Thursday's Glitz

Glorious morning walk...frosty grass on glistening in the morning sun. Gotta love the California chilly winter weather.

Last weekend both boys travelled to opposite ends of the Mid-West and experienced extreme winter weather. Robert was in Minnesota for a hockey tournament where the temps were hoving around 0. And Matthew was down in Texas where they were dealing with an ice storm. I don't know if Matthew's team was doing more skating in a hockey rink or outside in the hotel parking lot. Both boys did well over the weekend. Matthew's team won all their games.

While they were out of town, I found some time to sit and stitch...and out came an UFO:

2009 Schooler Santa - The Prairie Schooler
Stitched one over one

I started this several years ago and then it just got lost in the Project Black Hole; so I just pulled it out last weekend and did a little (I stress "little") work on it. I would love to finish this up and put it on the Christmas tree this year. So send some stitching mojo my way and maybe I can get it done!

Well...time to get to the store. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

January, February, March and now onto April...as well as other things

It has been a few weeks since my last post. With the hockey season underway, the boys seem to be traveling every weekend...Robert one weekend and then Matthew the next. Robert, my older son, travels with the team and we get to watch most of his games via live stream through the interview. Matthew, my younger son, also travels as a team...but as the team manager I tend to still travel with him and the team. Last weekend was a trip to Chicago with Matthew & team where they had a pretty good hockey weekend - won 3, lost 2. This weekend, Robert's team is in Chicago; they have won 2 - lost 1 and have another game in 30 minutes (so I better hurry and finish this post so I can watch).

Due to travel, I find time in the airport and on the plane to get in some X's on my LHN Monthly Sampler and have finished the month of March. So, here are some snaps of what I have so far:

And here is the whole thing all together...

Monthly Samplers - Little House Needleworks

Last night I started April, locating it under January...so it will be 3 across and 4 down. 

Well, it is just about time to sign off and set up the computer to watch Robert's last game of the weekend. But just wanted to leave you with this...

Until next time, take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Catching Up

Life has a way of moving, moving and moving. Always something to do, to drive to, to get ready for. Definitely keeps me hopping!

So, what has gone on in this household? Well...

There was homecoming, which my younger son went to the homecoming dance with a couple of his hockey teammates:

My son, Matthew, is the one in the middle.
Handsome young men, don't you think?

Girls going with girls and boys going with boys to the dance seems to be the going trend now-a-days. Too much pressure asking the other sex to the dance...better to go with your "buds" and meet up with your friends at the dance.

Then, as always, there is hockey. Last weekend we had game after game to attend as both my boys played. My younger son, Matthew, and his teammates won the championship of their division:

North American Bantam Tournament Series Champs!

My older son's team played a series of games...they have the season to go before any playoffs or championships.

With all of that going on, I have managed to put a few X's into LHN's Monthly Samplers - March. Here is a status snapshot for you:

"March"
Little House Needleworks

The little lambs on the grassy hill are so cute. There is one more on top of the hill I will need to stitch.

Anyway...that is a little update on life. Hope you all are doing well.

Until next time, take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Saturday Show & Share...Stitching & Stash

Happy Saturday...Happy Summer!

Yesterday afternoon I dropped off ALL my boys at the airport and then, for some reason, found myself and my LNS - Needle in a Haystack. As soon as the testosterone was out of my automobile, my car had a mind of its own and headed right for the needlework shop. Fancy how that happens :)

It was fun crusin' through all the fabrics and floss, patterns and accessories. I haven't visited NIAH in quite a long time. And, as it happens so often, a pattern...some fabric...and a little bit of floss jumped into the basket and gave my credit card a little work out. Here is the new stash I got and the new project that I decided to take on:

SamSarah "In My Garden" - Chapter One
Belfast Country Blue 32ct and some of the Crescent Colours called for

I have been seeing this SamSarah series on the SamSarah Facebook page as well as on a couple of blogs. I love the colors and the flowers. Unfortunately, NIAH only had the 1st chapter and a few of the floss colors. I did, as soon as I got back home, order the remaining Chapters (note: there are 6 chapters to this series; 1-4 have been published, 5 & 6 will be out later this year) and the missing Crescent Colours from www.123stitch.com. 

In addition to this project, I have also received the first part of the newest LHN Mystery Series called "Song of the Seasons":

Little House Needleworks Mystery Sampler - "Song of the Seasons" Part 1
35ct Straw and Weeks Dye Works Floss

So now my "to do stitch" list has increased...but with the boys out of town and only the stores to take care of, I have been able to sit and stitch. Last night I picked up "Sampler Months" and started on the border of February...

You can see that I have basically finished January. The February border is the white squares and medium green (dashes). It would be cool if I could finish the border tonight.

Well, just heard from ALL my boys. Matthew (the youngest) will be dropped off at Colorado College where he will be participating in the 2013 Western Regional Hockey showcase. He will be assigned a team and a roommate; from today until Thursday he will be rooming with another hockey player in a dorm room. He will be skating 2x a day - a morning practice and an afternoon game, as well as doing other team-type of activities. It is a really neat opportunity for him. While he is there, I am not sure what DH and Robert (older son) will be doing. They did plan to drive to Southern Colorado to do a little fishing and hiking, but the place that they had reservations is in the middle of some wildfires and has been evacuated. So, they might end up hanging around Colorado Springs the entire time. As long as they are safe!

Well, time to take off and get in some X's. Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

TGIF!

Greetings from Sunny Northern California. This is a view I see while walking every day - today is was really clear. I love all the "hills" (yes, we call these hills because they really are not that high above sea level). I just love living here...you can drive one direction and be on the beach within 45-60 minutes or drive the other direction for a few hours and be in the mountain and snow...you can enjoy multitudes of vineyards, wonderful wines or enjoy fresh fruit and veggies at the local farmers markets. It is great!

The next group of flowering plants are taking over - while the flowing trees have finished and now are adorned in their greenery, the daisies, roses, iris, day lilies and so on are in full bloom. That is another thing that is nice - for when one group of plants are done flowering, there is another that starts up...HOWEVER, that just mean another set of allergies start up - so the stuffy noses, sneezing and watery eyes seems to be haunting my family again. Oh, well...sometimes with the good comes the bad.

Sitting at the hockey rink hasn't lent itself to much stitching for it has been mostly a social hour for me. Which is not a bad thing, for it is always nice to connect with my fellow hockey moms, catching up on all the gossip or helping each other deal with the growing pains of raising kids now-a-days.

Anyway, just wanted to say "hi" and wish you all a good weekend. Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Sunday afternoon...

I just love these roses that are in full bloom. The rose bush is on my running route and I just felt the need to take a breather..."and smell the roses."

HAPPY SUNDAY!

It is Sunday already, which means tomorrow is back to the grind...although in our household many times the weekend is just as busy as the Monday-Friday.

This weekend was hockey tryouts for the boys. Matthew's (younger son) tryouts concluded this morning and he made the Jr Sharks 14aaa team. While we weren't too stressed out about it - it is still reassuring when the list is posted and you see your child's name on it! And...I have volunteered to be his hockey team's team manager. I figure I have been a hockey team manager for over 7 years now...what is another year? 

Robert's (older son) tryouts finish up tomorrow evening. Although the coach called out a few of the kids after the 1st night of tryouts, which Robert was included in, to let them know they were all going to "be signed" (meaning that they made the team)...so that alleviated any stress we felt for Robert and his tryouts. 

Even though tryouts is early and they really don't start up practices or team events until the end of July/beginning of August, it is nice to have this all over with and things determined for next year. Then, when August does roll around, we only have to deal with all the school stuff.

A little guy I saw while out on my run yesterday. 

Well, I think it is time for my Sunday afternoon nap!

Until next time...remember,

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often 

(which I am hoping to do later after my nap).

Lisa

Yes, I'm still here...and I have a lot to show you!

OMG...it has been a long time since I have sat myself down to share with you all. Thank you for being patient. I has been busy around here.

Last weekend I travelled to Orlando, Florida for the Edible Arrangement Franchise Convention. I went there by myself, leaving all the boys (husband and sons) back home. I love going to these conventions, for I get to meet other Edible Arrangement franchise owners, share ideas with them, get information regarding some of the new arrangements and products that the corporate office is working on and get re-energized to go back to our stores! The most exciting part of the weekend was winning one of the regional awards...my husband and I were nominated for the Pineapple Star of the West region award and we WON!


Pineapple Star of the West Region 2012

It was so exciting! Feels great to be recognized by the management team of the corporate office as one of the top stores in the West Region.

The plane ride from California to Florida is very, very looooooonnnngggg! It was a good opportunity to get some stitching done. I brought along with me the Lizzie Kate Halloween Mystery Sampler - Part 1. Here is the status of this as of right now...

It's coming a long slowly, but surely...however, it looks like I need to speed things up because I received part 2 in the mail today:

In addition to part 2 of the mystery sampler...I also received my copy of the Just CrossStitch Halloween edition.

There are some really cute Halloween designs to stitch in it! However it has been really hard to find time to sit and stitch since I got back from the Franchise convention; for both of my sons have started their pre-season hockey practices and conditioning activities. My younger son, Matthew, has been skating and working out in the mornings and my older son, Robert, has been doing hill running (conditioning activities) with his team in the evenings. It is great for my workouts (typically join in) and my own fitness routine, but not good for my stitching! But I will make time soon.

One other thing that I would like to show you is something I received from my uncle. While going through my grandmother's house, my mother & uncles found an old dress tucked into one of the closets....and they decided to send it to me.

This dress was my great-grandmothers. She wore it to my great-grandfather's funeral in 1926. It has that 20's flapper look to it, with a bow in the front and a little pleating below the bow. Pretty cool, huh?

Well, thats all I have for my show and tell today. Hope all is well with you!

Take care and remember...

Live, Laugh, Love and Stitch often!

Lisa

It is Friday! - M.Wigham update, hockey and the Farmer's Market

It is always nice when Friday rolls around here during the summer, for that means no hockey tonight and through the weekend. I know that my boys would protest to something like that, but for me...one of the main chaufer drivers I am estatic as the arrival of Friday & the weekend!

However, I can't complain too much about this week. For our carpooling routine has been very kind to us. DH and I have taken turns driving the group of boys down and back from the rink for the day camp and the other families we carpool with have been doing the evening camp. If I go down to the rink during the day, I use that time to enjoy a good work out in the fitness room down there while still having time to get in some stitching!

I have made some progress on Mary Wigham this week and here is a status photo of the Gold motif I finished...and the start to the motif I am stitching in Oatmeal:

Mary Wigham
Gold Leaf Motif
(and above...the motif I am stitching in Oatmeal)

The section I have been stitching lately is section 6...however I skipped the middle section, which is section 5. Why? because that is the section where Mary Wigham's name is and because the graph sizes aren't quite the same size, so they don't match up very well when you cut/tape them together. In fact I noticed that section 5, 7, 8, 9 tend to be slightly smaller graph sizes and don't easily match up; thus, it can't be easily taped together to create one big master graph to stitch from. So I will definitely need to find the patience to continue stitching M.Wigham because I would love to finish this BAP before the end of the year!

Ok, enough rambling about M.Wigham...and on to another topic...

Farmer's Markets! Since moving to California almost 9 years ago, one of my favorite things that occur here are the Farmer's Markets. Last summer, a small local farmer's market started at a park that is 1.5 miles from us. It occurs every Thursday evening and since I haven't had to drive down to the rink in the evenings I have been visiting the local market and picking up some of the fresh produce that is coming in from the local farms right now. This time of the year is the "pit-fruit" or "stone-fruit" season. Which means that there is a wonderful selection of nectarines, plums, apricots and all the hybrids.

My Pit-Fruit selection from Thursday's Farmer's Market trip

The hybrids or cross-breeds (?) are very interesting and many are very good taste combinations. First up is the:

APRICOT + PLUM = APRIUM

Starting with the top-right-yellow fruit = apricots...the lower-right-purple fruit = plums..
mix them together and you get the middle-left-light redish/yellowish fruit = apriums
They taste like a plum with the texture of an apricot. The skin is also slightly fuzzy like an apricot

PEAR + NECTARINE = PEARINE



Top = Nectarine...Bottom = Pearine
(no pears as it is not the season for them)
I haven't taken the opportunity to taste these yet; however because it was the first time I saw this hybrid, I thought I would get a few and bring home to try. I'll let you know what they are like next time.

There are other combinations, like the PLOUT which is a real sweet plum. However, there were no pluots available at the market last night.  I did get a few other items, such as:

Heirloom Tomatoes

Have you ever tried the Heirloom Tomatoes. It is interesting, to me at least, how different each one tastes. I think my favorite are the ones that have more yellow and orange. The green/red one in the upper right-hand corner is a very strange taste, but I thought I would go ahead and get one. Might be good with something we might cook up over the weekend.

Last, but definitely not least...I got some:

Blackberries and Raspberries. Oh, my...it is heaven! When you put one of those large, lusious black berries in your mouth and those little pillows "pop" in your mouth...OMG!

Well, on that note. I wish you all a BERRY good and FRUITY weekend! Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa



A little package arrived, from a dear stitching friend!!

Yesterday a little package was sitting on my doorstep. I wasn't expecting anything, although some of our relatives have started their Christmas shopping a little early. However, this package was from my dear stitching friend - CindyMae. Totally unexpected, I of course couldn't wait to tear into the package...even through we were 1/2 our the door for a hockey game.

Rip...Rip...Tear...Tear...YAHOO! HOW COOL!...sob, sob..OMG, I can't believe that anyone would do this for me...

In the package was a pillow, with the Prairie Schooler Santa 2009 stitched AND the pattern...and a beautiful door hanger that reads: "Stitching Friends Forever."

Can you find any holiday stitching pattern that would be more perfect for my life than a Santa with a hockey stick, a couple of hockey pucks and ice skates?  Like, this is so ME...so my LIFE...and hopefully Santa takes the hint that the boys could always use a new pair of skates, a stick or even the puck for their stockings. And if that isn't enough, she threw in the pattern as well. Which, is awesome because after I showed my boys the pillow, they immediately said that would make a neat ornament for me. So, I guess I need to get my supplies together and stitch some skating Santas for the boys.

And the other stitched "door hanger" - Stitching Friends Forever, I think really sums up the friendship I have with Cindy. Through the blogging community of stitchers our paths crossed. A new and upcoming stitching designer, she needed people to help her out and stitch some of her designs so that she would have some models...I volunteered. And we have kept in contact throughout.

Cindy, thank you so much! I love my package. The pillow I have placed on my bed and the door hanger on my bedroom doorknob. You have truely spoiled me :) My life has been richer since you have come into it years ago and even through we live thousands of miles appart and have never met, you are a very special friend!

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Yesterday's two hockey games, which Matthew and his team played, were pretty good. We knew going into them that his team would be challenged. Matthew played well and the team was not totally shut out...but they did loose both games with a score of 1-10 and 2-8. It could have been worse, for the opposing team, who is from Southern California, does a lot to recruit players from all over California as well as the US.

Today, my DH just left with both boys at 6:30am. Matthew has another game, an exhibition game against an older team from our club and Robert has an early morning practice with his team. Then later today, Robert will be playing in a hockey game as a member of his high school hockey team. This is the first game for this team and the first high school hockey game for his school. High school hockey is just getting organized in California (so, if you are keeping track, Robert is on two hockey teams - his high school team and his club team). 

Well, Robert will get to play in that High School game if he gets his homework done...Matthew has informed us that his homework is done for the weekend and he is ready for school tomorrow...fingers are crossed that we will not have any homework surprises at bedtime tonight!

That is about it my blogging friends. I am trying to get all my "to dos" crossed off my list before the boys come home from hockey: exercise, blog posting, catch up with relatives, grocery shopping, folding the laundry and prep a family lunch. So I better keep going to knock the things off. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

It December???

This was our beautiful fall tree last Wednesday, November 30...before the 50-80 mile winds attacked it.

I am still in denial - it can't be December already...can it? It is hard to believe! But I guess since the boys got out their advent chocolate candy calendars, the holidays are getting closer.

Last Wednesday, I had a rare day off and enjoyed a nice 7.5 mile jog. The trees around the neighborhood were filled with colorful leaves, the sun was shinning a nice 50-60 degree temperature, the sky was blue and the grass green. In most places in the US, this wouldn't be a typical "winter" day but for here it is pretty standard this time of the year. HOWEVER, that was Wednesday...

Since then, the Santa Anna winds have been howling anywhere between 50-80 or 90 miles an hour. All of those beautiful crimson, orange and yellow leaves are no longer on the trees - they are on the ground and in my garage (we forgot to close the garage door the other night and the darn leaves found there way in there). Nevertheless, the temps still hover around the mid-50s and the sun it shiny bright - so I can't complain!

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Ok...you all know the saying: "what goes around, comes around"? Well, I lived it on Thursday evening/Friday morning.

You remember those big school projects you would get and the due date would be a few weeks to a month out. The ones that would take some work and the teacher gave you all the time in the world to do it. So much time, in fact, that there wasn't any reason to start right away. The kind of projects you would set aside for the first week, then take the time to plan for the second week and then the night before the due date you and one of your parents, who would be very angry & have a sneer on their face, would stay up all night to complete it together. Well...

Matthew, my younger son, received a project a week before the Thanksgiving break that wasn't due until Friday, December 2. Decided that he wouldn't start it until the break, because he know that he would have a lot of time to research, write and draw since both DH and I would be at the stores working. Thanksgiving break comes...he works on the cover of the project and then writes down the outline of what he will research.. He develops the plan that he will work on 3 pages a day...the project is an ABC book of Ancient China...and therefore be able to get the project done during the T-giving break and not have to worry about it the week it is due (which is always a good idea because of all the other homework he has which he juggles with hockey practices).

Well...every day I would get home from the stores and was greeted by Matthew, who was still in his pjs playing a computer game. I would ask, "did you work on your project?" and he would respond, "no, not today, I will put some work into it tomorrow. I have a new strategy, starting tomorrow I will do 4 letters a day and will still be done before the end of the break." The next day - new strategy 5 letters a day...and the next was 6 letters a day.

Bottomline and to shorten the story...Thursday evening DH and I were up with Matthew "helping" him to get the project done. Working on the last 13 letters...we finished the project at 2:30am.

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We have a lot of hockey this weekend...surprised? Matthew has a couple of league games today, both kids have practice tomorrow morning and Sunday evening Robert will be playing his first high school hockey game. High school hockey is new here in California - all the hockey is played representing a club. Robert's team is made up of 10-12 kids with various of hockey playing levels. It should be fun to watch and exciting for him to show off his hockey skills to all his schoolmates who know of his passion for hockey, but have never seen him play.

Well...I don't want to bore you any more. I am hoping to have some status photos of Family Sampler soon. Keep your fingers crossed!

Until next time...remember,

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Catching up again...business, baking and a little stitching

Post # 491-494 and 6 more days until the giveaway drawing.

If you haven't entered yet, I posted the information on the left hand side and "click" on the link, which will take you to the right post to enter your comment for the upcoming drawing.

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Post #491 -  Weekend RecapThe weekend went well for me, at home with Robert (older son), and DH & Matthew (younger son) down in LA. I worked in the store on Saturday and got Robert around for his hockey activities on Sunday.

Down in LA, DH & Matthew had a great time. Matthew played well in all three of his hockey games - scored a goal in all three games...but unfortunately, the team lost 2 games and tied 1. But the scores were all very close. Aside from hockey, they just had a great time being together, which as I said in the last post it has been a long time since DH has stepped away from the store and travelled for a hockey weekend with either of the boys. It was funny, though, when Matthew listed the few times that he "missed his mommy".

The first time was just during the games for there was no one cheering from the stands. In fact, he said, the stands were silent (that is sad). The second time he missed me was when they went to the Olive Garden for dinner...mommy wasn't there to cut his speghitti noodles. This issue, I have to say is very sad, for he is 12.5 years old and it is time for him to cut his own noodles...don't you think? :)

Post #492 - The Business
In the wonderful comments on my last "catch up" post, Kaye asked "What sort of store do you own?" My husband and I own 2 Edible Arrangement franchise stores - the business that creates fruit arrangements that look like flower arrangements and boxes of chocolate dipped fruit (like strawberries, bananas, oranges, pineapple, and apples). Below is one of the popular arrangements this week as we gear up for Thanksgiving.

It looks like we will be cutting out a lot of pineapple leaves and dipping them in chocolate over the next few days. As well as, making a lot of cinamon chocolate apple wedges.

Today, tomorrow and Thanksgiving I will be working up at our 2nd store location while DH holds down the 1st location. Before anyone asks..."yes" DH and I are working Thanksgiving Day. We give all our employees the day off and we work the store from 8-12 for pick ups only (normally we deliver, but on holidays such as this when we give all our employees the day off we just do "pick up" only). When the last pick up is gone, we each will lock up the doors and meet at home...where we will enjoy our Thanksgiving meal!

Post #493 - Thanksgiving Baking
Yesterday, as I was driving around doing errands (for I had the day off from both Part Time job and working in a store) I realized that if I don't get my Thanksgiving shopping done or get the pumpkin pies made I won't have any other chance this week. So after running the car to get it's overdue oil change, I hit the grocery store and gathered up all the Thanksgiving necessities - Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, etc. It is going to be a small T-giving this year as Robert (my older son) will be away for a hockey tournament.

Anyway...once home and the groceries unpacked I started immediately on my pie crust...do you make your own pie crust or do you purchase "already" made? I have always made my own. It has been a tradition in my household to use homemade pie dough. Back when I was a little girl, it was tradition for my great-grandmother to make the dough and the pumpkin pies. I still remember walking downstairs to the kitchen mid-morning and hearing her curse the dough - "Damn dough, it is too sticky!" or "Damn dough, it keeps breaking a part and the pies are going to look ugly!" After a few "damns" you would soon hear my uncle or my mother in the next room saying - "LaLa's making her pies now, best to stay out of the kitchen." My dough recipe comes from the Bylery's cook book (Bylery's is a grocery store in Minnesota) and is simply Crisco, flour, egg, vinegar and a little water.

Once the dough is made, rolled out and fitted to the pan...next is the pumpkin pie filling. I have my great-grandmother LaLa's recipe; however, since I don't eat the pie I follow my husband's mother's recipe. LaLa's had a lot of eggs in hers, plus spices & the pumpkin pie filling - which comes out almost like a custard. DH's family's recipe calls for Kyro syrup, only 3 eggs, evaporated milk, pumpkin pie filling and spices.  So, here is the pie...

Behind the pie are loaves of Strawberry bread, which I also baked yesterday. In our stores, when we prep the strawberries, we toss aside the smaller "unacceptable" ones which usually end up coming home with me. Some of the strawberries I grind up and make into smoothies...however, because we are coming up to long hours at the store, I decided to whip up some strawberry bread to take in and share with our wonderful employees. I made 2 batches of the bread - one that has only strawberries and one that has strawberries and a little bit of crushed Almonds. If interested in trying something new, here is the recipe for Strawberry Bread:

STRAWBERRY BREAD - from Food to Go Cookbook

3 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 cups sugar

4 eggs, well beaten

1-1/4 cup oil

2 (10oz) pkgs frozen strawberries, thawed...I used fresh & chopped them up

1-1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)...I used some almonds in one batch

1/4 cup strawberry jam

Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and sugar (I also added a little vanilla and ginger to my recipe, just to give it a little extra lovin'). Add eggs, oil, stawberries, pecans and jam. Blend. Pour batter into 2 well greased 5x9-inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

ENJOY!

Post #494 - a little stitching

So over the weekend, while in the rinks on Sunday I did get in a few stitches on my Family Sampler. Since it has been a long time since I posted a photo, I decided to show you my status...but I must apologize for the photo - I grabbed the camera, but it appears that the batteries were stolen out of it by some teenage boys for their computer mouses; so I was left with my phone camera. Here is a status phone photo:

It is dark, but I hope that you can see that I am almost finished with the Clay Pot flower buds that go around the border...there are 2-1/2 more to stitch on the left hand side and then there are 3 more corners to fill in. I did one of the corners the other day to see what it looked like, but decided that I wanted to finish the flower buds first before filling in the corners. I don't know why I decided that - guess it was just a factor of trying to keep the focus on using the color Clay Pot.

Well that should bring us all up to date on things here. I hope that your week is going well. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often

Lisa

Happy Halloween!

Post #476 - 28 days until my blogoversary - 100+ followers and growing :)

There is still time to enter my 3-100-500 giveaway if you haven't,

just go to this post and leave a comment.

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Tonight's the night...when all the spooks, ghosts, and goblins come out...so beware!!! Consider yourself warned :)

But I am glad that you stopped by...here grab a handful -

What is your favorite Halloween candy - do you like the little candy corns that come out only at this time of the year, or do you go for the chocolate or maybe the suckers, swedish fish or tootsie rolls? You know, while I am aware of the fun the kids have as they go door to door, ringing the doorbell and shouting "Trick or Treat", neither of my boys particularly like candy. Sure, they will eat a Hershey bar and love a pack of M&Ms...but we always end up taking 98% of the Halloween candy to work. When we lived in Minnesota, the school district there had a program where they collected the kids' Halloween candy they wanted to share for the food shelves which are typically void of things like this.

We won't have to worry much about sharing our candy this year, for between covering for employees who want to leave early to be with their family members and the boys' hockey practice there won't be much Halloween celebration here. But it doesn't sound like the boys are too upset.

Thank you all for your comments and thoughts about the pumpkin carving design for my part-time job contest...unfortunately due to working in*Store #1* all weekend - and allowing DH to have a whole weekend off without stepping foot in either store, something he really needed - I didn't have the energy to carve anything creative or out-of-the-ordinary when I got home on Saturday or Sunday. I did carve a basic "Jack o'lantern" face with 2 eyes and a mounth with teeth so that the pumpkin didn't go to waste but I am not going to enter it into the contest. He will stay home and get ready to sit outside later tonight. Poor guy :(

Yes I worked all weekend and it went pretty well. It has been a long time since DH had a full weekend off, not setting a foot in either of our stores. It was like our rolls were reversed the whole weekend....I was in the store and he was playing the Hockey Taxi driver. For Matthew had practice both days and Robert had games both days. So, while DH didn't get much rest over the weekend, he did get time with the boys - which is priceless!

This week is going to go by fast I think...the boys are off of school today due to an teacher inservice day, but of course they saved all their homework to finish today (kids, what are you going to do with them?). Although, I think that Matthew told a teacher or two that he was going to be absent from school on Thursday and Friday, for there is another hockey tournament coming up.

This time I will be flying with both my boys to Chicago on Thursday...November 3...my birthday. In fact, Robert's whole team and some of Matthew's will be on the same flight so I can celebrate my birthday in the morning 35,000 feet in the air. And then as soon as we land in Chicago, we will be meeting up with my parents and one of my sisters. They will be joining us for the hockey weekend...and to celebrate birthdays. Not only is my birthday on the 3rd, but so is my father's. I was born on his 25th birthday - pretty special present, huh? It will be nice to be together with them for it has been a long time since I was with my parents for my birthday.

Well...lets back up here and stay focused...stay in the present...remain in the NOW and take it one day at a time because there are a lot of things I need to accomplish before I get on that plane on Thursday.

Well, I am just rambling on right now. This will probably be a good place to wrap up the post!

As long as we convince ourselves that we’re so busy and our work is so vital and we can’t afford to slow down, then we don’t have to look at our own lives and the personal issues that are so difficult to address: a marriage that isn’t working, a career that isn’t satisfying, children we’re out of touch with, friendships we’ve outgrown, associations we need to move on from, the creativity we’ve been afraid to explore, our deepest fears or childhood traumas that have been holding us back from leading truly fulfilled lives.

~ Elaine St. James

Tomorrow doesn’t matter for I have lived today. ~Horace

Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Whining Wednesday

Post #467...47 days until blogoversary and an extrodinary amount of followers :)

To enter giveaway click here to go to the post to leave a comment

 

 

Anybody can do just about anything with themselves

that they really want to and make up their mind to do.

We are all capable of greater things than we realize.

~Norman Vincent Peale

Although...if one tries to leave comments on blogs of new followers...ugh, I am so frustrated right now with blogger. You all have been so good and I have so many new followers who I would like to meet - go to their blogs - read and leave a comment, but for some reason I am having troubles. After entering my comment and the "secret security code" I was directed to a sign in screen...after entering my login info I would try to submit my comment to the blog, but then was directed to the blogger sign in page again. Now, it might just be this computer, so I will continue trying on some of the others that we have accumulated over the last couple of years. Between buying our second store, where we accumulated 3 old computers and adopting some that my father wasn't happy with, we do have our share here. So I will keep on trying...for I have made up my mind that I will meet all my new followers and make my mark on their blogs with a comment :)

So last night I wrote about my new blooming relationship with Wild Berries, whom I am stitching with on on the border of my Family Sampler. I was hoping that she and I would have a visit after I was done with my workout last night while at the hockey rink; unfortunately she got stuck in my knapsack while I ran around yaking with some of the other hockey moms who were hanging out at the rink. Last night was a good night to get in all my hockey yapping because both boys had practice. So I got caught up with some of the moms from Matthew (younger son)'s team; and then when they departed I had a chance to sit down and gab with moms from Robert (older son)'s hockey team. Sometime a girls got to gab, ya know?

Well, 24 hours from now I will be at the airport - checking in, paying to take on a suitcase & hockey bag & hockey stick bag (gotta love that...not), going through security (hopfully will not be padding down again) and then waiting for my seat number to be called out. Then it will be a 4-1/2 hour flight. I will definitely be bringing my stitching - Family Sampler and, if I have time, a Christmas pattern because I need to start stitching the Christmas Ornament for Conny the last person for the Ornament Swap. I am still waiting for Lisa V to alert me when her ornament I stitched arrives so I can show you what I made for her. It is a long way from here to her land - cross your fingers that it doesn't take too much longer.

My thoughts are definitely flowing in all sorts of different directions this morning, so it might be time to put a close to this post. Thank you for visiting, I hope that you have a wonderful Wednesday. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Overwhelmed to say the least

Post #465...48 days until blogoversary and an extrodinary amount of followers :)

To enter giveaway click here to go to the post to leave a comment.

OMG...117 followers. Well, you all definitely kept your side of the giveaway. Now, I just need to keep going and keep posting to get to that big 500 on the 28th of November! And it looks like there are a lot of enteries...Yay!!!

If you remember from Sunday's post, I introduced you to my new friends -

Claypot and Wild Berries...well, the last few days I have become very acquainted with Wild Berries. She is quite an interesting person to get to know - goes from a dark serious side to a light humorous one after a few steps. Hanging out with her definitely makes time go by fast, though and our visit together will probably be pretty short. I thought it best to visit with one at a time...seems to get the job done fast :)

I am currently at the rink, in the fitness room, getting in my spin on their stationary bike while writing this post. It is nice to have the use of the fitness room here while hanging at the rink; especially on Tuesdays since I am here from 4pm-8:30pm. Both boys have practice - makes for a long evening (but between working out and stitching, I have found ways to make it go by quickly). Thursday I pack up my stitching and laptop and head to Detroit with Matthew & his hockey team for a weekend tournament. As always, I look forward to my time with my sons...that one on one time is priceless especially since the continue to grow right in front of my eyes.

Well, it is probably time to say "good bye" for now, jump off the bike and get over to the rink to watch Matthew's practice while visiting with Wild Berries. Until next time...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Happiness...

Post #463 - 51 days until blogoversary - 87 followers and counting...

Tomorrow I will announce the 3(year) - 500(post) - 100(follower) blogoversary give-a-way.

Stay Tuned!

Up and going early on a Saturday morning, for it is going to be a busy day and I am grateful to have gotten up out of bed early and on the stationary bike. Getting in a good spin before starting out the day tends to start me off in a good mood...then it is just up to me to continue the feeling.

DH and I will be swapping roles this weekend...I will be manning the stores, making sure that everything is running smoothly, while he will be playing Hockey Taxi. Robert (older son) has a morning practice and Matthew (younger son) has 2 games today...tomorrow they both have games. It will be nice to take a break from the hockey craziness for a day or two...allows me to appreciate it and not just tolerate it.

The foundation of happiness is mindfulness.

The basic condition for being happy is our consciousness of being happy.

If we are not aware that we are happy, we are not really happy.

When we have a toothache, we know that not having a toothache is a wonderful thing. But when we do not have a toothache, we are still not happy.

A non-toothache is very pleasant.

There are so many things that are enjoyable, but when we don’t practice mindfulness, we don’t appreciate them.

When we practice mindfulness, we come to cherish these things and we learn how to protect them.

By taking good care of the present moment, we take good care of the future.

Working for peace in the future is to work for peace in the present moment.

 ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Last night I stitched the last corner of the Family Sampler Pea Pod vine of the border. Now I just need to finish the right hand-side...to meet up where I began...which shouldn't take too long, and then I will snap a status photo to show you. It will be nice to have this part completed.

Who are the happiest people on earth?

A craftsman or artist whistling over a job well done.

A little child building sand castles.

A mother, after a busy day, bathing her baby.

A doctor who has finished a difficult and dangerous operation, and saved a human life.

Happiness lies in a constructive job well done.

Get your happiness out of your work or you will never know what happiness is.

~Elbert Hubbard

Last night, neither of the boys had hockey so we were able to have a quiet night at home. DH did need to make a delivery of a last minute order "over the hill" (that is the term we use for any order that has to be delivered over the Dublin hill into the Oakland area) and took Robert with him so that they could stop at one of their favorite burger joints called Jerry's Beefburgers. Matthew and I enjoyed food at home. They did get home around 6:15pm, so the "boys" played a computer game together while I stitched. It was so nice to be home together.

Well my friends, I hope that you find some Happiness in your Saturday, as well as the rest of the weekend. I hope that you will join me tomorrow when I announce what the give-a-way will be. Until then, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Phone Photos from Phoenix

The sun peeked over the mountains as started out on my run this morning - it was a nice cool 80, or so, degrees at 6:15am. Beautiful conditions for a morning run.

My run lead me from the hotel up the road, passed by the shopping center, car dealership (the not so exciting part of the run) and then through some deserty areas where I spotted this:

The Prickly Pear Cactus seems to be a vivid purple in the early morning sunlight. It really stood out in the background of the brownish sand.

Next was this:

Some kind of yellow-orange flowering plant. The vivid orange really caught my eyes.

I ran to the ice rink that Matthew & his team are playing at and then back to the hotel. A nice 9 mile run in the morning light and a good way to start the morning.

Matthew's team is doing well...won both of their games yesterday.

We are getting ready to leave the hotel for game #3...Go Sharks!

It is easy enough to be pleasant,

When life flows by like a song.

But the person worthwhile is one who will smile,

When everything else goes wrong.

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Take care...until the next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa