Carolyn's Friendship RR is complete and ready to send on...

Just a quick post...I have added my heart on to Carolyn's Friendship RR and will be able to put hers and Marian's in the mail to Karen tomorrow.

Monday Morning...need to recoup from the weekend

Well I am up and going on this (dark...sun isn't even up yet) Monday morning. It is funny how we all use to look forward to the weekends to rest, recoup and maybe even get some things done around the house. The weekends were a time to "take it easy" and rest up for the work/school week - to rejuvenate our energy in preparation for the next week. However, now a days it is just 2 more days in the week, were we need to run the kids from one activity to the next, to make sure that they get their weekend homework done before Monday. I feel that we run around more on the weekend and almost use some of the week days to rest up. Oh, well. No use in complaining - for that is the lifestyle that we have chose - keeps us all going!

The majority of the weekend was hockey for the boys. Robert (older son) had early morning practices on Saturday and Sunday; which DH takes care of - I only choose to wake up when they do and make sure that Robert has a healthy breakfast, his water bottle and recovery food for after practice (typically banana, applesauce and some kind of granola bar or, this weekend: homemade banana bread). While they are at practice I typically get my exercise out of the way, while doing my Facebook stuff and/or reading & comment on blogs. On both. Saturday and Sunday afternoon, Matthew (younger son)'s hockey team had preseason games. They won both. The preseason games help determine whether a team will be going "A" (a 2nd year team in that particular age group and typically one that plays pretty well) or "B" (typically a 1st year team in that particular age group and is still developing).

Over the weekend I was able to work on the CindyMae Designs models (got one of the ornaments stitched). So, now I will put that down today and work on the Carolyn's Friendship RR in order to get the RRs I have here in the mail as soon as possible.

Well...that is all for now. I wish you all a happy Monday.
Take care and remember...Live, Laugh, Love and Stitch Often! Lisa

WIPs...RRs...and other things.

It is Saturday...yahoo! I haven't been able to update my blog as much as I wanted to this week - after getting back home from Minnesota, I got hit with the cold that the majority of the players and parents (who went on the trip) came down with; so, it just took me some time to catch up with life. It just seems that now that I am over the 40 year mark, it takes me a little longer to recoup for such travel. Why is that?

Anyway, I thought I would share with you some photos of some of my stitching projects that I have been working on this week. First up is "Trick-or-Treat". The last photo I posted was the T and R without any backstitching. I received some supportive comments which suggested backstitching as I go. So I took that advice and here is what it looks like:

Thank you for the suggestion...now completely done with the T and the R, I have been able to move on to the I (which you can see the beginnings of the purple witch's hat - it is on top of the I). The 2 little black squares between the R and the I is a mask, just having put the yellow & orange "x's" yet.

One of the reasons I haven't gotten too much further on "Trick-or-Treat" this week is because I received the next rounds of the Friendship Sampler RR - the envelope contained Marian's and Carolyn's. Knowing that we all are getting anxious to keep these moving through the mail, I pulled out Marian's on Tuesday evening and started the heart and was able to finish it up on Wednesday (while at the hockey rink...go figure!). So here is a picture of Marian's RR:

Marian followed the DMC colors that pattern called for...and asked all of us to stitch our first and last name, including a little backstitch of where we live. As each of these RRs visit my house, it has been fun to see where each RR member started their RR (some started in a corner, some with the middle heart) and how it has grown since February. Marians is interesting because she did start hers in the upper left hand corner and each of us seem to be adding our heart right after the person ahead of us, thus it is growing in rows (I don't know if that makes sense..but looking at the photo I am sure you know what I am babbling about). Here is a closer look at my heart I added.

In addition to stitching on "Trick-or-Treat" and the Friendship RRs, I have been rotating in some models of Christmas Quaker Ornaments for CindyMae Designs. Her Halloween Quaker Ornaments which she designed and stitched are awesome (I posted them in my previous post, but visit her website and take a look for yourself). In the Christmas Quaker Ornament set there are 5 different designs in the set and they, too, are cut. So, I will be working on getting the models stitched so she can post them on her website...so stay tuned!!!

So this weekend...Carolyn's RR and Christmas Ornaments are on my stitch "to do" list and will be great things to take with me to the hockey rink (as we do have a weekend full of hockey!).

Hope the weekend is good to you and your family. Take care...and...remember to:

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

Back home...physically and mentally

It was a nice weekend in Minnesota - for hockey and visiting with family. On the hockey side of things, Robert (old son) and his hockey team placed 3rd out of the 9 teams who were part of the tournament. Nothing to sneeze at! After our 8am game on Saturday, we had to wait to find out the outcome of the game being played after us as that was the determining factor in our placement; and would tell us if we were playing Saturday evening or if we got to wait until Sunday morning for the semi-finals. Since we weren't sure, we fed the boys after the morning game and then went back to the hotel so that they could nap...just incase they had to play again. The wait came to an end around 4pm with a phone call from the tournament director letting me know that we had placed 3rd and would be playing in the 7am Sunday semi-finals (we would play the 2nd place team). In the Semis, we played the Chicago Young American team who were undefeated. We scored first when one of our players had a penalty shot and scored...unfortunately this team was very quick and passed well, which frustrated our team - we lost 8 to 3 and remained in 3rd place. At breakfast after the game, the boys were a little bummed, but didn't seem too depressed as they seemed to have smiles on their faces.

On the non-hockey side, we got some nice opportunities to visit with my parents, sisters and niece/nephew who live in Minnesota. Saturday night, as soon as I found out that we didn't have a game to play, Robert and I drove to their house for dinner. We all had a good time catching up. And on Sunday, after we checked out of the hotel, Robert and I went over there to "hang out" before we needed to leave for the airport. While we do a lot of traveling for the boys' hockey activities, it is times like this that is nice...when we either get to meet up with family or high school/college friends.

I didn't get much chance to sit and stitch. On the plane ride there last Thursday morning, I basically slept the whole way; especially since it was very early in the morning and I didn't get much sleep the night before. Coming home, I did take out Trick-or-Treat and took the advice of a few Blogging Friends' comments...I back stitched the "T" and the "R" before moving onto the "I". I don't have any photos of it, but will try to get some posted soon.
I received a new group of patterns from CindyMae Designs - Quaker Style Christmas Ornaments - to stitch models for her. And if you haven't visited her website in a while, you should check out her Quaker Style Halloween Ornaments . I also heard that the next round of Friendship RRs are on their way to me. I am so excited to stitch a few more hearts. The RR took a little longer than anticipated - as we only have 16 members and were trying to send it 2x a month...but life got in the way and probably a few other situations. But I hope that none of the women get too impatient and we can all stick with it to the end.

It is good to be home and I am looking forward to having a free night tonight as we have no hockey practice to drive either boy to. Gives them a time to catch up on their school work and sleep and me a chance to get a little R&R. Today is also the first day of Autumn...so...

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Have a good day! 

Remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

Hello from Minnesota. I am here with Robert's hockey team for a tournament. The boys are doing great. They won their first game on Thursday in an exciting game. It was tied 2-2 after the game ended, but they do end in ties...and no overtime...we went to a nervewracking shootout. Which ended on a good note: a win!
Saturday the boys won their second game. The other team scored first which made us nervous. Especially since the other team's goalie seemed to stop every shot & our boys out shot the other team. However, my son tipped a beautiful pass in and scored. Well this proud mother screamed in excitement. At the end we won 2-1.
Today game time is at noon. GO SHARKS!

T-24 hrs and away I go....

Tomorrow morning at 6:30am, Robert (oldest son) and I will be hopping on a plane to Minnesota for the first "travel" hockey tournament for his team. Getting ready to travel always creates a rise in my stress level, but I think that I am just about ready to go. Last night, while DH was out of town and we had a free evening (aka "no hockey practice") I got the suitcase packed, my "Trick or Treat" stitching project all packed up (especially with very small travel scissors...I don't need any more needlework scissors to be confiscated!), and all the hockey team manager crud all organized. 

It was important that I get all organized last night because tonight is going to be very choatic!!! Matthew's (younger son) hockey team has been invited to the "Shark Tank", where the NHL San Jose Shark team plays, to do a little scrimmage prior to the pre-season "Teal and White" game (this is a game where the NHL team divided up into 2 teams and scrimmages - providing a little exhibition for their fans as well as allow the coaches to still look at some of the veterans and rookies before the final cuts are made before the NHL season starts on Oct. 1). Anyway...so Matthew has to be down in San Jose for this at 5pm and it will be over around 6:30. Right after that, Robert (older son) has a late practice: 7:50-9:20pm - at least the rinks are both in the same area. However, the bottomline is, we will not get home until 11pm...only to have to get up around 3:30am on Thursday for the early flight. So, since I am packed, I will be able to enjoy Matthew's scrimmage this evening and be able to maintain low stress when arriving back home late tonight...I hope.


Well...better go wake up the boys and get them around for school. Until later..remember, Live, Love, Laugh and stitch often! Lisa

Give me a "T"...Give me a "R"...now take a look at my WIP.

Just thought I would share the status of my current WIP..."Trick or Treat" from the October issues of The Stitcher Magazine. Sept. 7 I finished the T...Sept. 14 I finished the R. Well, almost finished, all the xstitches, for I will save the backstitching when I have totally completed the stitching.

That is all for now.

Remember - live, love, laugh and stitch often!

Lisa

Sunday...Sunday...

Last day of the weekend and we find ourselves with the typical Sunday Routine for our household...early morning hockey practice, followed by a mid-morning hockey practice...followed by last minute homework and then the afternoon nap before prepping for the upcoming week.

Yesterday, we woke up to a rarity in these parts of California - a thunderstorm. And it was one with a huge display of lightning.While Robert (old son) was eating breakfast in preparation for a Saturday hockey practice, I was at the kitchen table getting ready to put my finishing touches on the CindyMae models I finished. I just got out my sewing machine and arranged all the fabric...when out of the sky came a bolt of lightning and it struck the satellite dish across the street. Around the corner from our development there is a army base which has a satellite station on the hill across from our house. There are three satellite dishes, and the one that was pointing up must have attracted that huge bolt of lightning because it came right down and hit that dish, spraying sparks all over. Thank goodness that the ground was a little wet because it probably would have caused a little fire (as the grassy area that station is located is very brown & normally dry). The small storm stayed around for a little, only dropping a few sprinkles. 

When Robert and DH got back from the rink, we drove down to our local farmers market (the storm was done by 9am). This time of the year at the market is so beautiful, with all the colors of the peppers (green, red, orange, yellow, and combination) and the tomatoes, too. We purchased some fresh tomatoes (eating the cherry tomatoes while we walked up and down the street), green beans, English Peas (which the boys love to open and eat raw)and a loaf of fresh French Bread (also to munch on while walking). The farmers market can be like a huge buffet of fresh foods, because by the time you walk up and down the street, visiting all the booths, you can leave full. 

The rest of Saturday - we didn't do a thing. Robert worked on some of his homework and Matthew read. DH napped and I stitched. I finished up the "finishing touches" to the CindyMae models, which I photographed and emailed to her. And then I sat down to work on "Trick or Treat"...which I will post a photo of my progress later.

Hope the weekend is going well for you! Until later...remember to live, love, laugh and stitch often! 

Lisa

Sitting and stitching today. Totally taking my "day off" as a "me day". Working hard on finishing up stitching CindyMae Design models and watching Project Runway reruns. And...i have the whole house to myself! Back to stitching...take care!

"Trick or Treat" a haunting fun WIP

It has been a long time since I have posted anything - I have been getting sucked into facebook and playing a game called Farmville, where you build a farm, plant & harvest crops, add animals and so on. That game seems to have monopolized much of my on-line time lately. Nevertheless, over the Labor Day weekend, we were busy with hockey (go figure, right?). Robert (older son)'s team was playing in the Labor Day tournament here in San Jose. They ended up making it to the championship round, but lost. So, they placed second (out of 4 teams). It was the first games they played as a team - and they looked pretty good. Next week, I will be traveling with Robert & his team to Minnesota for another tournament. But I will probably be writing more about that as we get closer.

In the meantime, I really wanted to show you my new WIP...From The Cross Stitcher Magazine, I fell in love with the "Trick or Treat Greeting" by designer Ursula Michael. It has so many bright colors and a whimsical pattern, it looked like something that would be fun to stitch...and I don't normally stitch Halloween patterns. So, last Friday I kitted everything up, using Zweiart Belfast Linen (32ct)-Toasted almond and the colors the pattern called for...and then started immediately. As of right now, I have just about finished the "T" of the word "Trick". This is the first time that I have used Krenik #4 braid thread, and one of the colors is 'glow in the dark', which is used around the ghost (and it really does glow...how cool is that).

Well, that's the show and tell for today! Hope you all are doing well. Off to go pick up the boys from school!

Remember...live, love, laugh and stitch often! Lisa

PS Exchange received and life in general

I received my PS Exchange on Tuesday. It cam all the way from Georgia (USA). This is the first exchange I have received from the US. Not that it matters...just an interesting thing that my sons and I have made note of. Anyway, thank you Roberta for this lovely biscornu. It is my first biscornu. I have read about these on other blogs; read instructions to construct on and even seen the patterns for them...but never have done one. Now I have one for my very own and it is sitting on my night stand. I love it!

This week has just been very, very busy. Actually it started last weekend. Robert (older son) already had homework and was trying to get it all done on Saturday because he knew that we would be at the hockey rink all day on Sunday - which was a little 3 on 3 tournament that I sign the boys up to do with many of their hockey friends, from all different teams around the Bay Area. It is a great event, not only for the kids but for DH and I, as we get to visit (and hear the latest hockey gossip) all day. We left the house at 7:15am and didn't get back until 5pm. It was a long day. 

The rest of this week has been the "normal" juggling of school, work and the boys' hockey practices with back-to-school night thrown in (Robert's middle school was last night and tonight is Matthew's elementary school).It is fun going to hear the teachers talk about what their goals and expectations are for the kids. I am excited for Robert this year - it looks like he will be exposed to many different things in 8th grade. He has a full load with 2 advanced courses (English and Math) and a History teacher who is going to use high school methods for teachers (whatever that meant...assuming more projects, lots of writing and quick pace).

In addition,as I might have wrote - I have accepted the Team Manager position for Robert's team again this year. So I have been busy trying to get all the team information organized and all the important paperwork to the different tournaments coming up. Between now and the holidays, we will be going to:

1. Blaine, Minnesota for the NAHL Prospects Tournament 
2. "King of the Rockies" in Denver Colorado (October) 
3. Nike Bauer tournament in Chicago, ILL (November).

And this weekend, the team will have their first hockey tournament - but thank goodness it is here in town. It makes for an exciting, but busy time for the family. I am grateful that Matthew's team will not be traveling as much, making use of the local tournaments for Thanksgiving and the holidays. 

And, to top those life projects, at work I have been getting ready for a couple of tradeshows and revising data sheets and brochures. So, over all it has been a busy week.

However...tomorrow...NO SCHOOL AND NO WORK!That deserves a happy dance doesn't it? The boys will be able to sleep in and rest and I can....mmmm....there are so many things that I need to do, but thinking I might just do what I want to do! Hopefully get some stitching in as the needle and thread have been calling my name. I am in the middle of some model stitching for CindyMae designs - maybe I will work on those!

Well, anyway. It is time to wrap this up and pick up the boys from school. Hope all of you are doing well!

Take care and remember...live, love, laugh and stitch often! LIsa

It is Friday...end of the week joy and an unveiling of my received PS Exchange

Yahoo! It is Friday afternoon...the first week of the school/work routine accomplished and pretty successfully. The boys are using this afternoon to catch up on some computer playing that they haven't been able to do (don't cha feel sorry for them....not!). Robert (oldest) does have homework (some studying and a project) to accomplish before Monday - hopefully he will organize his time well over the weekend, putting in some study time tonight and tomorrow morning/early afternoon. He does have hockey practice tomorrow evening and then both boys are in a little 3-on-3 tournament Sunday - this little tournament is a "fun" event and one that typically lasts all day. So homework will have to be done before then!

Well, enough rambling - it is now time for show and tell! I found out that Pascale received the Prairie Schooler Exchange I made for her.
The design I stitched was from Book No. 114 "The Needle's Eye". I stitched it on a 32ct Belfast Linen (stitching 2 over 2) using the DMC colors that the design called for, except I kind of changed the location of some of the colors. I finished this design off as a needle book - I felt that the words in this design just called out for it to be finished as a needle book. I just loved the way that it came out...and I almost kept it (just kidding).

This is a picture of the back of the needlebook and the front (which I am sure that you are able to figure that out). Because the design gave a quilt like appearance, I wanted to give the finished product a quilt like appearance.







This is a photo of the inside of the needlebook. I covered a puffy-pillow like thing with the brown-leaf fabric and then hot glued a couple of those needle holders on to it (those are the needle holders you find in the package of needles). The closure is a button and a piece of leather. I am glad that it arrived safe and sound...and that Pascale liked it.



Hope everyone had a good week - and I wish you a wonderful weekend!
Remember to...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

Back to school is going ok

Good morning - it is Thursday and the weekend is just a couple days away.
The boys have started school this week with mixed reviews. Tuesday, the first day, they were very excited. Matthew (younger) was out of bed at 6:15am and joined DH & I on our morning walk. Robert (older) got out of bed excited, too; until he noticed that he couldn't find his school schedule (he is in middle school where they rotate classes/teachers). However, because we went to the school on Monday and walked through the schedule, locating the rooms and his locker, he felt confident that he know it (except he couldn't remember which order English and Math came in). Well, this was just the beginning of the "comedy of errors" - not only did he misplace his "original" schedule, but then he lost the one he wrote down by hand later in the day (note: he did make it to all his classes...the right ones at the right time). For homework, he had to hand write in cursive (a skill they do not practice or teach much due to use of computers) a introductory letter to his English teacher...which he had to do 3 times because of all the scratch/scribbles he did. Then, while drinking his milkshake at dessert time, he was working on a History paper. The paper was placed on some moisture which came from the cup and stuck to the table...which he quickly pulled and it ripped. Well, long story short...the second day of school and of homework went much better without any issues.

Last night was the first night of hockey practice after school, as both boys had practice...same time, different rinks. So, DH and I found ourselves texting eachother while in different rinks. Such is life.

Well...no stitching pieces to show yet. Haven't had much time to put in a stitch the last couple of days - just trying to get the school/work routine in place, at least for a little while until travel hockey tournaments and other things come up. I did hear that my RR was on the move. How exciting to hear.

Thanks for visiting! I hope you are having a good week!
Take care and remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

Last day of summer vacation, magazines and a WIP post

Today is the last day of summer vacation. Tomorrow the boys start school and I go back to my 9am-1pm work hours. This morning we walked to Robert's (older son) school so that he could find his locker and walk his classes. It is hard to believe that he is in 8th grade...the last year of middle school. Then we walked up to Matthew's (younger son) school and actually said hello to his teacher, who was there still setting up her classroom. The boys' schools are about 1/2 mile from our house. We typically walk the boys to school in the morning, "dropping" them off at their respective school. From home, around to the schools and back home is about a 2 mile walk. Nice to do in the morning. Anyway - Robert knows where his classes are...the boys have their school supplies packed in their backpacks and have cleaned off their desks. They are set to go tomorrow. To honor the end of the vacation, we met DH for a very good sushi lunch (I definitely had my fill of protein for about a month). Now the boys and I are home this afternoon for a little R & R.

In the mail today, I not only received my Just CrossStitch Annual Halloween Issue but also my October issues of The Cross Stitcher. Both have some really neat things to stitch. I can't wait to sit and study them. There are a lot of fun looking autumn and Halloween designs in both.


Drum roll please...I do have a WIP to post...I am stitching "An Angel to Watch Over Thee" a freebie by: By The Bay NeedleArt. It was a freebie that I printed off and have the need to stitch this for someone special. I am stitching on R&R Royal Blue Linen 32ct.
Hope everyone is doing well and having a good Monday. Off to rest and hopefully stitch.
Remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often! Lisa

School supplies bought - check
Garage cleaned out and washed - check
Sitting and stitching at the pool while the boys swim - check.
Hope everyone is having a good Friday.
Lisa

The "TO DO" List - checking off some adding more

Whew...the boys now know their school schedule and teachers and all their paperwork and fee/donations are in the hands of their respective schools. Matthew has an great 5th grade teacher (one that he had last year for adv. math; so he knows her teaching requirements) and Robert seems to have a good 8th grade schedule...meaning 2nd period PE (before lunch, "it is easier to run the mile before you put food in your stomach, mom!") and 2 advanced courses (English and Math). Robert is going to be challenged again this year - he is determined to keep his good grades while being very active in hockey, again this year. Last year he missed 24 days of school due to tournament travel - and also had to balance homework and late night practices 2-3x a week.

CHECK OFF "school registration"....ADD School Supply shopping.

Last night was the first night of dual hockey practices. I took Robert (older) down to San Jose for his practice, as I have accepted the position of team manager so I needed to start the paperwork and the "behind the scenes" organization for the team. It was also good to start meeting all the families (this is a new team Robert is on and I only know 3 out of the 20 families). DH took Matthew (younger) to his practice which is 5 miles from the house. So, the hockey season starts...DH and I sit in separate rinks texting each other about our days and the hockey practices we are watching.

CHECK OFF "get boys ready for hockey season"...ADD get Bantam AAA team registered for upcoming tournaments...ADD organize Bantam AAA team binder, etc.

I didn't get any stitching done at the rink last night, which I am bummed about, but that is how some practices go. I still haven't determined a non-exchange/non-gift project yet to stitch and blog about. Still thinking about that one. But in the mean time, I have been getting emails from the girls in the Friendship Sampler RR and many of them are on the move again. I am currently without one (for new followers...we started out with 18 women in the RR, 1 disappeared holding my RR and another member's RR. I decided to re-start and re-introduce into the mail cycle, the other member unfortunately opted out. So, due to that issue and vacations and other "life" issues, the mailing cycle got a little behind. But those remaining continue to slowly move and grow. Visit the Friendship Sampler RR to view them.)

ADD "find non-exchange/non-gift needlework project"

We are coming up to the weekend...yeah. The last one before school starts. Matthew has a bday party to attend on Saturday and they both have hockey practice on Sunday. But that is ok, for this is the life we lead and it is good!

Take care everyone. Thank you for coming by, reading and commenting. I am grateful for your support. Remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

Mid-week Madness - prepping for school and the hockey season

Well, I find myself at Wednesday...and I am thinking that I better find something to stitch that is not a gift, a model or a exchange so that I can start posting photos of stitching. However, that isn't going to happen today - so bear with me.

I have to post how proud of my boys - as I posted, yesterday I went into work to meet with my boss. However, since school hasn't started yet and the summer camp is over, the boys stayed home by themselves. I know that the boys are old enough to stay home by them selves...for when I was 12 years old I actually had a babysitting job. But since we have never left them home alone for longer than an hour of so, it was a little unsettling. I am grateful that my boss (and her boss) are very supportive of my lifestyle (and I make sure that I do not take advantage of my "flexible" part time hours either) - for I went in yesterday around 8:30 and then came home for an hour around lunch time (to check on the boys and make sure they ate lunch) and then went back to work. Everything went fine and they got along while home w/o me and DH. Good Job boys.

Today is check in at each of their schools. As soon as all the paperwork and fees are paid (donations for the schools and other things), each kid will receive their teacher list. There is always a little anxiety built around that - hoping that your child gets the best teacher(s). However, in our family we just try to make the best of who ever our child gets and work with them to make sure that the year is successful.

Tonight both Robert (older) and Matthew (younger) have hockey practice...at the same time...but at two different rinks. Robert's practice is in San Jose (40 minute drive south of here) and Matthew's practice is here in Dublin (a 10 minute drive). Well, since I have accepted the team manager position on Robert's team again, I will be taking him to practice tonight so that I can get all the copies of the teams' paperwork. This will be the 4th year I have volunteered for this position (so it has become "old hat"). One of the main responsibilities of the team manager is to organize and maintain the team binder, which is filled with all the necessary documents allowing the boys to play on this team. So I have just be come the official "Bantam AAA Binder Babe" - and I am damn proud :) At least with this team, there seems to be plenty of families who are willing to help out with some of the other tasks (like travel arrangements, activity planning and so on)...but like I said, I have done this stuff for several years and, while it tends to become a full time job, I do enjoy it (does that sound strange?).

Well, if you made it to the bottom of this post, I give you a lot of credit and thank you for reading and visiting. Take care of yourselves and hope you'll visit again...soon.

Remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

Trying Tuesday

I am up and going early this morning. Good practice for next week, when the boys' school schedule starts up for the new school year...which also means I will start back to my early work hours. Today, though, I will be going into work most of the day because my boss is in town from the UK for some quarterly meetings. While I will not be able to attend those meetings (which are Wednesday & Thursday), I am going in to meet with her and some of the other people who are in town this week. I am looking forward to it.

Yesterday I got my PS Exchange in the mail to my secret exchange partner - postal shop said that it would take about 10-14 days to get there, which would make arrive about the first week in September. Not bad, the mailing date was August 31 so I am well ahead of the deadline. It was a fun design to stitch...and I am very pleased with with finish. I hope that my partner likes it too. As soon as I get word of it's arrival I will photo the photos.

I have picked up a UFO - L*K "It's Expensive to be Me" - a design from the Girl Thing booklet. I am putting the finishing touches on it and then will probably set it aside while I determine how to finish it. I am thinking that this would make a good holiday gift for a family member :)

I have also started stitching another model for CindyMae Designs. She has figured out how to convert her graphs to pdf's and now is offering a downloaded version for a smaller price - and quicker gratification. So you might want to check out the redesign of her website.

Well, just stopped by to post a "hi"...off to get my blog reading and commenting done. Maybe I will be visiting you this morning :)

Remember - Live, Love, Laugh and stitch often! Lisa

Sunday's Report - a day in the city & a finish!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Yesterday we decided to do a "family thing" as it will probably be the last Summer Saturday where we find all of us home together. After breakfast, we jumped on the BART (Bay Area Rail Transport...kind of a light rail system that runs around the bay area) and rode into San Francisco to play "tourist".

On Saturday mornings, the Ferry Building has it's farmers market going. Just like all the local farmer's markets, you will find a large amount of beautiful produce, bakery good and other delicious items. However, the market in San Fran seems to inflate the prices a little versus the local farmer's market, probably because of the amount of people and the tourist who also visit it.

The ride on BART from our place to San Fran is 45 minutes - we typically get off at Embarcadero and walk down to the Ferry Building. Walking around the market, we enjoyed the free samples of plums, apricots, peaches, nectarines (the "pit" fruit crops, which are plentiful right now). In addition all the heirloom tomatoes are ripe and have begun to be harvested. These make for beautiful fruit/veggie stands (the vivid colors are wonderful). We had to stop at the Hogs Hallow Oyster booth, because Matthew (youngest son) is into eating oysters...go figure, he has always been my picky eater.









We broke away from the farmer's market crowd and started walking down Embarcadero to Pier 39 (the Ferry Building is Pier 1) where all the sea lions hang out. We stopped to look at them and headed down a little further to Fisherman's Wharf, where we stopped for lunch at a nice restaurant which had a great view of the bay and Alcatraz Island. We at at the Franciscan...it was ok. If you are coming to eat crab legs, steamed and cooked in garlic butter, then this is the place to go (especially with the wonderful view). However, our family isn't quite the garlic butter group. We did enjoy a wonderful prawn and crab meat cocktail.

After lunch, we started to walk back to the BART station (DH and boys stopped at the Ben & Jerry's ice cream outpost near Fisherman's Wharf). We got home around 4 o'clock. It was a nice afternoon!

While DH was reading/napping and the boys were resting/playing computer - I went down to the kitchen and sat at my sewing machine where I put the finishing touches to my PS Exchange! Yahoo! Tomorrow I will be able to get it in the mail - and as soon as my secret partner received the item, I will post a photo. I am so happy with the way this came out and I cannot wait to show you! Now I get to move onto another project...I have a few in line, just need to determine what comes first. I might hold off on the Mary Wigham, until after the boys go back to school and our school/work routine gets going. Then I can definitely focus on it.

Take care everyone...Remember to Live, Love, Laugh and stitch often! Lisa

Friday - Update on Life

Hello fellow blog readers. I thought I would post an update on activities here (unfortunately there aren't any photos).

Stitching Update
As posted earlier, my week started off with a beautiful L*K exchange from Sandra in Venezuela. These exchanges are not only fun because you get to "meet" other's who have a passion for needlework, but receiving beautiful things from people all over the world is so fun. I have received exchanges from Canada, France and Venezuela so far this year- which makes the world seem so much smaller and my sons think it is really "cool" to be getting things from the different countries.

I have been trying to finish stitching my PS Exchange. The design I picked out has beautiful colors and should have been simple enough to stitch pretty quickly, but for some reason my "stitching mojo" has been running low. I sit and stitch for a few minutes and then feel the need to either get up and "do something" or just lay down and take a cat nap. I am pretty close to be done with the stitching, so I am hoping to finish tonight or tomorrow.

I have received a few more designs from CindyMae to stitch models. She is coming up with some fun designs and hope that everyone is taking some time to check out her website.

I am in between Friendship Sampler RRs right now, waiting for the next one or two to be sent from Canada. So, after I get the PS exchange completed and get refuel my mojo I am going to look into starting my Mary Wigham.

Hockey Update
This week, Robert (oldest son) went to a hockey clinic set up by hockey family friend in Fresno, CA. He stayed at the family's house until last night. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings he and his 2 hockey friends (his age) skated with the Fresno coach - working on drills and scrimmaging some of the Junior Players (who are 16-17 years old). Robert said that it was a lot of work to keep up with the "bigger" boys - but it was a lot of tiring fun! In addition to their time on the ice, the coach also worked on some physical training with the boys. So it was a very good clinic to get them in shape for the start of the hockey season with their team here.

Speaking of hockey season...as you know tryouts are over and both of my sons have been placed in their respective teams for the year. Robert's team will have its first practice this upcoming Sunday and Matthew's started a couple of weeks ago. Earlier this week, I was asked to be the team manager of Robert's team - which is a volunteer position I have done for the last 3 years. It is a lot of work, but the kind I enjoy (organizing paperwork, communications with the families, and working with the respective hockey club). So, I accepted the postition.

Other Life Issues
This was the last week of summer camp for the boys - last day today. This week is also the week to pick up the registration packets for their schools. We don't really "register" them per se, the packet just contains all the emergency forms, school policies we have to read and all the requests for money. Next week, we get to go to the schools (elementary for Matthew and middle for Robert) to stand in line and hand in all the completed forms and money for the different programs. But after we get through the lines and everything is turned in, the boys then receive their class information...this is the "pot of gold" at the end of the rainbow.

Next week is also the last week of summer break for the boys - no school and no camp, while we will start to get ready for school and find something to make the last week "special", it is going to be a crazy one. DH will be experiencing "executive week" at work - this happens once a month and he typically is tied up in meetings or just late nights working on projects. And for me, my boss is coming in town from the U.K. for some meetings and wants to have some time to meet with me. Even though the boys are old enough to be home by themselves, I don't feel comfortable leaving them here all day w/o supervision. Mainly because they are brothers - and you know how siblings get along (good for a couple of hours and then typically they get tired of eachother). I have a plan in mind for the days I need to go into the office that only leaves them home for a couple of hours at a time.

Hard to believe that school will be starting up and I will soon have an 8th grader and a 5th grader this year. I have gotten use to having the boys around and our summer schedule. I am blessed with 2 wonderful sons and a wonderful DH - Life is good!

Hope Life is going well for all of you out there in blog land. Thank you very much for visiting and all your support. I have enjoyed reading your comments and meeting many of you in cyberspace! Take care!

Remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa