Craziness Reigns Supreme

If it's true that there is no rest for the wicked, I'm wondering where I went wrong...lol.  It seems every day there is something new I need to take care of.  Can I just say 2026 started off with a bang?  I'm truly tired and there is no end in sight!  

Two days before the first weekend of the year my husband decided we needed to go to Hershey to see the holiday lights before they were taken down until next year.  It was bitter cold but we thought, why not?  So we packed up the van with all the stuff we would need for an overnight trip, packed up the kids and the grandkids and took off!  Um...it was a fun ride there, we found a great place to have lunch, dropped off our stuff early at the hotel, and went to the park, where we were freezing even before it got dark.  Poor Ms. Q wasn't having any of it, poor little mite.  Little Miss Sassy Pants had a blast riding on a few rides, but we finally decided to throw in the towel after we had a hot pretzel and wonderful Hershey Hot Chocolate.  YUMM!!  Hopefully next year will be better!  Don't worry, the wheel chair is because the arthritis in my knee and the pain in my foot wouldn't let me walk too far, so I chose to ride.  It's not a permanent thing.

Next up will be Hubby's birthday...so stay tuned.  I'm hoping his surprise will be a good one!  I do have good news though...I had an appointment with the Orthopedic and I've been given the nod to be done with physical therapy.   Well you would think that would free up some days....nope.  Hubby has been taking off days here and there, and has decided  we need to hoe out the basement and get rid of stuff we haven't seen/needed in years.  I agree it's a mess down there, but am I in the mood to do it?  NO!  I just got some time to stitch...haha.  Oh well, onward an upward.  I'm writing this today, and since he's now at work, I'm taking the day to stitch before he finds more chores for me to do.  (We took down the rest of the decorations yesterday and packed it all away until next November).  

I have found some time in the evenings!  I wanted something quick and easy to take to Hershey with me and pulled out this Mill Hill kit, Jim Shore Santa Holding Heart.  I decided I'll make a stand up, so stitched it on 28 count Sage.  Now to find time to fully finish it...haha.  Unless there's a miracle of the addition of time, it may be next Christmas before I get there....hahahahaha.  

I've been slowly adding stitches to Hummingbird's Garden.  When I first started this, I thought it would go quickly.  I guess I didn't really look at how densely this was stitched.  I still have a lot more to go in the block I'm working on, but at least the fussy stitches are done, and I'm just filling in spaces.  Still it's a LOT of stitching!  I'm itching to get back to Let Freedom Ring... I need a clone!!  

I haven't posted any updates on American Flag either, so here's where I left off stitching on that.  I hope to get back to this one soon too!  This is where I left off on New Year's Eve.

I think my blog writing will be hit and miss for the next few months.  Hopefully I can get Let Freedom Ring done in the time I'm hoping to.  And hopefully I'll find more time for stitching along with all the other chores I'm being asked to do.  I thought retirement would mean things would slow down...I was mistaken...though life seems a lot more rewarding...it's a trade off!  I hope you all enjoyed the holidays, and the January doldrums stay at bay.  Happy Stitching!

New Year, New Start!

Hi there!  Yes, I finally settled on what I hoped to stitch this New Year.  This is called Hummingbird's Garden by Samplers Not Forgotten.  

I found this at the needlework market last spring and just couldn't resist all those lovely specialty stitches!  Not to mention, my Mom has been on my mind a lot lately.  There are days I wish I could talk to her, and I know she would especially love her two great granddaughters so much.  So I'm dedicating this stitch to my Mom, who loved hummingbirds.  I started this yesterday and I'm stitching it on 40 count Moonstone over two using mostly WDW thread (though I thought I had them all, then realized I needed two skeins of several of them...so I substituted DMC for two of them).  I've never done bargello so this will be a new one for me.  I'm enjoying these stitches!!.  Here is where I left off last night.  

I've read that Blessing Samplers are to be quickly stitched in the first month of the year.  I have no illusions that I will finish this in January but I know I'm going to have a difficult time putting this down...haha.  I still hope to stitch two pages of Let Freedom Ring, and stitch a bit on American Flag this month as well.  While I'm contemplating these ideas, I'll try to fit in a rotation of these.  If you have any ideas, I'm open to thinking about them.  

I sincerely thought things would slow down a bit after the New Year...but I guess not.  I love my husband...but he sure does like to be on the move!  Looks like we'll be undecorating and sorting through boxes this weekend...oh yay.  LOL  Hopefully after the weekend I'll be able to get my goals page up and running.  In the meanwhile, I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.  Happy Stitching! 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all my friends and family.  I'm praying we all have a wonderful year full of blessings and unexpected treasured moments.   

Just under the wire....

Well I wasn't expecting to get these finished this year, but wonders never cease!  

I wasn't feeling too well yesterday at physical therapy, couldn't balance, and 'just felt spacey.  Last night I took my temperature, it was 100.4, UGH.  I was supposed to watch Miss Q today, but the kids decided it would be better to keep her away from me until I'm feeling better.  So I decided to work a bit on American Flag last night and here is where I finished.  I probably could have stitched more but I called it a night early and slept all night for the first time in a long time.  

I woke up feeling a little more clear headed and thought, this may be the last time I'll get a chance to work on ornaments.  So I pulled out my finishing stuff and started working.  Now I probably could have finished a lot sooner but I'm still a little off my game.  I also tried a new kind of finish for me.  When I was at the retreat at Salty Yarns I discovered someone had used table number holders when they made a stand up.  I though that was genius!  So I ordered some from Amazon, and gave it a whirl today.  This is Christmas Morning from the 2024 JCS ornament issue stitched on 32 count coffee dyed fabric finished as a stand up.  

Next I finished Snow Friends by Shannon Christine stitched on 32 count raw opalescent over two.  No this isn't Deja Vu...haha it is the third one I've made this year, but this one is for ME!  haha

Then I finished Cardinal Couple by My Lovely Embroidery stitched on 32 count light blue over one both finished in small white tart pans I found at Hobby Lobby.  Yes, this was the second one I stitched, and again, this one is for ME!  haha

I was about to put everything away when I remembered my whole point in doing some finishing today was to finish Miss Q's ornament...hahaha.  I mentioned last post that I wanted one to commemorate the theme of her first birthday party which was Wild One.  I found Girl With A Watering Can In A Garden by My Lovely Embroidery online, finished stitching it the day before yesterday and really wanted to finish it before the first of next year.  This was stitched on 46 count antique white over two.  I truly love how it came out.  So  I pulled out some fabric, cut more acid free cardboard and got her finished.  Whew!  

I never dreamed I would finally get things finished off.  Thankfully my fever is down to a dull roar, my mind is a little clearer, and I'll be back to physical therapy again tomorrow.  Hopefully then I'll be able to keep my balance.  That was kinda crazy yesterday...haha.  

Well I'm not sure what tomorrow will hold (other than going to physical therapy) but we hope to spend time with the kids.  I hope however you choose to celebrate the beginning of a New Year, that you are safe, healthy and all things go well for you in 2026.  Happy New Year and Happy Stitching!  (I still haven't chosen my Blessings Sampler...have you?)

She's finished!

I'm so excited, that I actually finished stitching Girl with a watering can in the garden by My Lovely Embroidery last night.  I was determined to get her done, despite the constant interruptions by my lovely husband....haha.  I stayed up way past my bedtime and will probably be struggling during physical therapy today, but I managed to put the last stitch in before the clock struck midnight.  Now to get her fully finished before the end of the year.  Do you think it's possible?  We shall see!  So here she is, stitched on 46 count antique white over two.   

 And that's all the news I have for today.  Hopefully I'll get back to post some goals for next year, but with everything that has been happening, I don't know if I'll make it...haha.  Happy Stitching!! 

New Christmas Start!

Hi Fellow Stitchers!  Does anyone else do this or is it just me?  I like to start a new project on Christmas Day....and also on New Year's Day.  I know most start one on January 1st, but I was wondering if anyone else starts one on Christmas Day?  I have been gathering things to stitch for the 250th anniversary of the United States for a while now.  I had seen this particular pattern that had been entered in the Maryland State Fair a year or more ago and then had seen others stitching it too, so I started the hunt and finally found a digital copy of it on the internet.  I have had it kitted for ages, and it kept getting set aside for more pressing matters.   When the dust settled on Christmas Day, all the gifts had been unwrapped, dinner had been served and cleaned up, and our guests had gone home I started sifting through some of the stuff I had kitted up.  My eyes rested on this...American Flag...by Aysegul Tastepe.  

I had seen it stitched on black and thought it looked amazing!  So...I pulled it out and stitched a wee bit.  This is stitched on 28 count black over one.  Yes, I know, I'm mad...crazy...a lunatic...but as long as my eyes can see, I'm going to be stitching over one!  Haha!  This is how far I got Christmas Day.  

I don't know if you recall the ornament I made for Miss Sassy Pants for her second Christmas.  When she turned one her parents had a party for her and the theme was "one"der woman (wonder woman) so I made this ornament for her for the Christmas after she turned one.  

Her sister, Little Wild Woman, turned one in November.  Her theme was Wild One, and they had a wildflower theme.  I have been searching high and low for something that would fit the bill for this Christmas for her.  I finally found this pattern called Girl With A Watering Can Can In The Garden by My Lovely Embroidery and decided this was the one!  I've only had snippets of time here and there, so it wasn't finished for Christmas but it will be soon.  Here is where I am right now.

It's stitched on 46 count antique white over two and there is still a bit more to do, but hopefully before the New Year she can hang it on her tree.  

The day after Christmas we spent taking our van in for maintenance, exchanging the shoes we bought for our son, having lunch out and going to see a movie.  We saw Song Sung Blue.  Definitely not what we expected, and full of twists and turns, some provocative scenes, but it was one we walked away from thinking...what a good movie!  I would love to read more about the true story it was based on, but I have to say, if even some of the stuff is true...what an incredible life this couple led!  

Ok, I've been promised a leisurely day to stitch, so I'm off to get some stitching done.  With a little luck I might just finish this little girl in the garden!  I can't wait to get back to the American Flag....and I'll be thinking about my New Year's start.  Let me know what you'll be stitching on!  Happy Stitching!

Wise Men Still Seek Him

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and living in a manger."  Luke 2:9-12 NIV  

He came to fulfill a promise "For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah.9:2  

Today we celebrate the birth of that child, that Son of God, our Savior.  May you see and find the true meaning of Christmas.  Have a Blessed Christmas.