Stitching, Knitting, Reading, Sunrises and Margaritas

We have been on holidays out at our trailer for the last 2 weeks (back to work on Tuesday) and we are in city for a few hours to do some grocery shopping, cut the grass, do some laundry, etc. so I thought I do an update here. It is long overdue, I know.

I am currently participating in 2 Halloween exchanges - on on the 123 Stitch Message Board and through a new group called Stitch, Create, Exchange now that the Stitched with Love Exchanges group has closed.   I finished the piece for the 123 exchange and currently working on the one for SCE.

I am also working on 2 Mystery Samplers (although the mysteries have long been revealed).  The first one is LHN's Song of The Seasons and the BRD's Blue Jeans and Daisies.

The Ist part of the L*K Christmas Mystery Sampler - Holly & Hearts has been shipped so I really need to get 'needling' on these 2.   But I am my own worst enemy.   When I saw the preview of the new limited edition kit from the St. Charles Needlework Market - Forget-Me-Not  by Country Stitches/With Thy Needle & Thread, I had to preorder it.  It arrived last week and naturally I had to start it.  But first I had to coffee dye the fabric in the kit.

 Before,

 during,

after

and then my first stiches. (The colour is off here it is more like the above "after" picture.)

I am also finishing up another scarf for the Pink Scarf Project.  I have 2 more on the go.  I hope to have them in the mail by Monday.

Free Pattern from Bernat using Boa - Chick

I finished reading and listening the following novels:
The Curse of the Pharoahs - Elizabeth Peters (audiobook)
The Tudor Secret - C. W. Gortner
The Red Queen - Philippa Gregory (audiobook)
To The Nines - Janet Evanovich
Ice Cold - Tess Gerritsen (e-book)
The Scarecrow - Michael Connelly (audiobook)
The Silent Girl - Tess Gerritsen (e-book)
The Swan Thieves - Elizabeth Kostova (audiobook)
A Cookbook Conspiracy - Kate Carlisle 

I am currently listening to The Trouble Man by Henning Mankell and reading Last to Die by Tess Gerritsen.

But before you think I have just been sitting on my backside I have continued my daily walks that I started several weeks ago.  I was getting up at 6:00 am to walk the dog before going into work.  I am not getting up as early right now because my DH wants to join me (there has been bear sitings and he doesn't want me walking alone) and he is not by nature an early riser (though he does surprise me on occasion.)

When I started  my early morning walks I also started taking a picture to wish everyone a  "Good Morning" on Facebook.   Although my walks are a little later in the day right now, I am still getting up at sunrise to get my good morning picture.

The weather was still quite hot the first week (hot enough for Margaritas, even) but now it is getting cooler.   But I love it out there, regardless.  No matter what the weather.   I reallyenjoy watching the geese starting their migration, watching the squirrels and the bluejays also getting ready for winter.

Well, that is it for now.  Take care and happy stitching.

Thanks for visiting!!!!

 

More progress on BRD's Blue Jeans and Daisies

Well, the long weekend was somewhat production. I made a bit of a dent on Blue Jeans and Daisies. I hoping by this upcoming Monday, I will have at least most of Part I done.

It is going rather slowly I think because I decided to use 35ct fabric instead of my preferred 28ct., but I am enjoying it and I like how it has turned out so far.

I received word that the 2nd Part for the LHN's Song of Seasons is the mail so I really want to get hustling on this one.

By the way I have signed up for the next mystery sampler - Lizzie Kate's Holly & Hearts.  Has anybody else?  I just can't seem to resist a "mystery".

I have done quite a bit of reading lately (I always seem to read more in the summer than in the winter.) I am trying to read/listen to 90 books this year. I am currently at 63.

This week I finished:
Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon (Audiobook)
A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin (ebook)
A Wrongful Death - Kate Wilhelm (Audiobook)

and I am currently listening to:
Bleak House - Charles Dickens (Audiobook)
Killing Floor - Lee Child (Audiobook)

and reading:
Vanish - Tess Gerritsen (ebook)
The Quick and the Thread - Amanda Lee (paperback)

Well that is my update for this week. I will be back next week. Take care and happy stitching.

Thank you for visiting!!!!!!!!

  

Blue Jeans and Daisies Update

I have been stitching on BRD's Mystery Sampler - Blue Jeans and Daisies this past week.  (I am sooooooooooooooo behind on this project.) Here is my progress as of a few minutes ago.

I am expecting Part II of the LHN Song of the Seasons Mystery Sampler soon so I want to make a little more headway on this one before it arrives. We have a long weekend coming up so hopefully I should have lots of stitching time.

Take care and happy stitching.

 Thank you for visiting!!!!!

 

I said I would try to be back and here I am!!!!

Thank you to all who visited and left a comment on my post yesterday. The comments were very much appreciated.

As I mentioned yesterday my stitching of late has been very limited. I have made a little progress on the BRD mystery SAL but I have still a long way to go. I better start picking up the pace as I have now signed up for the LHN mystery SAL (can you tell I loooooovvvvve mystery SALs) and the first chart should be arriving shortly.   I am still working on the first chart with this one.

A few months ago I mentioned how much I adore LHN designs and how I was contemplating ordering the Needleworker chart (threads included).  Guess what????  I did!!!!  Here is my progress as of last weekend.

One of the reasons I haven't been stitching much is that I been doing a lot of reading and baking - things I love almost as much as stitching. I have been reading the Stephanie Plum books and I just recently started reading The Game of the Thrones (absolutely love the TV adaptation). 

Since we started going out to trailer, 4 weeks ago,  I have made Peanut Butter cookies (no pic), Sex in a Pan (haven't had this in over 20 years and when a recipe surfaced on Facebook recently my DH asked me to make it), and Blueberry Rhubarb Pie (a change from the Strawberry Rhurbarb Pie I usually make) - yum, yum!!! 

 It is getting late and I have to work tomorrow.   Have a great weekend and happy stitching!!!!!!


 

Day Two (in Moose Jaw)

Today we got up bright and early. By early, I mean 5 AM. I don't know what it is about us but when we are on holidays we get up early.  When we have to go to work, it take us forever to drag our asses out of bed.

We started the day with coffee in our room and then a dip in the pool.   I thought we were the first ones in the pool but when we entered outdoor portion another couple was already out there.   They were early risers too.

©Temple Gardens Mineral Spa Resort - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Followed by breakfast and then back to the room for a nap. I also listened to couple of audiobooks - Bell, Book & Scandal by Jill Churchill (finished) and The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett (I am about half way through this 40 hr book.)  I am also currently reading The Snowman by Jo Nesbo.

Stitching wise I finished another motif in the Blue Jeans and Daises Mystery Sampler and finished Ewephoria by Mosey 'N Me.

In the afternoon we took a walk through the park that is across from the hotel.

After having dinner at Boston Pizza, we ended the evening with mimosas, 7-layer halva and another soak in the tub.

Right now we are experiencing a combination of rain and snow flurries.   I think it is time to go to sleep and hope it looks better in the morning.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!!

Day One (in Moose Jaw)

After a long 9-hour drive (including a couple of pit stops)

It was time to relax,

  open a bottle of wine

 and eat some grub.

Followed by a some reading, a little stitching

and long soothing soak in the tub.

Now it is time to hit the sack!!!!!  Good night!!!!   I'll be back!!!!!!

Thanks for visiting!!!!!

 

It's Started!!!!

 

I started the BRD Blue Jeans and Daisies Mystery Sampler last weekend and the above is my progress as of last night. Part III has already been released so I have long way to go. I definitely need to make sure I have good lighting while stitching on this one (the fabric is 35ct) as I have had a few sessions with the frog already.

Hope you are all having a great weekend!!!!  Take care and happy stitching!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!!

 

It's "Very Scary" and it's finished!!!!!

Last weekend I stated that I was not going to start the BRD "Blue Jeans and Daisies" Mystery Sampler Series until I finished the LK "Very Scary" Mystery Sampler Series that I started last summer. Well, I buckled down this week and lo and behold I finished it.

Now I need to decide what to do with it. I thinking a wallhanging/bellpull. I just hope that I do something before Halloween so that I can display it.

I have a couple of other finishes that I will post in the next couple of days. Right now I want to start on "Blue Jeans and Daisies".

By the way, I succumbed and I order LHN's "The Needleworker" along with the fabric. It will be arriving with Part III of BJ & D.

Hope you are all having a good weekend.

Take care and happy stitching!!!

Thank you for  visiting!!!!