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

Catching up time...a trip to Iowa with Robert and Matthew's graduation from Middle School

I know...it has been quite a while since I have written. It has been a very busy few weeks. Last time I posted, I was getting ready to leave for Dubuque, Iowa with my older son, Robert. He was invited to attend the USHL main camp for the junior hockey team called the Dubuque Fighting Saints. On the evening of June 4, Robert and took a red-eye from San Francisco to Dubuque, Iowa - departing at 11:54pm and landing in Dubuque at 10am the next day (note: Iowa is 2 hours later than California). 

Upon arrival at the little, teeny, tiny airport, we collected our luggage, got our rental car and proceeded right to the hotel to check in and go to bed for awhile. But only a while mind you because Robert needed to get a bite to eat and then go to the hockey rink to participate in an optional skate lead by the coach of the Fighting Saints. The next couple of days, Robert played 4 hockey games in front of the coaching staff and evaluators for the Fighting Saints. There were a total of 160 players there "trying out" for spots on the USHL team. Unfortunately, Robert didn't make the All-Star team, but he did have a good showing at the camp.

The weekend was filled with lots of hockey, lots of eating and lots of sleeping...the typical hockey weekend :) However, many times while Robert was napping, I took that opportunity to walk around downtown Dubuque.

The downtown area had some wonderful houses to look at:

There were also some really neat buildings:

In addition to buildings and houses, there were these turtles around the downtown area...

 The turtles were part of a fund raising project for the National Mississippi Museum and Aquarium that was located a few blocks from our hotel...right on the Mississippi River. They just opened up a turtle exhibit. On the last day of our trip, when Robert was done with the hockey camp, he and I decided to go to the Aquarium and take a look at the turtles...

 as well as check out the museum...

Here I am posing with Mark Twain, who is reading to me about Tom Sawyer :)

It was a great weekend! I had a lot of fun "hanging out" with my older son. It hit me, as I was with him, that times like this are priceless for in a little over a year he will be going away to college or playing for a jr hockey team. Hard to believe.

And speaking of time "marching on"...my younger son, Matthew, was just "promoted" from middle school and will be attending high school next year. Last week was the last week of school, which ended with the promotion ceremony. My parents were visiting from Minnesota and were able to see Matthew receive his certificate of completion from middle school and go out to dinner to celebrate.

Steve, Me, My Father and Mother...sitting down is Robert (older son) and Matthew (younger son). The restaurant we were at gave Matthew a scoop of raspberry sorbet with a candle in honor of his promotion. 

Well, with all the activities going on, I really haven't found much time to sit my duff down and stitch. Hopefully the needle will soon find its way to my hand and I will find time to put some X's in The Monthly Sampler!

Thanks for dropping by! Until next time...

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

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

And so the week begins...with a little tell & show

Ugh it's Monday...oops, I mean Tuesday. Either way, the week has begun! I had a pretty good weekend - consisted of watching the stores while my DH and younger son, Matthew, were down in LA for a Memorial Day hockey tournament. My older son, Robert and I stayed home. Friday and Saturday I basically worked in one of our stores; Sunday, with a good staff in place, I go the day off; and Monday we closed both stores for the Memorial Day holiday.

Sunday after I got back from a 13.25 mile jog/walk, I helped Robert clean up his room. Not a very exciting thing to do...but it is something that needed done! He has been busy studying and prepping for his SATs and 3 AP subject tests for the last 2 months, during which his desk became buried in school papers, books and other unidentified objects. Now, with the test behind him and school work dwindling  it was a good time to go through the scary pile and weed out the "keep" and "trash". Three hours later and 2 full garbage bags, we found his desk and a few other things that we thought lost.

Once that major undertaking was complete, I did do a little (mind you, very little) house cleaning and then was able to settle down and take out "Sampler Months" by LHN - January and put in some "X's"...

I finished some of the snowy hills and got a start on the pair of cardinals. It is coming along...but for some reason, I really don't like stitching in white. There is just something about white...I find it harder to get the stitches to look "good", to lay "right", to measure up to my sense of "perfection". I don't know if is because of the absence of color or something. Do you have any colors that you have difficulty stitching with?

Anyway, the boys just started up a 4-day-a-week hockey clinic, so I will definitely have a lot of time to sit - so maybe I can get January finished up and move onto February.

Well, time to get a going. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

No more babies in this household

Where did all the time go? 

My so-called "baby" turns 14 today!

14 years ago this morning - Matthew Amos Durst came into my life. With his little sheepish grin and soul piercing eyes, Matthew keeps our family hopping and laughing!

Like his older brother, Matthew seems to live in a pair of hockey skates. He took to the ice at the young age of 3, for skating lessons were part of the curriculum at the Minnesota day care he went to. With grace and a little bit of elegance (I know, that isn't too manly of a description), he looks at home on the ice.

As he continues to grow up and mature, there is a humorous side of Matthew. He can keep you in stitches - laughing until you cry!

With Matthew's good nature, he definitely surrounds himself with friends - whether it be on his hockey team or his school mates. He has a leadership sense about him and a good heart for true friendship!

I know that family is also important to Matthew. He has a good relationship with his older brother - for they definitely look out for each other!

Matthew, you are growing up to be a fine young man. Not only in size (started out as 7lb 9oz and 21.5 inches long...and 14 years later is 5'8" and 135lbs)...but I am very proud of the person you are becoming! I love you very much and hope that you have a wonderful day today! Good luck with your hockey games this weekend!

Until next time...remember, take care and

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Sisters...the sisterhood.

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

'Don't forget your sisters,' she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her gass. 'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.'

Debbie, me and Jamie

'Remember that 'sisters' means ALL the women...your girlfriends you daughters, and all your other women relatives too. ' You'll need other women. Women always do.'

My sister Debbie...me...and my grandmother.

'What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make up my life worthwhile!'

Debbie...me...Jamie

But she listened to her mother. She kept contact with her sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her mother really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, sisters are the mainstays of her life.

My sisters: Debbie and Jamie...my mother...and me

After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL...

Time passes.

Live happens. 

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don't do what they're supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT... 

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. 

A girl friend is never father away than needing her reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in you life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins and extended family: all bless our life!

Left to Right: Sister Jamie, Mother, Me and Sister Debbie

The would wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on to all the women who help mak your life meaning full! I just did.

To all my sisters out there...remember, take care and...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Rainbow Pop

Does anyone know what the name of this flower is? For 10 years, since we have moved to California, I have always been curious about these. 

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

In recovery and catching up mode

The Mother's Day holiday is finally over. All the planning, staffing and prepping my DH and I do for our 2 Edible Arrangement stores paid off. Both stores did well...and we both are exhausted. I worked primarily up in our Brentwood, CA store which is about 35 miles from our house. Last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I commuted up there and back home so that I could be here to pick up the boys from school...as well as help out in our other store in the evening. However, Saturday night - the night before Mother's Day - it becomes "crunch" time. It is the night that you want to make sure that all the arrangements and chocolate dipped fruit boxes are made so that you can get the deliveries out in the truck and the pick ups ready for the customers pick-up. So, on Saturday, after we finished everything at 12-midnight, I just stayed at a hotel near the store.

This was much better than last year! Last year, we didn't finish up until 1:30-2 in the morning and I just slept on the front lobby cabinet. This year I got to sleep in a bed and take a shower before coming in! Definitely an improvement!

Anyway...the last major holiday is over. We get a little bump in business for Father's Day and then we go into summer mode.

And by the way...Happy Belated Mother's Day to you!

______________________________

Today is the last big test for my older son, Robert. For the last 3 weeks he has been in study mode. Between the SATs and 3-AP exams, the poor kid has been going-going-studying-studying. But after today, it is all done. He still has school, for our school here doesn't get out until June 14...and he still has finals. But all the big tests this year will be complete.  I know that he will be relieved when it is all over. 

______________________________

Well, it is nice that Robert's tests will be over and Mother's Day is over...for hockey tryouts start tomorrow...it is not one thing it is another :)

So on those notes...as you can imagine, I haven't been able to pick up a needle for awhile. I am hoping that with all the hockey coming up due to tryouts, I will be sitting in the rink and will need to put something in my idle hands.

Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

The New, Improved Smile

Yesterday was a big day for Matthew, my younger son. It was the day he got his braces off, something he has had for 2.5 years.

Here is the "mouth" before all the metal was put in. You gotta love all those spaces and overlapping teeth...

The mouth before all the metal.

With Metal

Without Metal

Nice and straight...definitely worth the investment :)

Until next time...remember,

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

And we are back in business...

You know that saying - "when it rains, it pours"? Well, it seems that just about everything that seems difficult to live without went on the fritz this week.

Broken thing #1:
Over the weekend, the freezer read 10-degrees and the refrigerator read 40-degrees. It seems that our refrigerator-freezer gets "sick" this time of the year...the time when the spring sun starts to come through our kitchen window and warms the heck out of this room. Typically we try to live with it, doing all sorts of things to drive the temperature down - like moving it out from the wall and putting a fan behind it. However, because life is going to get crazy-busy next week, I decided to schedule an appointment with the Sears repairperson immediately. Our appointment was Tuesday afternoon. The guy came, diagnosed the problem and fixed it. Now our 10 year old GE frig/freezer is "well" and temps are back in the normal area (freezer is at 0-degrees and refrigerator is at 37-degrees).

Broken thing #2:
Monday afternoon, after my DH napping time, we found out that the internet wasn't working. With Comcast on the phone, neither DH or Comcast could figure out what the problem was. Finally, it was just time to schedule an appointment with Comcast to get the Internet working again. An appointment was set for Wednesday morning.

Man...it is amazing how dependent we have become on the internet and wireless. The boys couldn't log into their school websites to get their homework - thus, they had to rely on writing down their assignments or calling a friend to get it. The boys couldn't play their internet games while eating breakfast or vegging out after their homework was done. DH and I couldn't log into the stores remotely. We couldn't use our wireless printer. All internet-related entertainment was halted Monday & Tuesday evening. We had to rely on getting our entertainment from the TV alone; nevertheless, it did allow us to actually talk to each other without internet interruptions.

Well, long story-short...we are back in business. Internet is back up and running...and with a new router, we now have wireless too.

However, without wireless...and with time on my hands to wait for all the repair people that were scheduled to visit, I did get some "X's" put in to LHN "Monthly Sampler - January"

"Monthly Sampler" - January by LHN

Got the border for January basically complete and started the tree. I do need to stitch the green "X's" between each of the diamonds in order to "officially" call the border done. However, I really wanted to get to some of the larger areas to stitch.

I will have time today to put in some "X's" as I sit at the Ortho. Matthew (younger son) is getting his braces off this afternoon. Pretty exciting. Although there might be a little sibling envy to deal with tonight; for Robert (older son) got his braces on a year before Matthew and still has them on. Hopefully Robert will be done soon.

Well, that is about all here for now. Thank you for visiting. Until next time, 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

My Family Sampler is framed, home and hung!

My Family Sampler arrived home! Isn't it beautiful? I just love the framing done by Jill Rensel Studios, especially the extra touches she does. It just adds that "extra-something-special" to your finished stitching project. If you aren't aware of her work, go to her blog to see her other finished framing jobs! Her name and recommendation was given to me by several of my stitching friends: Valerie V and Brandy.  

Family Sampler by Little House Needleworks
Started: January 1, 2011 - Finished December 31, 2012
Hung on the wall - April 24, 2013

I hung this upstairs right by the doorway to my bedroom. I can see it when I am in bed. Corny, huh? It has been a very long time since I have finished a big project and had it framed for me :) This project really was suppose to have been done quicker than it was; for it was suppose to done for my 20th wedding anniversary...but you all know how things get in the way of our love for stitching.

In addition to that milestone, this sampler is also special because of those Red Birds in the trees. They were suppose to have been stitched in black, but I decided that they should be Cardinals. "Why?" you might ask...well, my husband and I met at college - at Washington University in St. Louis. St. Louis loves it Cardinals - Cardinal baseball and, back then, it's Cardinal football team. When my husband and I went to school there, my grandparents lived there.

My St. Louis grandparents were like a surrogate mom & dad to me all my life. My sisters and I would stay with them for a week or so in the summer...they would come to our house and stay with us when my parents would travel...we would be together on holidays and life cycle events. So when I went away to school - I had the best of both worlds...I was being independent, living away from my family. However, if I got homesick or needed a home-cooked meal, grandma & grandpa were never far away.  Anyway, when I started stitching my Family Sampler, I felt that it would be appropriate to stitch the birds in red. As I know that my grandparents are watching over me and my family.

Boy, am I glad that it is Friday. I get some time to go out for my walk/jog this morning and get this day to get caught up on stuff around the house. It has been a crazy week with our stores because of Administrative Assistant's Day, which was on Wednesday. We had a lot of arrangements to make on Wednesday and I was the main chocolate dipper. I had over 300 banana pieces to dip in chocolate. Yikes! Lots of standing at the chocolate warmers dipping :) Well, we are gearing up for Mother's Day which is a very, very busy weekend. It is all good...just exhausting! 

Anyway, I will let you go! Thank you for visiting me today. I hope that you have a great Friday and good weekend. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa