Saturday Stitching Status Report & Other Updates

Well, I find myself up and going on Saturday morning, the first official start to the boys' spring vacation. They got out yesterday at 12:30pm; well, Matthew (younger son) did. Robert (older son) had to stay after and make up a Spanish test - what a bummer of a start to his vacation, huh? He was going to try and take it during class, since they really weren't doing anything for the 40 minutes except for having a party (during 1/2 days, they do attend all their classes but they are shorter versions); but because the music was loud and the kids were partying, he thought it would have been a distraction for Robert and, thus, told him to take it after school. So, for the 40 minutes of the class - not only did the kids goof off, but some of them even left the class to join parties in the other classes. It would have been better just to start spring break a little earlier (or at least let Robert take his test). Nevertheless, it really wasn't a big deal...just one of those things that happen.

Stitching Updates

I know that I posted "A Walk in the Park" earlier in the week, but I thought I would post it again. I heard from my sister on Thursday evening. The gift had arrived in Minnesota and she loved it! I didn't talk with her directly, but she left a long message on my voice mail saying that she is going to use the box to save Max's collar, photos and other mementos (it is one of those unfinished cigar boxes from Michael's which I painted the outside black and lined the interior in the fabric that you see on the little circle buttons). That is exactly what I was thinking when I made the gift for her :)

Mary Wigham Update

Here is where I am with MW. I have really been working on it every chance I have - it is addicting - but I find that I really need to focus. Not only because I am stitching on 40ct - 1 strand over 2 - but it is very easy to get the counting off. And while most people wouldn't notice....the counting is messed up in the little berry colored flower on the top of the green stem, as I noticed last night. Now, since I am just about done with the flower (still have a few more stitches to put into it before I call it complete) I am trying to decide: 

1. Do I let the "messed up" count go? It wouldn't mess up the placement of any other motif and no one looking at it would point to the "mistake" and say: "OMG, Lisa, you messed that up!"
2. Do I rip out the flower and start over? I know that it is messed up, and for awhile it would bother me. But the phrase: "It is ok to make mistakes, only God is perfect." goes through my head. When I was in Girl Scouts, many years ago, and we were working on our craft badge, one of the other girls was in tears because she "messed up" her Christmas ornament. It "wasn't perfect" she told the leader, "and it needs to be perfect because it is for my mother." That is when we stopped and got lectured about living up to the best of our abilities. Strange how back then it was "ok" to talk about God in something like Girl Scouts and now it would be frowned upon.

Anyway...those are the 2 options I am struggling with.  And here is a close up of the area that I have been working on this week and were the impending "error" is:

On the agenda for today...Matthew has a hockey scrimmage around 4pm today as they are getting ready to go to State Finals next week. They are scrimmaging the other Northern California team in order to work on their team skills. Tomorrow (yes, on Easter Sunday) they have practice from 10:15am-12:45pm. Just enough time to see if the Easter Rabbit came (which reminds me, I need to get prepared for that little bunny to visit) and eat breakfast. Don't forget to enter in the PIF give-a-way (click on "pif" to make sure that you sign up on the right post). The "rules" state that I must send to 2 people...I do have one and I will follow through with my obligations for that 1...but the more the merrier! Tomorrow is the deadline.

Take care my blogging friend and remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

Friday Fotos...Spring, Sheep and Stitches

This morning, after taking the boys to school, I grabbed my camera and took the dog for a quick walk. The sun was shining without a cloud in the sky...the air was cool and crisp...songs of birds filled the spring air. It was wonderful. On my walk, I looked at the hills that surround the neighborhood and on the one I spoke of yesterday, I caught the shepherd and his dog working with the sheep (he & dog are somewhat located in the upper middle of the photo):

The sheep have worked their way to the side of the hill that faces us. From my son's window, we can see the areas where they have eatten the tall grass down to the ground. When fire season starts up, we will definitely feel appreciation to the shepherd and his sheep!

Continuing my walk with the dog, we pass up a lot of flowering bushes.

I am not sure what the name of these bushes are - but who ever landscaped our neighborhood must of had the flower colors in mind when planning for the spring. The purples and the pinks of these really put one in the Easter mood. And don't forget these flowering crab-apple trees that I posted a photo of yesterday...

When you walk through these trees at full bloom, you almost feel like you are walking in a Winter-wonderland...and I prefer walking amoung flowering trees than trees full of snow, don't you?

Lastly, on some of the trellises around the neighborhood park are the wisteria beginning to bloom:

These always remind me of grapes on a grape vine ready to be harvest. Now back at home from our little walk, the dog runs into the garage to get a drink of water and I see that our little Cali-lily plant continues to grow and flower without any maintainance...it grows like a weed!

Thank you for coming on my early morning spring walk with me and sharing the sights...now to reward you for making it this far in the post here are some stitching photos:

First a finish to show:

"A Walk in the Park"

by Little House Needleworks

stitched on 36ct linen (forgot the name)

DMC floss - black & white - stitching 2 over 2

button from Just Another Button Company

finished by mounting it on a cigar box from Michaels; painted box black and wrapped round wooden buttons with fabric purchased at Jo-Anns.

This is a gift for my sister who lost her canine friend in December. Maxie, as she called him, was with her for a long time and became her best friend. I know she misses him.

And now that I am caught up with my "exchange" project (for a little while as I have 2 to complete by May 1) - I have pulled out my Mary Wigham.

Here is what is looks like now - and because I don't have a quick reference to what it looked like before taking it out of hibernation, here is a photo of the motif I finished last night (GAST: Tinbucket):

Well, Blogging Buddies...thank you for making it to the end of this long post. I hope that you enjoyed our spring walk together ending in stitches!

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

Lisa

Happy Spring

In Northern California, spring time seemed to arrive a few weeks ago as all the flowering trees have looked like the one above - like someone had hot glued white pom-poms...or on the ones that have pink blossoms: pink pom-poms. In our neighborhood, all the trees seem to blossom at different times - so some of the streets have trees that have lost their blossoms and area already dressed in their summer leaves...but down the street from our house the trees just puffed out with their floral dresses, so we get to enjoy the colors. In addition to the trees, there are a lot of wild flowers that bloom on the hill side.

There are even wild California Poppies (the state flower) that show up. These are fun to watch, because they open their pedals in the morning and in the evening they close up. Also on the hill is some wild sweet clover that blooms in yellow and some purple...which is a beautiful contrast to the green of the grass. Nature certainally stitches a beautiful spring picture! But we have to enjoy it now! In about 2 months everything will be brown due to the lack of water. Here we have 2 seasons: green and brown!

This week we have been enjoying out evenings at home for the most part. Since Robert (older son) hockey season came to an end, we haven't had to drive down the San Jose for hockey practices for him. He has, though, started up with school track - which practices are after school. And even though Matthew (younger son) still has hockey practice, they take place at a rink near the house - so don't have to travel very far for those. So this has given us a change to rest & relax and catch up on life.

However, DH came home from the crazy hockey weekend with a very bad cold/cough - so I have been playing nurse: making sure that he rests (he has been coming home early from work to nap - which has upset my afternoon routine), gets plenty of liquids (I made some chicken soup for him to have for dinner), and has been taking his med (a combo of Sudafed and Mucinex). Little by little he is recouperating and therefore I am getting my afternoons back, which I found are good napping times because I have been feeling drained lately.

However, I do have some stitching finishes and an update to talk about (and will show photos soon):

1. Ornament Exchange - I have not only finished the ornament for Lisa V, but got it in the mail to her. So as soon as it lands in Australia I will post a photo of that finish.
2. Gift for Sister - I finish stitching "A Walk in the Park" and have mounted it on a little wooden cigar box. I just need to photograph it and get it in the mail. I am not sure if she reads my blog on a regular basis...but just to play it safe, I think I will wait until she receives it to post a photo
3. An Update - Mary Wigham came out of hibernation and I have put some stitching in last night. It felt so good to put needle/thread to the project, that I couldn't put it down...the desire to stitch was greater than my drive to exercise last night and stitching won...so I sat on my stitching butt and stitched.

Well, that is all the updates I have for you today. I hope to have some stitching photos soon to share with you the finishes listed above and an update on Mary. In the meantime, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Monday's Mumblings

Well, here we are back to Monday. Did you watch the Superbowl? This was the first time in a long time that I watched the majority of the game. I guess because DH and I lived in New Orleans for several years (from 1991-1995...right after we got married & out of college - a perfect time to live right near the French Quarter...no responsibilities and young enough to party). And because, it was on, it did provide a good background for stitching which I worked on "A Walk in the Park". Here is where I am:

I just need to stitch up the white dog bones below the words, the dog's name (Maxwell) and the dates (1995-2009). I was hoping to have it done before this coming Thursday, but it doesn't seem like that is going to happen as all of us (DH, 2 sons and I) will be departing for hockey tournament on Thursday.

As mentioned, I will be traveling with Robert (older son) to a tournament in Pittsburgh while DH and Matthew (younger son) will be going to Phoenix. Last week, when I wrote about this arrangement, I got a few questions..."How did DH get lucky?" Well, DH travelled the last 2 times with Robert (Seattle in December and Texas in January) while I got to stay home with Matthew and spend time with him. So it is time for him to go with Matthew. And, to be honest, while I would love to be the one to go to Phoenix for it is warmer there and no snow, DH and I have the same belief of the importance of spending time with each of the boys. So we take turn in our travels with each...Divide and Conquer!  

Another question I get: "When do we get time to spend with each other?" DH and I find sometime here and there...but the time we have with our boys seems so short. Especially now that Robert is 14 and Matthew is 10 - college or jr hockey isn't too far away - so the time we spend with them is priceless. And, DH & I know that our time will come again and we will start a new chapter in our lives...ooopps, sorry for getting so sappy. Maybe it is because Valentine's Day is around the corner?

Anyway...this week is going to be crazy as I will not only preparing myself for travel, but all of us and I will also need to make sure that I have all of Robert's teams information with me as I am the team manager. So, if I don't post for awhile...please forgive me as I will be running around with my head cut off. However, if I do post, I am probably letting off stress and steam, so you will have to forgive me for that too.

So...have a great week as we head into President's Day and Valentines Day weekend! Take care and remember:

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

It is Thursday (my Friday)

Good day readers, it is finally Thursday - which is my Friday. Tomorrow is my day off. Well, I am going to start my post off with some stitching news first...I finished model-stitching the CindyMae design and completely finished it (as a pillow...I think that I can tell you that) and will be getting it into the mail to her today so that she can post it as the finished product when she posts the pattern for sale. I really enjoy model stitching for her, for I feel that it has developed into a wonderful friendship between Cinday and I. I will give you all a heads up when she posts the design "Doggone Days, Doggone Napping."

Now that I can check that off as a Happy Dance, I can move onto my next project:

"A Walk In The Park"

Little House Needleworks

My sister (I have 2 sisters - both younger; the one I am refering to is the one in the middle) made the tough decision of putting her dog down back in December. Max was very old (I think close to 17 years old) and just wasn't getting around very well at all. Because Max had been her friend through all her ups and downs for over a decade, it took my sister a while to come to the decision. So, when surfing http://www.123stitch.com/, I came across this pattern and decided that it would be perfect (as Max was a black dalmatian...black dog with black spots). I started this on Tuesday...and only got the white tree and one park bench done. When I get a alittle further, I will post a status photo.

In addition to this project, I can pick up Mary Wigham again. This is where I have left off:

and that was back in December. She has been calling out my name, but I guess I have been deaf to it. She will get to see the sunlight (hopefully, we are suppose to have more rain) this weekend.

So that is the stitching news...hockey wise? Well, the boys have had their normal practices this week and are scheduled to play some games over the weekend. Next week, President's Weekend, is the time when Robert (older son) and I will be departing for a tournament in Pittsburgh, while DH and Matthew (younger son) will be heading toward warmer climate in Phoenix. But that is still a week away...so don't need to stress about that travel yet.

Until next time, remember:

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often

Lisa