Year End Wrap Up

WARNING!!  THIS POST IS PICTURE HEAVY!  You may want to get a little something to drink and a little something to nibble, too.  This is a wrap up of all the pictures I had hoped to post over the past month and haven't.

First Up - December Monthly Decorations

I would like to point out that the box next to the Santa of the Month in the first picture was a Christmas gift from my stitching friend Sherry.

Next - a birthday gift from my co-worker Clarie - a beautiful handstitched etui.

 Front

 Back

 Inside

Outside when open.

What a special gift and one that I will treasure.  Thank you Clarie.

Usually some of us stitchers gather at Panera on a Saturday in December.  This year we were running out of Saturday's in December - it was getting a little close to Christmas - and I don't know about your Panera but ours can be really crazy close to the holidays - or a day off from school.  This year I invited the ladies to my home for a Christmas Tea Party on the 17th (also happens to be my birthday).  And everyone was able to make it. 

We started with Christmas Scones - a star shaped scone with orange and cranberry flavors dusted with cinnamon sugar with Devonshire cream.  

Phyllis brought lovely cut up fruit to have along with our sandwiches. I made ham and swiss on white or whole wheat with apricot jam on one piece of the bread and brown mustard on the other.  A yummy combo.  Roast beef on white or whole wheat with a horseradish mayonnaise.  And egg salad with a bit of dill on your choice of white or whole wheat.  And some store bought pasta salad.  

For dessert, Sherry brought plate of her wonderful cookies.  I made strawberry mousse (from a mix) in chocolate cups, mini cheesecakes, and peanut butter candy.  Fortunately, or unfortunately I only remembered to take pictures when I was putting dessert on the table.  Here is a picture of that.

Sherry's cookies are in the foreground and my contribution is in the background. 

Of course, we had tea, lots and lots of tea.  And a gift exchange, and lots of laughter, and even a little bit of stitching.

I put together these gifts for the ladies.  A scissor fob made by me with a sea shell, a tape measure and for three of the ladies chocolate frogs (and one sugar free chocolate - couldn't get a frog) and a little note inside that said "May all your 'frogs' be chocolate."  All of this fit very nicely into a Vera Bradley eyeglass case. I had intended to put these in something else that I was going to make but ran out of time due to some work commitments.  

Here are some of the things I received.  I can't remember what was from who but here's the haul.  My dining room floor was covered with gift bags since we all buy for each other.

  I do know that the case with bathing beauties is from Debbie and the Namaste case is from Phyllis. 

 This little vintage project bag is from Debbie.

 The Prairie Schooler cards are from Claire-Ann.   We each got a different set of the Prairie Schooler cards so that we can share.  What a great idea. The other things are from Debbie and Phyllis.

 I think more from Debbie and Phyllis. 

 And more from Debbie and Phyllis.

And still more from Debbie and Phyllis.  I forgot to take a picture of the glass angel from Sherry, the snowman mug from Claire-Ann and the candy filled jar from Phyllis and Debbie. 

I love each and every thing.  Thank you ladies.

Sometime in the beginning of December Ali and I managed to get the house decorated - before the tea.

 The cookie cutter tree in the kitchen - one of my favorites.

The bird tree in the dining room

Our advent calendar in the dining room.

My shelf in the dining room with Peace on Earth by Blackbird Designs and Quaker Garden also by Blackbird Designs underneath.

A closer view of Peace on Earth.

Christmas Strawberries by Prairie Schooler (I think) in the dining room.

Santa Claus by Hinzeit in the dining room.

The 'big' tree in the living room.

A nativity set that I stitched in the living room.

And the entertainment center with some of my Christmas pictures - also in the living room.

We celebrated Christmas at my mother-in-laws this year.  We went to her house on Christmas Eve and to church there.  Some of our kids came later that night.  Andy and his girl came on Christmas day.  We had a wonderful holiday.

I have been on vacation this week.  

On Tuesday Jack and I went on a little journey.  I dropped him off at Cabela's and went on down to Stitch n Stuff in Reading, PA to pick up some framing that they had finished for me. The ladies in The Framer's Nook have a wonderful 'eye' for what frames will set off a piece.

Count Your Blessings by Shakespeare's Peddler.

House on Acorn Hill by Blackbird Designs.

A Penny Saved by La-D-Da.  I love the double frame on this one.

Also, this week a few of us managed to get together for a little field trip.  We went out to Just Cross Stitch in Lederach, PA.  What a charming shop. We went across the street to lunch at the tea room.  Then on to Piper Classics for a different type of shopping in Pipersville, PA and a quick run through an antique shop on our way home. 

This week is always a time of reflection for me as well as a time to look ahead to next year. 

 I realized that in the past year I have managed to lose and keep of 15 pounds.  I had lost more but gained some back - but I am starting 2012 15 pounds lighter than I was in the beginning of 2011.  I hope to be a lot lighter by this time next year. 

I have begun to exercise by taking yoga classes twice a week and getting to the gym most other days. I hope to add Aqua Fit classes to my schedule this coming year. 

Stitch wise - I didn't do as much as I had hoped.  I have lots to finish in the box of shame - and hope to get most of those liberated in the coming year.  And I need to post my WIPocalypse list in the next day or so.  That means poring over my stash to see what I think I will accomplish next. year.  I have plans to attend two retreat in the coming year and am looking forward to that.

We will have two graduations in our family this year one college and our last high school graduation which will mean getting our youngest off to college in late summer.  We will almost empty nesters when she leaves.  I think our eldest will still be living at home. 

Our first great nephew will be celebrating his first birthday.  I am working on a special project for him and will post a picture of that in the next week or two.

Jack and I will be celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary in the next week.  What a wonderful life we have had together.  I am so blessed that this wonderful man came into my life and continues to stay in my life. 

Happy New Year!  Keep on Stitching!

Merry Christmas!

I can't believe that Christmas is almost here.  I've been getting ready and still have some wrapping, food shopping, and baking to do.

I don't know about you but I'm finding it hard to squeeze in some stitching time with all the holiday preparations. I have seen from other blogs that people are getting things accomplished.  Good for you.

I'm off work for the next week and hope to get some serious stitching done before the new year.  I also hope to get a nice picture filled blog post together.   I have been working on a project that is a gift so I can't show my progress on that, yet.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Keep on stitching!

Black Friday/White Friday

I had hoped to post a Happy Thanksgiving message on Wednesday but for some reason did not have an internet connection.  I hope you each had a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels.

We went to my mother-n-law's for the day.  We had a nice dinner.  The company was wonderful as always.  And were home in time for bed last night.

I wanted to show you pictures of my Thanksgiving decorating before I start to do the Christmas decorating.

This guy is propped against a lamp on a table in my living room.  I can't remember the name of this piece or the designer.  I really am going to start labeling my things.

This piece hangs in my dining room. Thanksgiving by Hinzeit.  I like the coordinating frames that they choose for their pieces and usually follow their suggestions.

Another piece in my dining room.  Again I'm not sure of the name or designer.

And one last piece displayed in the dining room.

Some progress pictures.  Slow but steady - An Open Heart by The Drawn Thread.

And more slow but steady progress on Count Your Blessings by Shakespeare's Peddler.

I have three days without work stretching before me.  What to do?  What to do?

I know I won't be going to any of the Black Friday sales.  I'm observing White Friday avoiding the whole early Christmas shopping thing.  I will go buy groceries today - I've found that no one is in the store on Black Friday  since they have leftovers from the day before.

I'm going to try to get to the gym.  At least to get in some treadmill time.

And I think I'm going to go to the library.  I can get there without getting involved in any type of mall traffic.

And I'm going to wash my car - myself.  We are having a beautiful sunny day here with highs in the 60's expected.  I don't know how many more of those we'll have before the snow sets in again and will try to take advantage of that today - and I think the same is forecast for tomorrow.

Maybe a little Christmas decorating.

I'd love to finish Count Your Blessings today and get that ready for my trip to the framer in December.

I've been a little remiss in my blogging the past couple of  weeks.  I was spending a lot of my free time car shopping two weeks ago and resolved that last week.  And I have been trying to go to the gym on a daily basis to move a little.  Like so many other habits this one is hard to establish.  For a little while my stitching will have to take a backseat until I figure out how to fit it in - especially on weeknights.

I do hope to finish Count Your Blessings today among the other things I have planned.

Enjoy the weekend.

Keep on Stitching!

Monday, Monday

Back to work today.

A thank you to those of you who have visited for the first time today after a mention on Lake Stitcher's blog today.    Thank you to Lee for mentioning my blog.  And thank you as well for the nice comments.  I do read and appreciate every one.  I feel like I am making new friends.

Stitching updates

My latest progress on An Open Heart by The Drawn Thread.  

My newest lunchtime stitch - Count Your Blessings by Shakespeare's Peddler.  Seems appropriate for this month.

 November Decorating:

Monthly Mania - November by Heart in Hand  -this guy hangs in my kitchen.

Heart of the Month for November by Leisure Arts on the knob of  the corner cupboard in my dining room.

Santa of the Month by Curtis Boehringer on an end table in my living room.

And Sheepy with his November blankie by Homespun Elegance in my stitching room.

What a difference a week makes.  Last week we were without electricity, phone, cable, and internet.  This week things are back to normal for most of us.  There are still some that do not have power.  The number of power companies and trucks on the road has been amazing.   Those men and women deserve every penny that they earn.  I have noticed there are still some branches dangling over the roads and I'm not sure who is responsible for those.  I just hold my breath and hope they don't land on me.

Have a great evening.

Keep On Stitching!

Stitching Updates

Here are pictures of what me and my needle have been up to - not as much as I had hoped.  Progress is progress.

Progress on An Open Heart by The Drawn Thread.  I'm not sure if the first heart in the next section is right and I'll have to figure that out before I move forward.  I was working on this at Stitch n Gab on Wednesday and was having a hard time concentrating.

A start on Autumn by Blackbird Designs.  I had hoped to work on this on Wednesday but failed to make sure that I had all the necessary floss in my bag.  So hit a bit of snag on that one.  Fortunately, I almost always have more than one project in my bag.

A little more to show on The Red Thread by Bent Creek.  

And a start on A Stitcher's Purse by With They Needle and Thread.

I'm hoping to log lots more stitching time in the coming week.  I think that things are starting to settle down with the restoration of our power and getting caught up on my homekeeping tasks.

Keep On Stitching!