Where did time go (Part II)...and...The Frogs Go Marching :(

18 years ago today, my DH and I loaded my suitcase into the car and we drove to the hospital. At 7am, the nurse injected the meds to start my labor. Throughout the day, my parents, sisters, friends all came to visit. In the afternoon, I was given some painkillers and then in the early evening I demanded the epidural.

16.5 hours later at 11:37pm, Robert made his appearance...all 9 pounds 2 oz. It was an incredible experience! One of the most remarkable experience I have ever had.

Robert was such a good baby. He basically slept through the night; although I did wake him ever so often to feed him.

 He was always so curious and observant...looking around, listening to endless Dr. Seuss books...

 He went every where with us...was a great traveller from an early age...and definitely a great snuggler.

 Full of life...always smiling!

Robert is growing up to be such a handsome man...busy with school, hockey, track...filling out all of those college applications as we prepare for the next chapter of his life

I am definitely a proud mom of this wonderful young man!

Happy 18th Birthday, Robert!

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Yesterday I spoke about my torah portion - finishing the first line and it not being centered correctly. Like I mentioned, I thought that I started the first line at the point it describes on the Torah Stitch by Stitch website. Well, I didn't quite count from the exact point I should have...so, yes, my portion isn't centered like it should. 

So last night I emailed the contact person and got a response back this morning with several different options. None of which mentioned ripping the whole thing up and starting over...Thank Goodness!!! One of the options I have is to continue stitching and when it comes to the border (stitching a border is completely optional and gives the stitcher a way to be creative, to make it unique, etc) I will have to make a narrow one...1-3 stitches wide versus a 5 stitch wide band. It will make more sense when I get that far.

In the meantime, since I emailed a photo to the contact so that they could take a look at what I was describing, the spotted an error. The last hebrew word I stitched wasn't in the correct place, so the frogs ( צפרדע) came to visit my house after all. ☹

You can still see the faint hebrew word that was frogged. I hope that when I restitch it, you won't be able to see where it once was.

Anyway, in order to get unstressed after dealing with my Torah portion, I took out Seven Pines by LHN and put in a few X's and a button...

I still have a few more X's to add around the pine trees...but another LHN project was calling my name. Out came Monthly Samplers-April by LHN (sorry about all the wrinkles)...

Now destressed, it is just about time to call it a night. Thank you all for visiting. Until next time, take care and 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

A day off

On Fridays, I typically get a "day off" from the store and take the opportunity to get in a good run (or very long walk). Today I just wasn't feeling up to one of those...just wasn't feeling 100%, so putting on my running shoes and heading out wasn't something that was really appealing to me.

But, since there was a little crispness to the air, I had an itching to make home made bread...honey challah to be exact. My fingers were aching to do some kneading and I was craving some of that nice, fluffy sweet egg bread.

So, down stairs to the kitchen I went to collect the ingredients: eggs, honey, water, flour, oil, poppy seeds and yeast. Since I was in the mood for this activity, everything seemed to go smoothly...the yeast/water/honey mixture seem to bubble...the flour mixed in well and the kneaded dough was smooooooth...

Here is my kneaded ball of dough...ready to rest & rise for a couple of hours.

Once kneaded, the ball of dough got to rest and rise for a couple of hours until it was double its size. Then, I took that big boy and punched it down and kneaded a little more before dividing it up into 6 smaller balls. These balls were rolled out into long "snakes". I grouped 3 "snakes" together and braided them...creating 2 loves of braided honey challah.

A braided loaf with a egg white wash and a sprinkle of poppy seeds

Each loaf was brushed with an egg white wash and sprinkled with poppy seeds. Into a 325 degree oven they went for an hour or so until...

they were golden brown and the crust was crispy & sweet. YUM! And my house smells so good. Wish that I could add the smell of home made bread to my post!

Homemade bread, grilled beef ribs and fresh green beans...the perfect family dinner!

And to end my "day off" I even got in a few X's on LHN Monthly Sampler-March - finished the green grassy hill and got a start on on of the 4 leaf clovers.

Well, I did manage to get in a short walk. Bruno, our 11-year old puppy needed to get out and see if there were any new smells around the neighborhood.

When we got back, he was pooped...that is kind of how I have felt all day.

Well...until next time, take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often

Lisa

A little weekend update - stitching and more :)

Hello and Happy Sunday. I hope everyone's weekend is going well. We have been having a nice and relaxing weekend...and definitely enjoying the weather. The heat wave seemed to have snapped Thursday evening, for Friday's high temps were in the low 70's. That was over a 25 degree drop in temps. We have since opened the windows and turned off the air conditioner, giving it a well deserved break until the next heat wave hits the Bay Area.

We haven't really done much around here this weekend; just feels good to veg-out with the family. I have fired up the grill a couple of times making BBQ pork chops, chicken and beef kabobs over the weekend to ensure the boys are getting their fill of lean proteins - something every growing boy needs - as well as fresh vegetables and fruits. It is nice to have time to sit and visit during family meals. 

During our relaxing weekend, I have been able to "basically" finish up February from LHN's Sampler Months Series. 

And here is January and February together...

Next up...March.

I just want to say that our thoughts and prayers are being sent to those families who were affected by the Asiana Airlines Flight 214. It really was strange being somewhat near the city that this crash occurred. We fly out of San Francisco airport periodically for hockey travel (SFO is one of our choices to fly in/out of...sometimes we fly out of Oakland and other times San Jose. It is nice to have 3 airports so close together when comparing prices)...and to think that airport is only 40miles away. When the crash occurred, we did experience several big commercial jets fly over our area as their were redirected to the other airports. With my DH and older son, Robert, leaving on Thursday for another hockey event, I find myself getting a little anxious about their travel.

Anyway, time to sign off. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Happy July...turn on the airconditioning and stitch, until the frogs visit

Summer seems to have arrived with a vengeance! It is HOT. When one goes outside, it feels like you have walked into a blast-furnace. Not that I have entered a blast-furnace; but if I did, I am sure that this is what it would feel like. Our poor airconditioner, it seems to be working over time. We have shut all the blinds to keep the direct sunlight out of the house and turned up the thermostat to 72-73 degrees.

Anyway, all my boys came home from Colorado last Thursday evening. Everyone had a terrific time. My DH and older son, Robert, enjoyed hiking in the mountains and fishing for trout; while my younger son, Matthew, enjoyed his time at the hockey development camp he attended. And I? Well, I enjoyed my days working in the store, my early evenings vegging at the house waiting for the stores to close - which signify that all the deliveries were made and everything is ok - and my nights catching up on my netflix TV shows.

Anyway, we are kind of back to normal...with a little different routine as the boys are now attending a hockey clinic from 8-1 four days a week which my DH and I are balancing with the business.

Nevertheless, over this last weekend, since it was just too hot to go outside and do anything, we did have a quiet weekend and I got some stitching done. Out came LHN's "Sampler Months" - February.

Well, on Sunday afternoon, I thought I was doing well. I got the February border basically complete and started on the inside...finished the row of hearts and then started on the next row...almost completed it and then realized I stitched it in the WRONG color. It was NOT suppose to be snowball (white)...it WAS suppose to be stitched using the color Joshua Tree (medium green). 

UGH!

Oh Bother...time to...

And rip that darn white I did...and immediately threaded my needle with the Joshua Tree and within a few minutes...

Phew! That is what it is suppose to look like. Wow, now it is right! Now I can move to the next part.

Well, hopefully I have sent the frogs a'packing, keeping their visit short and sweet!

Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

And Monday arrives, yet again - but with a little show & tell for you!

Well, happy Monday! While the weekend was somewhat busy with one hockey related activity and a little business activity, I did find time to sit my behind down on the couch and put in some "X's" in January of the Monthly Sampler project I am working on. I am just about finished with this month - just need to stitch the work "January" between the snow banks and add a little light green confetti stitching to the borders.

Monthly Sampler - January by LHN

I am itching to start "February"...so I don't know if I have the patience to do the confetti stitching...maybe I will do that after "February" is complete...and before I move onto "March/April". Hmmm.

This is the perfect project to keep in my travelling bag (everyone always wants to know why I carry such a large bag and/or backpack...answer: "I am always ready to jump on a plane for hockey travel or just ready to sit at the hockey rink") for it consist of several small samplers, which are typically fun to stitch and quick.

Speaking of travelling...I will be taking the red-eye tomorrow evening with Robert, my older son. He received an invite to the main/tryout camp of the USHL Jr Team - Dubuque Fighting Saints. We will be taking the 11:45pm flight from here Tuesday evening and landing in Dubuque, Iowa at 9am Wednesday morning. Anyone know of a stitching store in Dubuque? :)

This is an exciting step for Robert, even though it doesn't come at a great time...he will be missing 3 days of school during the week right before finals. Both my boys don't get out of school until June 13/14. For Matthew (younger son),  he won't have much instruction or finals these last weeks, for as an 8th grader much of the time will be spent celebrating the end of middle school...however, Robert will be missing some final instructions while in Iowa before his finals next Tuesday-Thursday. Oh, well, his teachers have been very supportive of his hockey activities and have helped to make sure that he gets the information needed and time to make up the work he misses. So all is good.

Hope all is well and I thank you for visiting today. Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

And it's Monday again

Dearest Friends,
Thank you so much for your comments on my Family Sampler. Those comments mean so much to me!

So much for the weekend. I think that Saturdays and Sundays are almost as busy as the week days. As a parent and a small business owner, I am thinking it really doesn't matter if it is a Monday, a Friday or the Saturday/Sunday weekend. Each days seems as busy as the next, especially with these two busy boys.

Anyway, amongst the busyness, I did manage to sit my behind down in my little corner on the couch (which has been deemed "my spot") and stitch. I finished the motif I have been stitching on my Mary Wigham...

A finished motif on Mary Wigham.
Stitched with TGA Dungarees

With that complete and 40-count playing games with my eyes, it was time to put Mary to bed for awhile and bring out something that might be easier on my eyes. 

Looking through my stash, I spied Little House Needleworks "Sampler Months" (Designed by Diane Williams - Copyright 2010). I remember seeing this series being announced in the Needlework world, and being a fan of LHN I knew that I had to have this :) So I ordered it through my LNS - the whole series. It is great, each installment came with the pattern and corresponding floss. And I ordered the fabric from my LNS, which came with the first pattern. So for the last 2-3 years, I have had everything for this series sitting in my stash pile...waiting...and waiting...and waiting...

"Monthly Sampler" Series by Little House Needleworks
Each kit comes with patter and required floss - came out in 2010

So, on Saturday, the "Sampler Months" came out of the stash pile and I got a pretty good start over the weekend.

"January" - "Sampler Months" by LHN
Stitched on LL Vintage Lt. Examplar 36ct

I have decided to stitch all 12 on one piece - stitching 3 across and 4 down. The wonderful ladies at my LNS created a diagram on the back of the fabric identifier label of the 3x4 and noted that I needed a 3" margin from the edges (it was nice to have that note! How many of us would have remembered that information if it wasn't written down?).

 However, when I started stitching January, I know that my margin is less than 3" from the top and the left hand-side. I always get nervous putting in that first stitch, especially when it is a large project. While I have done large things before, I have never stitched a big project that consists of fitting several pieces together (aka a series). So I decided that I would error on having less margin on top and left...just didn't want to run out of room later. Make sense?

Anyway, it was nice to have time to sit and stich this weekend. It is relaxing and something that is well deserved - to sit on my butt and relax! We are entering into a crazy 2 week period, so getting in a little R&R now is excellent!

Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Welcome December

Thank you for your comments...I forgot to acknowledge my gratitude to my kids who made my quiet birthday celebration one that was sweet and thoughtful and the fact that my RR finally came home (and Kathy, I still have to get it in th we mail so that it can "officially" be complete. i was at the post office today, where I did get it in a priority mail envelope but lost patiences with the 5 people in lines with packages piled high...I will try again soon!)

So we reach December in the year 2010. Hard to believe that this month is already here! Today I feel like I got a few things accomplished...on my "to do" list at my job I had to visit a off-site storage facility and move out all our trade show booth parts which have accumulated over many years. Since the facility was located near our local "giant" hockey superstore and near the local stitching store, I was able to:

1. get the boys skates sharpened - which Matthew's were in dire need of a good skate shapening

2. purchase, with reward points, the last in the LHN Monthly Sampler - November & December 

Now I have the whole series:

And will now have to determine when to start working on it...hum, I have the Family Sampler going on...Mary Wigham which is now over a year old UFO...a hockey winter scene which is at least a 3 year old UFO. Well, I am sure that I will find a way to work it in. I purchased the fabric in the Summer making sure that it fit all 6 kits...and the kits already come with the "called for" thread. Maybe it will be a sampler a month (no pun intended) and I can start it on Jan. 1 and maybe finish on Dec. 31...you think?

Well, anyway it was go to get the skates sharpened and that last pattern, both something that has been on my personal "to do" list for quite awhile.

Tomorrow Matthew and I leave, yet again, for another hockey tournament. This time we are off to Denver, Colorado...DH and Robert get to stay home. While in Denver, I will be able to hook up with some more family and friends - which is always really cool to do! Since I really didn't get unpacked from the Arizona trip 2 weeks ago, it won't take too long to prepare to fly out tomorrow.

So, blogger friends, I bid you good night until next time! Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa