StitchinByTheLake

All of these wonderful bloggers have agreed to turn their porch lights on for you beginning midnight Eastern Time on the day they are scheduled to post their treats for us. They have also promised to be sharing with everyone a Wickedly fun project created especially for this Wicked Blog Hop ... no tricks, again! ... what a treat {wink}!

Be sure and visit each and every one on the daily blog hop block, as some of them may choose to have a giveaway, while others may not, and you won't know who, until you stop in for a visit!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Home Again, Home Again, Jigity Jig

I've been off on another short trip. Well if you call 400 miles there and 400 miles back short. I went to my sister's for a few days, first of all because I love her, :) and second because I love my aunt. :)

I think I might have told you that my aunt, who is almost 75 and is totally blind, has moved in with my sister. My aunt just retired. Yes, you read that right. She has worked her whole life and ran her own business most of that time. She also managed some rental property she had. She can run circles around me! We unpacked boxes, visited, ate, and unpacked more boxes.

And how lucky was I....I unpacked the box that held this basket, which belonged to my grandmother and her mother before her. It's a sewing basket and I grabbed it!

It's really okay that I got it and my sister didn't because she has our mother's sewing basket. I mean really, I should have one and her one, right? Besides I found it first and hid it under my shirt. Not really. But I would have if I'd had to. :)

My aunt also sent me home with a barely used Ninja (blender, etc. ?). Do you have one? If so, please e-mail me and tell me how you use it. I know it's supposed to be wonderful but exactly why?

And here's my most important question. I need a cutting mat 24 x 48. No store I've tried carries one that large. Looking online boggles my mind because there are different kinds, different stores, etc. I know I can cut it down if it's a little larger than that but have any of you bought one online? If so, from whom?
Looking for answers!

Monday, October 7, 2013

Little Sleep = More Stitching

As I posted yesterday the new meds are keeping me from sleeping, which is not always a bad thing. I'm sure it will catch up with me in a day or two but meantime I'm working hard on some projects for the upcoming Wicked Blog Hop - my day to post is the 22nd - and a couple of other small things were finished this week as well. I'm still loving these Kathy Schmitz BOM stitcheries!

Two more months done! I think I've completed six of these now, with two more of the embroideries completed and waiting the borders. I've used her patterns for some of the borders but others I've done something different. This snowman is one I did my own thing on - I had that icy blue batik and wanted to use it to frame the stitchery since it matched the Snow banner so perfectly.

And on a "I'm so thankful" note - fall has finally arrived here! Well maybe only for one day. But oh what a gorgeous day it was. :) I took most of my summer clothes out of the closet and put them into storage. Now I'm not crazy...I left a few pairs of capris in there...but surely I can make it from now on with jeans. Right? Right?

And on an even better note today is my anniversary. Yep, birthday last week; anniversary this week. We have officially made it to 49 years. Oh. My. Goodness.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

A Book Review

From time to time Bethany House Publishers are kind enough to send me a book to review. This book is sent to me free of charge and my only obligation is to post an honest review of the book when I've read it. They ask that this be done within a month of receipt of the book. This time I read the chosen book in one night - the very day I received it. Yes, you read that right...one night. I'd love to say it's because the book was mesmerizing, life changing, not to be missed, but that wouldn't be true, although it was a nice, light read. I'm having a major flare up of arthritis in my hands and the doctor insisted that I take a Medrol Dosepak (is that the correct name?) to get it under control so we can find some sort of ongoing solution to this issue. That medicine gives me lots of energy and steals all hope of sleep for a couple of days. :( Of course, all that worked well for getting the book read, and now the review written!

This picture, taken from the Amazon advertisement for it, pretty much says it all. You've probably seen the story line many times - mid 1800's, mail order bride (beautiful but reluctant), handsome (but also reluctant) groom, hard times, end up in love. It's all that with just a few alterations thrown in to make it a bit different. It is a faith based novel though that is not emphasized. The groom has had a bit of bad luck...he was rejected by his first lady friend, one mail order bride died on the way to him, another married before she got there and another chose someone else after she got there! Needless to say that would explain his reluctance but not hers. Hers stems from some abuse by a suitor back home.

All in all I'd say it is one of those books that you read when you want something light, you don't want to think, and you want a love story with no sex and no violence. It's what some would call a beach book - read it on a lazy day lounging by the beach. It was perfect for my sleepless night and I was so glad Bethany House sent it to me!

Saturday, October 5, 2013

I Love This Part

Don't you love the last few stitches of the binding? It means you're almost finished....my favorite part. :)

I'm spending my Saturday in the sewing room...how about you? I made a pot of potato soup yesterday that's going to taste even better today, my house is clean, (well as clean as it's going to get any time soon) and I've got stitching on my mind!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Have You Heard?

http://sewwequilt.com

Have you loved the blog hops you see popping up? I do too! And I especially love the ones I've participated in over at Sew We Quilt with Madame Samm. Right now they're having a wonderful giveaway....$$$$ for fabric! Go quickly and check it out!