Friday's show and tell...

Yesterday I received an my personal exchange from Heather - a pinkeep that reminds us to "Wear a Smile...one size fits all". In her card she said that this was her first pinkeep. She did an awesome job! The colors go very well with those in my room, as seen by the bedspread that I photographed it on. Even the fabric used for the backing is perfect! Heather seemed to have captured my liking of neutral, earthy colors very well! Thank you Heather - I love it! You should be receiving your package early next week!









Other Stitching News...
First project...L*K Exchange due in the mail at the end of the month. I am putting the "finishing" touches on the "finished" piece...as you see by the photo of the piece of fabric on the sewing machine. I am really enjoying this new toy. I can't say that my pieces look "professional" but the things I have been making with it seem to be looking very nice and those on the receiving end have expressed positive comments. And the finished work that I have mailed out, are pieces that I am proud of and would enjoy receiving too - so I guess they do look good.

Second Stitch...tomorrow I am planning to attend a get together at my "not so" LNS. It is a get together of the Stitchers by the bay Yahoo Group, which Valerie got me interested in joining. And, what is cool, is I might get to meet Valerie and other fellow stitchers in the Bay Area (as well as go shopping for more stash). I am looking forward to this!

In the backyard...
I think that we finally beat our bird problem, as I spotted on strawberry in our strawberry garden (under the bird netting). Hopefully the little mice we have scurring around the neighborhood will not find this morsel. I probably should pick it as it does look ripe. We also have a little bean plant out in the garden and there are 2 green beans (not much for a family meal tonight, but still pretty cool). Our orange tree seems to be putting out some young looking oranges (yes, that is the little green thing on the end of the branch in the last photo). We'll see if any of them actually grow big enough and ripen into edible fruit. As transplants to California from Minnesota, we have a lot to learn about growing citrus fruit, but it is definitely fun to try and grow oranges, grapefruit and lemons. Actually our lemon tree does very well without much work. We have enjoyed homemade lemonade, lemon wedges on our fresh grilled fish and have even shared our lemons with distant friends & family!

At the rink...
We have had NO hockey this week! Yahoo! So the boys have been going to their camp in the afternoon and I have been able to go to work and stay a little later. In the evenings, the whole family has been home together. I can't say that we have done anything productive - just enjoyed vegging out at home together (boys and DH playing their favorite on-line computer game; boys have also done some of their summer reading; I have been stitching or just plan resting). However, the hockey clinics start up again on Sunday afternoon - so starting Monday, I will be driving down to San Jose (about a 45 minute one way trip) for the evening clinic. Next Friday, Robert tries out already for the next season. He is trying out for a AAA team...we will see how he does. Either he will make that and he will be set for the season...or not make that team and try out for the AA the following weekend. Matthew's tryouts are July 31-Aug 2.

Can't believe how quickly summer goes when you measure it by sports and school events! Nevertheless, we still have time to find somethings...other than vegging at home, hockey, work and camp...to do before school starts. Mmmm, I will have to put my thinking cap on and get out the calendar.

Hope everyone had a good week! Take care and remember...
Live, Love, Laugh and stitch often! Lisa

Weekend Recap....

Well, it is Tuesday (already), but I wanted to share my weekend before we were on our way to the next weekend of events :)

Saturday, was the year end team party for Robert's (older son) hockey team. The day was beautiful - upper 70s & sunny - perfect for an outdoor get together. It was held at the coach's house - they have a pool & outdoor "non-ice" hockey rink. It was the first time that the boys have seen eachother since we were in North Carolina for Nationals the first week in April - so they had an awesome time playing in the pool & the upstairs computer game room. The grown ups all gathered around all the food...which is typical it seems at functions like this (which I enjoy way more than I ought to...and that is why I need a day or two to recoup). We gave the coaches their gifts of the photo books - which they really loved; as they opened them up to look at all the photos and comment on all the activities the team participated it over the season. My co-manager and I were showered with gifts of gratitude also. I received a beautiful orchid plant (like the one pictured on the post...so, camera was out of batteries so I cheated with some clip art), a couple gift certificates to Norstrom's, a gift certificate for Southwest Airlines and a windchime with a hockey theme. It was bittersweet to be there - I am glad that the season is over and my plate of responsiblities is basically empty, but in a "strange" way I love to be team manager and do all the "behind the scene" work required. I guess, just like the boys, it is good to get a little break before the next season starts up.

Well that activity started my mother's day weekend with a bang! Sunday was nice - just very low key...which I really liked. Robert made me a mother's day card and organized a morning welcome in the kitchen with his card and cut roses (which came from the backyard). Matthew (younger brother) took some of the petals that fell from a rose and scattered it around the breakfast area. I don't do big breakfasts, just typically munch on fruit while the boys eat...but we were all downstairs as a family. After breakfast, DH took them to hockey which went from 9:45am-2pm...and I got the house all to myself. I used that time to get in some exercise (which I needed after eating 1/2 plate of chocolate chip cookies at the team party) and to stitch. I worked on my UFO: Hockey Rivalry for a while until it was time to clean up and leave myself.

For my mother's day gift - I drove to my favorite LNS, Needle in a Haystack...which isn't very local for it is a 45-60minute drive. But the drive there with the windows up and the breeze blowing was nice. I got to the store just as it opened (1pm) and was there until 3pm. I got to view the Laura J. Perin trunk show and got a couple of her patterns: the first is the "Lone Star House" from the American House Series and "Sawtooth" from her American Quilt Series. I have not really done canvas work - done some of the canvas stitches on linen, but I love the things that she designs and felt the "need" to have these projects to put on my list "one of these days". Any way...I did end up with a few Lizzie*Kate projects in my basket and some over-dyed thread to kit those and a couple other L*K designs for exchanges and a friends birthday gift. Anyway...I walked out of NiaH relaxed and excited to get home and stitch.

After another beautiful drive home, I was greeted with a napping husband and the boys on the computers (one actually doing homework and the other playing a game). But I didn't expect anything more - so it gave me time to pick up on Hockey Rivalry (after I finish the other little boy in the picture, I will post a status photo). We did have a very nice dinner all together to finish off the day/weekend...grilled Salmon and Halibut with fresh asparagus and a salad...the boys added macaroni & cheese to theirs.

It was a wonderful weekend. At the end of this week, I will be travelling to Minnesota to see my family. I have 2 younger sisters, and the one that is in the middle decided to go back to school and get her masters in human resources, which she did and is graduating this coming weekend. So, I am going there to surprise her (I don't think that she reads my blog) and watch her graduation ceremony.

Well...this certainally has gone on too long...if you made it this far I thank you! Remember...Live, Laught, Love and Stitch often! Lisa