I've stitched this week wasn't a UFO at all. I bought this kit last week at The Shepherd's Needle in Little Rock and couldn't wait to make it. It is a Shepherd's Bush design and is the perfect size for holding a couple of pens, a kleenex or two and even some note cards with my Bible and journal beside my chair.<br />
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It would also be a good size for scissors, needles and thimble so I think I'll consider making some for gifts - I love making zipper bags and they stitch up quickly.<br />
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I made a big pot of soup this week too - one of the best I've made in a long time. I love homemade vegetable soup that starts with a beef roast as the base. I cooked mine in the electric pressure cooker for an hour and a half with a jar of home canned tomatoes and a can of beef broth. It was falling apart when I added the onions, celery and carrots and let it simmer for a while.<br />
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When those vegetable were done I added some potatoes, corn, okra and black eyed peas left from New Year's. Yes, it was a huge pot but I shared some with one of our daughters and her family so we've only a tiny bowl left now.<br />
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I also made some cinnamon raising bread that was so wonderful - I use a sourdough starter and it's fast, easy, and delicious. Isn't this loaf pretty?<br />
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The bowl it's in was my grandmother's. I carried it in my lap on the plane home from California after she died. Here's the finished product....<br />
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It was scrumptious! I only make bread about every 10 days because I have no will power when hot bread comes out of the oven. I'm on Weight Watchers and while I can have this it's more points than I want to indulge in very often. We keep one loaf and I give the other two away. <br />
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Anybody else lost time lately?StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-40548321740661016862016-01-02T07:30:00.000-06:002016-01-02T07:30:20.143-06:00Pillow FrenzyIt started at our Christmas celebration when one of my daughters wanted a quilt for her bed. She's bought a "fixer upper" and work is progressing nicely but she painted the walls in her bedroom a dark gray and now needs some color. She didn't ask me to make her a quilt - just share one I already had. We looked through the stacks of quilts (don't judge) and she chose one I bought several years ago at a junk store for $30. It was old and a bit ragged on the edges but a beautiful star pattern and made from reds and teals. Then, of course, she needed some throw pillows to set it off. We went through my fabric stash (don't judge) and she chose three fabrics we thought might work. Well, you know pillows take so little time that I ended up making three.<br />
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While I was rummaging around in the sewing room I came across a pumpkin I had embroidered this fall so I just made a quick pillow with it while I was there.<br />
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I love the border fabric on this one, though it doesn't show up well in this picture. It's spider webs with little orange spiders on it. :)<br />
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Abut that same time I finished a wool hand applique piece I'd been working on so I just stayed with my pillow theme and this is what I ended up with.<br />
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This pattern was in a recent Primitive Projects magazine. I think it will be put up and given to someone for Christmas next year. I love the addition of the gingham.<br />
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I had another wool piece I'd finished weeks ago and, you guessed it, another daughter who needed a pillow for her new house. Yes, two daughters, two new/old houses. And my son is remodeling his. Good grief. Since this daughter loves chickens this is the one she's getting.<br />
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I keep a basket on my sewing machine filled with things that need to be finished. So I continued with my chicken theme, but not my pillow theme, and made this rooster market bag. I think I'll send it to a friend who loves chickens.<br />
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I made several market bags for Christmas presents this year - my girls use them for absolutely everything - and so I'm now completely out of the fusible I use for interfacing. That means I need to make a trip to the fabric shop. I'm trying to stay out of fabric shops - honestly - but sometimes that's not possible. <br />
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My problem is not really not that I have too much fabric. It's that I have too many UFOs. My January resolution has to be UFOs. I'm going to write it on the bathroom mirror, and tape it on a piece of paper to the front of the television. Maybe I'll make up a song about finishing UFOs. I was horrified last week when I rearranged and cleaned and sorted in my sewing room at the number of UFOs and unstarted kits I have.<br />
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See those four dark baskets? Kits not yet started and UFOs. Seriously. On the floor are 3 tubbies of wool fabric and two sets of drawers of thread and things I don't use often. There are a couple of shelves of layer cakes and jelly rolls and fat quarter bundles and flannel fabric and on the top are pillow forms. I just bought most of those because they were on sale this week. Honest.<br />
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I keep fat quarters in the old gym baskets, sorted by colors. I don't have an ironing board but use this ironing station, which works better for me.<br />
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This is fuzzy but on that far shelf I keep jars, and jars, of buttons. And also patterns I want to use soon. After I finish the UFOs. Patterns I've already made or want to make way in the future are in the file cabinet.<br />
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One of the problems I have in my sewing room is there is never enough light. I think I might have to consider having these cataracts removed soon. :) To solve that I've added what my dad would call "chicken lights" in a couple of places to help until I figure out something else. I just moved my fabric to these shelves last week when they got displaced in the closet by the UFO baskets. See how I subtly reminded myself to finish those UFOs?<br />
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This is where I actually sit and sew. The bins have all sizes of pieces I've cut from scraps of fabric - 5", 2 1/2", 3" squares, different sized triangles, etc. It's too much. Really. That basket on the left...that's the stuff I'm working on right now. Except for that snowman on top, which is finished. Yea! I have no idea this turned into a tour of my sewing room except here we are.<br />
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And now I must go. I need to work on UFOs. :) <br />
<br />StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-68514721707567208522015-12-16T07:29:00.001-06:002015-12-16T07:29:15.631-06:00Christmas Ornament ExchangeMerry Christmas!!<div>
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It's definitely Christmas inside my house....but outside it's a different picture.</div>
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It's been so warm here that I saw forsythia blooming yesterday and the Bradford Pear Trees have buds on them. When the cold weather finally hits they're going to be so confused!</div>
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Joan over at <a href="http://moosestashquilting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Moostash Quilting</a> was my swap partner and we shared a few laughs over gifts and getting things mailed - mostly because I was almost, but not quite, late in mailing mine. :)</div>
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Joan sent me this adorable sewing machine ornament. How could I possibly get one I'd love more? I couldn't!</div>
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Isn't it gorgeous? And so perfect with that red thread for this time of the year! But that's not all - she also made me this adorable Scottie mini quilt....<br />
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And that's not the last of her gifts - she also sent chocolate. I can't seem to find that chocolate anywhere to take a picture - it's disappeared!</div>
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We had so much fun exchanging ornaments - if you didn't join in please consider it for next year!</div>
StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-81990915399391009372015-12-13T17:56:00.000-06:002015-12-13T17:56:17.125-06:00It's Official!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH88t2cylnNFWgd0X8oJNzuVFhBYu8DeoJRoV5Sp86gZuQLoQQfz8qSHpb9RciT7n6SksDLgrLT13XYvJf5Zdon8m70m6M658TdZdepQ3fSL-kV30uc0lPsbtsxdTuMOkGVynM2BCxNLL/s1600/elderly-couple-holding-hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH88t2cylnNFWgd0X8oJNzuVFhBYu8DeoJRoV5Sp86gZuQLoQQfz8qSHpb9RciT7n6SksDLgrLT13XYvJf5Zdon8m70m6M658TdZdepQ3fSL-kV30uc0lPsbtsxdTuMOkGVynM2BCxNLL/s640/elderly-couple-holding-hands.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We must be officially old....we went out for dinner last night at a local establishment where they don't take reservations. The wait was only about 10 minutes we were told, despite the long line snaking out the front door and onto the veranda. There was a bench where a young couple were sitting and when they saw us standing they immediately rose and told us to take their seats. We protested - we were fine, really. They wouldn't take no for an answer. Isn't that just the nicest thing? Perfect for this season of love. But really, that kind of made it official. We're old. StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-46246968198307313842015-12-11T14:27:00.002-06:002015-12-11T14:27:42.785-06:00One Month!I haven't written a post for a month...a whole month! That's the longest I've gone since I started blogging in April of 2008. And I don't even know what I've done for the last month, but here are a few highlights of things that have happened.<br />
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Back in early November my son ran his first half marathon (and came in first in his age class!) and my granddaughter ran her first 10K. I'm so proud of both of them! And I wish I had started running when I was her age because my body says, "no, not now!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlTvOa1b3zQoU7oLRjzvUzt1Llr-Hmds9-GDHUjq0tBoWM1mGDCdVktry23WjYm_vhXRLXgcDg7yhWpeW12GWEAHquUk4o3weF_0rxeDNWIgVWoMjvQeTzZRIfc4thZpojSzZcX1YqGC1/s1600/half+marathon.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlTvOa1b3zQoU7oLRjzvUzt1Llr-Hmds9-GDHUjq0tBoWM1mGDCdVktry23WjYm_vhXRLXgcDg7yhWpeW12GWEAHquUk4o3weF_0rxeDNWIgVWoMjvQeTzZRIfc4thZpojSzZcX1YqGC1/s640/half+marathon.jpg" width="360" /></a><br />
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My grandson took a dive off a monkey bar when he was trying to sneak up to the front of the line - not really a suitable punishment I don't think - and had 5 staples put in his head, was a real trooper through his first CT scan, and was back to acting like a crazy monkey as soon as the pain med began to work!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07kKQWI8-BWAkRGfQBhmkVh-zQ1gr0zbDzbvN_BcgnACEH0ry-m-_JYWQ9dUGWkP4hCtxVpsp5C-qRde4DTdyN3nyl_2l0_lPXySK-v-I_oQxQswH2Z5Na2ipJ7aKR73n8jy_BVhDHB3x/s1600/andrew.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07kKQWI8-BWAkRGfQBhmkVh-zQ1gr0zbDzbvN_BcgnACEH0ry-m-_JYWQ9dUGWkP4hCtxVpsp5C-qRde4DTdyN3nyl_2l0_lPXySK-v-I_oQxQswH2Z5Na2ipJ7aKR73n8jy_BVhDHB3x/s640/andrew.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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I went shopping for a new chair and came home with one that I'm reserving judgement on - I didn't go looking for a recliner at all but this is what happened.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-w4kWE5pFK9Jh85oxK0nVzX8D0QjXEMKivNqnt5dM7SnV5fh8HQMyKH5eRo_9V1aRwxGNWyjCPKj0N-F0MLJFE_BHpY51tpqURisaD6nLvT4pwyflGaiYbc-A7rV61wTCJxWr4d6zEtv/s1600/chair.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-w4kWE5pFK9Jh85oxK0nVzX8D0QjXEMKivNqnt5dM7SnV5fh8HQMyKH5eRo_9V1aRwxGNWyjCPKj0N-F0MLJFE_BHpY51tpqURisaD6nLvT4pwyflGaiYbc-A7rV61wTCJxWr4d6zEtv/s640/chair.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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While shopping I ran across this Grinch sweater - anybody out there love The Grinch?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgV_dBe0RGea_tcE2dCQmDBPgEe4c_eaQu9dxQWdgrySuvmpdLLTrAdTS-0hrnuJp1M-B9fyr1tkEalwy-G4T9d8rD2Wobi4vofxOukhLDzTVWsNfoppyBE0hXBfCJVY4RFBgVozVNup5V/s1600/grinch.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgV_dBe0RGea_tcE2dCQmDBPgEe4c_eaQu9dxQWdgrySuvmpdLLTrAdTS-0hrnuJp1M-B9fyr1tkEalwy-G4T9d8rD2Wobi4vofxOukhLDzTVWsNfoppyBE0hXBfCJVY4RFBgVozVNup5V/s640/grinch.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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I started my Christmas decorating and rediscovered this little apron for the fireplace broom. It was made at least 30 years ago by a dear friend who passed away a long time ago. I treasure it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fPOB_YARDoaCR3KjCFE9gvNSkoIuNroIDuiHkfUXlXbYv2vjbAuVEa15HI-t7Yo28zABonx4ZlMFTV5VAX8ICJlv9gx8dm-WHgXkjK-MXuf7aMy3a9_MD_pBKw0DLeJIFaUAx-4o-D3n/s1600/apron.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fPOB_YARDoaCR3KjCFE9gvNSkoIuNroIDuiHkfUXlXbYv2vjbAuVEa15HI-t7Yo28zABonx4ZlMFTV5VAX8ICJlv9gx8dm-WHgXkjK-MXuf7aMy3a9_MD_pBKw0DLeJIFaUAx-4o-D3n/s640/apron.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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And a sweet friend (from my high school "sisters") sent me three new violets. Today was repotting day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHd8FUgEhn9Ob-tKk_UQsYyJnqa3QwxM6YMuaL6iZ4JXWpUmp-ITt2gyTW2BgDgTsFMQR39QRxpZWaY1VejBYVWaijugbdC5kJgT7nFR59iD6WMtLXPTGmqYnE6zSo9rJsbhKCso1NWMM/s1600/violets.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHd8FUgEhn9Ob-tKk_UQsYyJnqa3QwxM6YMuaL6iZ4JXWpUmp-ITt2gyTW2BgDgTsFMQR39QRxpZWaY1VejBYVWaijugbdC5kJgT7nFR59iD6WMtLXPTGmqYnE6zSo9rJsbhKCso1NWMM/s640/violets.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I'm working on Eighth Day of Plum Street Samplers Twelve Days of Christmas so I'm a bit behind but that's okay....I still have time to finish. I think. And I've been shopping 3 times. Three! I hate shopping because I always see things I would love to have for myself and don't need at all...such a temptation. :)StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-37997461770198460092015-11-11T17:12:00.002-06:002015-11-11T17:12:58.783-06:00Thoughts From The Back Of An AmbulanceIt started a week ago Friday, the day before Halloween, with a scratchy throat. I ignored it because I had company coming for the weekend and really, isn't that what we women do? On Saturday it was about the same but by Sunday afternoon I knew I had caught a cold. And answer me this...why do we call it "catching" a cold, as if we'd been chasing it and finally, finally we caught it? I, for one, avoid colds like the plague. I wash my hands a lot, I use hand sanitizer, I wipe the handles of the carts at WalMart with their bleach wipes, I take Vitamin C. But still, there it was. <br />
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It wasn't too bad, just a cough and stopped up sinuses, and so I continued on my merry way. I went to Yoga on Sunday, Weight Watchers on Monday and Yoga again on Tuesday. Where I got light headed and broke into a sweat. Strange since I'm always cold and never hot. Wednesday the cough was worse so about 6 that evening I put on my pajamas and settled in with my stitching. And I coughed and coughed and coughed. For hours. Which triggered esophageal spasms that were so bad I couldn't get my breath. Finally my husband got scared and called 911. Well, to be honest it was me who got scared and told him to call 911. :)<br />
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The First Responder from the Fire Department arrived pretty quickly. He was such a sweet 13 year old. I remember thinking that .... 13 years old and I wonder if he was one of my students. Of course, the problem is that at my age everyone looks like a 13 year old. I'm sure he was much older, maybe even 25. He put oxygen on me and took my blood pressure. Correction - he tried to take my blood pressure. It was so high that it wouldn't register. The ambulance arrived next and started asking questions. Try the blood pressure again. 190/88. I'm pretty sure I told them to try again because my blood pressure is really 120/60. Always. <br />
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I thought they would just give me a shot, calm me down, and head on back to the ambulance home while I went to bed. No they said. Can you help us get you on the gurney they said. Young man I've been getting myself up and around for 69 years and I'm not gonna stop now. On the gurney, up into the ambulance. Did you know that the lights inside the ambulance stay on while they drive? And it's dark outside so everyone on the street can see you in there? They put the EKG machine on me, trying very hard to keep me covered up. For which I will be eternally grateful. I would have hated riding down the highway with the girls showing. The nice EMT tried to draw blood and tried to get an IV started. I have the proof that he tried - several black bruises on my arm. I offered to pray for his blood drawing skills. I think that probably wasn't politically correct but it was definitely appropriate.<br />
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Did you know that from the back of an ambulance cars behind you look like giant eyes following you? And that riding backwards like that gives a whole different perspective to travel? Instead of looking where you're going you're looking at where you've been. Think about that for a while. We passed the Shoe Factory...I bought a really comfortable pair of shoes there once. And there's the place where I used to get my oil changed when I had the car that the eighteen wheeler crushed. Oh yea, that used to be the neighborhood market but it closed and I really miss it. Looking back is ok but trust me, looking forward is much more uplifting and positive. <br />
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Don't worry, this story has a happy ending. I got shots and meds and more oxygen and finally got back home about 3 a.m. It's days later and I'm almost well. In fact, if the weather weren't so awful today I'd have gone walking today.<br />
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And since I've been sidelined this last several days I've coughed and stitched and finished up The Second Day of Christmas and The Third Day of Christmas and The Fourth Day of Christmas! Here's a couple of pics....<br />
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Or maybe there's one picture - I'll take the other pictures in a day or two. These are from <a href="http://plumstreetsamplers.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Plum Street Samplers</a> and are her free patterns for her Sunday Sampler series. You should check them out because they're so cute and so fast and fun.<br />
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Meanwhile I'll be back in a few days to show you how I'm finishing them. I haven't actually decided yet how I want to finish them but I'll be sure and show you. :) Any suggestions?StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-50206847410670773052015-11-04T15:57:00.000-06:002015-11-04T15:57:47.723-06:00Gray DaysWell last time I posted I mentioned the drought and I have to say that's over. Completely over. We've had rain and more rain and there's more rain coming. They days have all been gray and cloudy and damp and perfect for staying in and stitching. <br />
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We've had siding installers here for weeks - the 4 day installation of siding on our house has taken a month and they're not finished. We have a brick house so there's not a lot of wood area to cover but it's been a comedy of errors. Materials didn't come in or they came in damaged. Where I asked for it to be put on horizontally they put it vertically. The list goes on but I have high hopes that all mistakes will be corrected by tomorrow and the job will be finished. <br />
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Meanwhile I've done a little stitching and had my high school friends here for the weekend and started yoga again. <br />
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I did this quick embroidery but then couldn't decide how to finish it....<br />
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I love big stitch embroidery - it's very easy, suits my primitive style and is oh so fast.<br />
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Olde Witche Mary - has to be one of my favorites despite the many mistakes I made doing it. I ran out of thread very early on and had to substitute. This was a kit from Not Forgotten Farms and the thread was hand dyed. There was plenty for the top half but not the flowers so I found a Presencia thread that was very, very close. Somehow I miscounted and ended up altering a couple of the flowers to make them fit but if I don't tell you which ones I don't think you'll be able to tell. :)<br />
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And I'm working on the Plum Street Samplers "Sunday Sampler" series - and yes, I'm way behind. This is the First Day of Christmas...I've begun the Second Day but I think there are about six of them out now. I have no idea how I'm going to finish the first two pieces but these will be ornaments when I get all the stitching done and get them finished.<br />
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I made a trip to Goodwill the other day to drop some stuff off so I shopped a little. I'm always on the lookout for ways to use my cross stitch pieces. I ran across a wonderful round green box for $2 that is going to be perfect for something....have no idea what, but something! :)<br />
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I've got a hot cup of tea beside me, bread dough rising in the kitchen, and stitching in my lap. Life doesn't get any better than this!StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568318030915787600.post-32048340211526392472015-10-18T18:03:00.000-05:002015-10-19T15:11:18.786-05:00True LoveAt my son's house when the children go to their bedrooms a door is closed between the living area and the bedrooms. The dog, Abby, wants so badly wants to go with them but if Abby joined them they wouldn't stay in bed. They'd play and giggle and stay awake for hours. So poor Abby has to stay out. But here's how she waits for them.<br />
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There's one little sliver of light leading to where the children are. And so she waits patiently, staying in the light until it goes out. I think this is the most beautiful demonstration of love that I've ever seen.<br />
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Fall has finally arrived here - we have had some cool days and some cooler nights this week. But the flowers of summer are still holding on. The rain lily has one last bloom....<br />
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Even the geranium is showing some brilliant color....<br />
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The tomatoes are still holding on and, to my surprise, some volunteer basil has come up....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgPIxoEY_EgDfC4IErRDpdLuORgAxMLE3nWh1L9nyF4kQoIucfBvMPiHQqaf07Z0xtDKuk6xkM3J8kMsqZXLKgCyCT-rLIHslNBKH6idq7by18gXnFZ7m74UfVldMQbcb397FYBNb7mxR/s1600/basil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgPIxoEY_EgDfC4IErRDpdLuORgAxMLE3nWh1L9nyF4kQoIucfBvMPiHQqaf07Z0xtDKuk6xkM3J8kMsqZXLKgCyCT-rLIHslNBKH6idq7by18gXnFZ7m74UfVldMQbcb397FYBNb7mxR/s640/basil.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Of course it won't live for long - it will be gone with the first frost - but it's such a beautiful bright, crisp green right now.<br />
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But autumn is really here and the mums know it....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii15HAkO7lqWZCsMlAEpmNhNBNLIYfR128B1KCDsaJJcB45c3ZUgS-a_1Sfc74TTVTtIjvQuxS1iHSZHsIKkhtTxeQV_1gvLfJ7vhgAYtkZHEkm7MYon4HGUo8ppFTAT7x8ns-PRRPffUy/s1600/mum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii15HAkO7lqWZCsMlAEpmNhNBNLIYfR128B1KCDsaJJcB45c3ZUgS-a_1Sfc74TTVTtIjvQuxS1iHSZHsIKkhtTxeQV_1gvLfJ7vhgAYtkZHEkm7MYon4HGUo8ppFTAT7x8ns-PRRPffUy/s640/mum.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Inside I'm sitting in my stitching chair with my feet propped up working on a pattern from Notforgotten Farm called Olde Witche Mary. I love the pattern and I'm getting close to a finish - I hope to show it to you in less than a week - but sadly, I ran out of thread way too soon and am having to substitute. I think I got close enough that it won't be glaringly obvious but only time will tell.<br />
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And later this week my small quilting group will be coming over for dessert and stitching. There's nothing to compare with long time friends sitting together and stitching. Happy Fall!StitchinByTheLakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.com25