Oh my word!!!  Is anyone still out there?  Where has the time gone?  And what did I do with it?  I did a little bit of stitching...but not that much.  Well I did ta-da finish Humboldt Coast by Silver Lining that Kati and I stitched in a year and a half of Sundays.  However this month we both decided that we wanted to get it done and we made it our focus piece and raced to the finish line.  I started to do the backstitching on this one, but decided that I didn't like it.  So I took it out and then decided to take out the backstitching that I did in the wave as well a while ago, because it seemed an eyesore to me, and I didn't like it...so out it came.  I love how it's turned out.  I don't think that I would ever stitch it again though.  It's for my Mom but it doesn't leave my house cause Mom lives with me.  So it will be somewhere on the wall in the house.  You can click on this image to big-a-fie.

Info on the piece.....  Humboldt Coast, Designer The Silver Lining.  Stitched on Silkweavers Expressions - 32ct Romance.

Kati and I have already decided on our next Sunday SAL but we have yet to discuss a start date.  the next project is going to be spectacular too!

So what else has been new;  my bum knee got better (well not better...but certainly had some relief) when I had a large Baker's cyst aspirated.  And it was good for more than a couple of weeks, but because the knee isn't repaired yet, it did come back.....so I'll see how long I can bare the pain and get it aspirated again until I can get to the ortho (long wait list) to get my gel injection.

Camping season is upon us!  WOO HOOO!!!!!  We are trying to get a spot at our favorite campground for this weekend, but we won't be able to call until the day before we want to pull in because they changed the rules this year.  So Thursday morning, 9 am, I'll be on the phone making a reservation.   Reading, Stitching and relaxing by the lake....sounds like a wonderful way to spend 4 days!

How has everyone been???  I've missed you!

Another IHSW and Travelling chart

So where to begin?  I haven't posted in a month??  Really?  Wow it doesn't seem that long. Time is flying by fast..it's almost the end of March!  But let me assure you, it still feels like November with this winter that is never going to end!  Geesh!  We had some nice Spring-ish weather last week enough to fool the tulips into peeking out of the ground, and then boom back came winter with cold temperatures and snow.  Oh well, spring will come.  It always does.

So I start first with my Sunday SAL that I am doing with Kati.  Silver Linings Humboldt Coast.  It's coming along.  I am starting to see the light at the end of the more than 1 year tunnel on this one.  I love stitching on it though, and it's so satisfying to see it emerge into what it's turning into.  My mom has already laid claim on it.  So I'll be happy to frame this and give it to her.

Not much progress happening on Elizabeth.  I haven't found a lot of time to stitch this last week, or even month for that matter.  Everytime I sit to do some stitching, something always comes up that I have to pack it all away.  Or I manage a few stitches and then that's as far as I get.   This week doesn't look too promising either, but I'm going to try.

I am excited about this little project.  I won a chance to stitch this little piece as a travelling chart..Bent Creek - Glad Tidings. So again ladies, I will be gathering names to pick from to send it on it's next leg of it's journey.  Thank you Andrea for all the wonderful treasures that you sent along with the chart!  I spring colours of the floss are perfect....I am going to stitch this year's "bunny bums" with one of these colours for sure!!  Just which one.  None of this will go to waste, that's for sure...and are much appreciated.  

So Ladies....leave a comment on this post and in the next couple of weeks I'll be drawing a name for the next destination.

IHSW update

So I did a little bit of stitching on the weekend, not as much as I had intended to do.  I actually had intended to do way more than I did over the Olympics but I really didn't.  Just got enthralled in the sports and didn't pay too much attention to what was in my lap....especially since I stitched for 2 1/2 hours on Elizabeth, only to realize I was stitching in the complete wrong area of the piece and it took a whole 10 minutes to frog it all out.  I was SOOO not happy, oh well...that's the way it goes sometimes.  10 minutes to 2.5 hr ratio makes one a little pissy!

So I sat and worked on Humboldt coast this weekend.  Not too much, I had planned on finishing this page that I am working on currently, but that didn't happen.  I ended up having some company, and had to put away the stitching.  By the time that they left I was tired and just sat and watched tv, plus hubby came home and had to tell me all about the fishing derby.  

I did a little Valentine piece as well,  this is a part of a freebie that can be found here but I adapted it to Carol's piece that she did last year. I'll be making this into a little ornament.

Speaking of Valentines, I was spoiled by my love this year.  My balloon is still floating :)

And last but certainly NOT least is my baby Lulu!  It's been a while since I showed a picture of her...not for lack of trying, she turns her head everytime I point a camera in her direction.  Here she sits quite content being pampered by Grandma :)

Mira started!

Sunday stitching was fruitful.  I worked on Humboldt Coast my Sunday SAL with Kati, and got lots done.

I am really looking forward to two fishing derbies that are coming up at the end of this month and the beginning of next month.  Two weekends where hubby is going to be out of town and ice fishing for the two weekends in a row...which means uninterrupted stitching!  Can't wait!!!

It is yet a meager little start, but it's a start.  I don't know whether I want to stitch on this thru the Olympics, or should I start a new "olympic stitching" project.  Do any of you start a new project for the Olympics?  I am an Olympics junkie as some may call me, but when I mentioned that I have to pick an Olympic stitching project...that took them over the edge!  LOL  I guess only us stitchy people understand.  Anyway this is my start on Mirabilia's Elizabeth.  I'm stitching her on Silkweavers "floral bliss"after a few floss tosses I like how the colours popped on this the best.

Hello Monday!

Monday's are normally not my favorite day of the week, but for some reason I woke up in an incredible mood today!  So it was a good day.

Didn't get much stitching time over the weekend, but I did manage to do a little.  I started the traveling chart on Friday and did quite a bit.  I am in love with this fabric.  It's Peppermint twist, it's got sparkles in it...and it's sooooo glittery...I wish the picture would reflect that.  I'll play around with the camera settings when it's finished so that you can see it more clearly.  Last year I bought the Lizzie Kate Christmas charts that she did as a set, and I think that I'm going to stitch them on this fabric.  They'll be so pretty on the tree with the light catching all the sparkle.  So that decision is made :)

We went to a bridal shower yesterday, so I really didn't get to stitch very much, a little over an hour, so my progress on Humboldt Coast isn't even worth showing but I will anyway.  :)

Just a reminder if you want a chance to stitch this Lizzie Kate traveling chart, you can sign up in my last post to add your name.

November's IHSW post

Oh what a great weekend for stitching!  It was cold and snowy on Saturday, so we hunkered down during the day and watched it blow in.  In the evening we did go out with friends for dinner and a couple of drinks, but during the day I was able to start a new project, do some baking and a little bit of tidying.  I really wish I had finished the ornament that I had started but I'll be able to finish that up this week.

I also stitched up the Plum Street Sampler section from this week.  A couple of crowns and a cross added this week, plus I improvised and corrected a mistake that was made in the chart.  I had already finished stitching the flower when I saw that there was a correction posted, but instead of frogging it all out, I improvised with some extra stitches, so mine is going to be a little different than what other's have stitched.  But I must say that I really love how it's looking, I was a little leery about my fabric choice at the beginning, but I have to say that I don't think that I could have chosen a better piece for it. 

Then finally is Humboldt Coast, my Sunday SAL with Kati.  I thought I would get farther with this as well on Sunday but we ended up going out late Sunday afternoon and didn't get home until late evening, and then by then I didn't have any mojo.  So I was what I managed in the early afternoon. 

This coming weekend is another hunting weekend, so after some shopping on Saturday it's going to be a stitchy weekend (and finishing  fingers-crossed).

It's November already?

Can you believe that it's November already??  I can't!!!  This year went by so fast!  the summer was like a blink,  fall is just as quick!  We are setting back the clocks this weekend (this I am NOT upset about) I can use that extra hour in the morning.  It is so dark at 5:30 in the morning it feels like it's the middle of the night!  Not that it's going to be much different an hour later, but still....it'll be closer to daybreak.

Hunting season has arrived at our house.  which means that I will become a hunting widow...which is not bad...because that's when I become a stitching goddess!  LOL  Hubby has already left for the weekend so that leave me and Mom and Lulu.  Yea...girls weekend...lots of stitching for me.  My plans for tonight....taking a nice long bubble bath and then stitching until midnight!  aaaahhhhh  heaven!

So yesterday was Halloween at the clinic, it was so much fun.  It was nice because almost everyone dressed up this year.  (must be new management...tee hee hee)  I was the Queen of Hearts this year, Shelley was the Mad Hatter, and Ashley was Alice.  We were definitely a hit, lots of patients asked us to pose together so they could take pics.

I've had a finish and some progress pics to show.  There's a Halloween piece that I was working on but it didn't get finished in time.  I am going to finish cross stitching it this weekend though and I'll post that when it's done.  I finished another Dimensions ornament Ho Ho Ho.  Love the way it turned out.  I have to one weekend this month do a finishing weekend as well, so that all these ornaments will make it to my tree this year.  I also started and am participating in Plum Street Samplers Sunday Mystery sampler...called Mary's Sampler 2.  There are two versions, 1 and 2...2 having more detail. It turns out to be a nice little morning stitch on Sunday mornings and then I move on to Humboldt Coast, which I haven't worked on for a few Sunday's but I did manage this past Sunday.

So that's it....That's about as caught up as I'm going to be today.....have a great Friday everyone!

Sunday stitching.

I had such a great day yesterday!  We have been working so hard lately that we decided to take a day just to relax...and for me...that means....you guessed it....STITCHING!!!

So with my stitching in hand and a PVR loaded with programs to watch I sat in my chair and worked on Humboldt Coast to my hearts content. 

I present the fruits of my labour....I love how this is stitching up!  

A Summer of Sundays

Oh dear!!!  My poor abandoned little blog!  Would you believe that I actually do visit my blog every day, not to post, but to look at my blog list to see what you all have written.   So I have been here in spirit and behind the screen/keyboard, just not posting.  I always have good intentions, but alas....here I am again, wondering if I still have friends out there in blogger-land. 

So what's happened since I last posted.....oh yea...I was walk, walk, walking.  And I did!  I walked every day during the challenge, and then when the challenge was over I stopped.  GRRRR at myself.  The six pounds that I lost I gained back with 4 more added to it.  GRRRR at myself.  I'll have to do some thinking and see how I'm going to tackle this weight thing once and for all.  My torn meniscus doesn't make it very easy to do too much exercise, so biking, walking and water are pretty much the only thing that I can handle right now.  but it's a good start...just have to talk myself into it...develop a strategy....and follow it through.  yep...that's all...that's all I gotta do....yep........  :o/

So how was everyone's summer.   We had the flood of the century here in Calgary in June.  We were fine where we were, we are up higher from the riverbanks.  However we did have some friends that lost quite a bit....but thank God they are fine and it was only "things" that they lost.

We spent lots of weekends camping, and doing day trips....lovely time together with hubby.  Which we needed for the times that are ahead.  Hubby opened his own company! Yes he did!  So proud of him, but it's lots of stress and lots of worry and lots of work but in the end it will all be amazing....and we are already starting to see the fruits of our (his) labour.

I did stitch...I was just too lazy to take them out of the q-snaps to take a pic, but today I finally did.  So here they all are.....

1st my Sunday SAL with Kati - Humboldt Coast.....every Sunday I work on this....I just love it.

 

 

Second is a Christmas ornie for Liam...it's Christmas Sock Monkey. It can be found in the 2010 JCS Christmas Issue.

 

 





 

Lastly there is another ornament that I stitched for me....first because of the sentiment and then secondly because of the cardinal.  It's a Dimensions kit.  I have another one as well, that I'm hoping to start and finish this weekend.

 

 



And finally I have to share a pic of the Queen of Shiba's....Lulu...it's been a while since I've shared a picture.  She turned 3 in August...my baby is all grown up  :)

Walk...walk...walk...

You may have noticed on my sidebar I have a new tag that directs you to Walk with Mel.  Well I have decided to walk with Mel...a mile a day....bad knee and all my other aches and pains. There were a couple of days that I even managed to do more than a mile, but with each mile that I walk, I also bike, or do a cardio or toning workout.  Mel was just the inspiration, motivation, kick start that I needed.  So now instead of talking about doing something about my fat ass, I'm actually doing something about it.  And so far it feels good.  It's a struggle still to get started everyday, because believe me, I would rather be in my stitching chair working on something, but I'm taking the time instead to work on me.  Long slow journey it will be, but I'm on the road.  I even got two jars for marbles.  One for the amount that I need to lose and then one empty one to move the marble over as I lose the weight.  So far...in two weeks...I've moved over 6 marbles!  I'll take that!!  Only 99 more to go!  LOL!

So as I was telling Kati, with being so busy most of the time, the only day that I really do have time to stitch is on Sunday...so the only project that I am really working on right now is humboldt coast, and here is my two week progress pic.  I didn't post last week..my bad!  So here it is in all it's glory.  This was jusst a quickie pic so sorry for the wrinkles.

So Late!

You know I look at my blog everyday, mainly to get to see what all of you are doing on your blogs. And I have stuff to show (updates, finishes) but do I do them?  Nooooo. Too busy?  probably not.  Nothing to say? I always have something to say (as my husband..lol) Too lazy?  Probably.  Argh.  Sorry...I don't mean to be neglectful...it just happens.  But here I am.  All set with some late photos as well.

First.  My Sunday SAL with Kati.  humboldt is coming along, slowly but surely.  We went away last weekend so I didn't get a chance to stitch on it last week, but this sunday I was able to have a little time and sat and stitched.  So here's the progress so far.  It's a cold rainy weekend here this weekend and hubby has to work Sat and Sun., boohoo but it will give me plenty of stitching time so hopefully after all the household chores and grocery shopping on Saturday the rest of the weekend will be dedicated to some serious stitching.

Second.  I finished Jaxon's Christmas ornament..well the stitching part of it, not the "finishing" part of it.  He's in an owl phase at the moment, so one day we can look back at all of them and we'll tell him the story of how he walked around hoo-hooing all the time.  He'll love that when he's 15...don't ya think?  lol I don't know who the designer is on this (sorry)  I found it on the internet and had it saved in my freebies folder, but with no details.

Third.  My TUSAL update.  Orts are from the two projects above, that's it.  Hopefully more next month.

Overdue update

I meant to update last week and then the time just got away from me.  So now this is HC (sunday SAL with Kati) after two Sunday's of stitching.  It's coming along.  And I'm pleased with my progress. 

Didn't do any other stitching during the week.  The weather has been amazing!! 
Feels like winter is finally over, we got all the yard work done....well almost all the yardwork. Still too cold at night to put out any bedding out plants so that still has to wait, but my tulips have blossoms on them, so they should open in the next day or two!  So excited about that, they are so pretty.   We got the patio all cleaned off and the furniture all washed off and freshened up.  Even had our first meal outside on the weekend.  I love eating outdoors. So I was very happy do all the work to end up at that point.   This weekend we're are bringing the 5th wheel out of storage and giving that a good once over before camping season starts.

wooo hooo Hellooooo summer!!!!! 

So I have my fabric in the qsnaps to start a little Christmas owl for Jaxon, and then after that it'll be the sock monkey for Liam. 

Nothing much else is going on.  Work is good, hubby is good, the weather is good.  Life is.....good!  :)

Hermit weekend/Sunday SAL

Well I meant to do way more than just a few hours of stitching on Sunday. I had planned to start stitching an ornament on Saturday and then work on Humboldt on Sunday.  Saturday we ended up going grocery shopping (which is our usual Saturday morning activity) then in the afternoon we had Jaxon's (my grand nephew) 2nd birthday. I can't believe that he's 2 already and that his little brother, Liam, is on the verge of standing and taking off on his own as well.  I swear that little one is going to walk before he can crawl!  They are a couple of precious boys!  So anyway, we were there, stayed for a couple of hours came home, took a nap...woke up and DID NOT feel like stitching at all.  I was in such a cozy state that I just curled up in my chair under my fur blanket and watched movies, and the Roughnecks game on tv (Lacrosse)  big fan!  We have season tickets to all the home games, but they were playing up in Edmonton last weekend so it was televised. (this coming weekend they have a home playoff game....Go Necks Go)  ANYWAY!!  LOL  So I didn't get any stitching done on Saturday. 

Sunday....great day....got up, Skyped with relative in Hungary, and friend in australia and a friend in Kelowna.  (Sunday was a busy skype morning)  Got dressed...went for a lovely brunch with the hubby and the mummy (hehe) came home and sat down to stitch on Humboldt.  Made a good bit of headway on it I think.

So this week I've picked out a couple of ornies that I want to stitch for the boys (yep their yearly ornies already)  For Liam I'm stitching a sock monkey ornament, a couple of years back there was on in the JCS ornie issue, and Liam's favorite toy for the last coupleof months is a sock monkey, so that will mark his ornie for this year.  And for Jaxon I'll be stitching some sort of owl.  There are lots of them out there so I just have to find one that speaks to me.  He loves owls and hoo-hoo's all day long. :) 

So am I the only person that thinks about Christmas and christmas ornies and christmas stitching at least every second day, if not every day?  I wonder sometimes if I'm obsessed, but I think that as stitcher's/crafter's don't we all think about it year round.  Interesting to know if it's just me, or are there others that share in my Christmas madness.  Now I do admit I am a little Christmas crazy...but I love it!

Blizzard stitching

So SAL Sunday comes along and in blows old man winter with a blizzard the likes of which we haven't seen in a while.  But it's typical for us to get a couple of good dumps of snow in March.  Hubby was out ice-fishing at a Derby when it blew in, it was so bad that the guides/organizers had to drive out onto the lake with the GPS to guide them all off the ice because they couldn't see their hands in front of their faces.  And then once they were off the ice they couldn't start for home because they couldn't see to drive, and the highways were closed.  So their little fishing party, piled into the camper...fired up the heat and made themselves some food and sat around and talked until the worst of it blew over.

For me.....well it was a good day.  I sat and stitched on Humboldt Coast and watched the snow falling.  Slid Breaking dawn 1, and then Breaking Dawn 2 into the blue-ray and had a great afternoon. I got a new mug this weekend that I had to share....I love these owls!  I love owls in general, so I'm so glad they're in vogue this year! :)

So this is the progress so far on HC, my Sunday SAL with Kati.  It's coming along...slowly but surely.  I love it...it's actually starting to look a little bit like something, you can see the waves now (sort of...lol).  Didn't have much of a chance to stitch at all the rest of the week, so that's the only progress that I have to show this week.

Had to share this pic of Lulu looking not too impressed with the weather, it's hard for a little dog to pee in big snow!  lol

Hurray for Hollywood!

I just love the Oscars!  I find it perfect stitching television.  And last night was no exception.  I get the room to myself as hubby is not a big fan, so he goes into the bedroom or whichever room he chooses to watch something on Discovery, or the sports channel, and sit back in my recliner with a cool glass of ice tea and my stitching and enjoy the show.  But not just the Oscars....oh no....I must watch all the red carpet shows to see what everyone is wearing.  Lovely lovely dresses...some not so hot, but that's ok.

So I got quite a bit done on Humboldt Coast, I would have liked to have made more progress but c'est la vie.  It's coming along slowly but surely.

Have a couple of finishes to report.  The first being one that I have had in my possession since it was released, but I hasn't gotten around to doing it.  But last weekend during hermit week, I started and finished it.  I just love it.  Not sure how I'm going to finish it yet, so I'll live with it for a bit and see what it developes into.
*** Edited...  This design is by Just another button company and it's called Lovebird.

Then this weekend I started and finished what seems to be the freebie of the month.  Merry Christmas Deer by The Little Stitcher.  Love this one too, and this will definitely be finished as an ornament.

I'm thinking about my trip to Mexico now, and I actually bought our sunscreen this weekend! Weeeeeeeee!!!! and a new pair of flipflops. In the next couple of weekends, I think I`m going to look for a new swimsuit.  Not that I really relish that fact, and I don`t really need one.....I just want one.  We`ll see, still have a while to think about it.

A good stitchy week!

Two finishes and a good chunk of the blue study done (white has been added to the study).  I would love to pick up Humboldt again tonight, but I won't.  I will be a good SAL partner and lay it to rest.  Which is still ok because I only have one day left to stitch in the 12 days of xmas!  yeah!  So they will definitely make it on my tree this year!

 10 Lords a Leaping - Prairie Schooler

11 Pipers Piping - Prairie Schooler 



Humboldt Coast -Silver lining WIP - SAL with Kati



The stomach flu is running rampant thru our clinic right now.  2 staff down last week, and 3 called in today!  In all this...knock wood....I feel fantastic!!!  In fact this past winter season I haven't even had as much as a sniffle!  Now I know with that I have just jinxed myself and I'll be deathly ill by the end of the week, but that's ok....I deserve a day off now and then too.  LOL

So tonight I settle in with my stitching and some good tv. 

A hermit post

Well I tried to get lots of stitching done over the last couple of weeks but it didn't really happen, with work and commitments and company, I was just glad that when I sat in my chair I could jsut rest.  So I didn't work on my 12 days at all. 

But Sunday!!!  Hockey is back!!!!  That means the my husband turns into a sports guy again and I get to stitch in peace!!!  So during the Sunday of this hermit weekend...I was able to get a good chunk of Humboldt done, the SAL with Kati.  wooo hoo.  I don't think this is going to look like much of anything besides a study in blues and greens until much much farther down the line....but until then...here it is :)

We have booked a trip to the Mayan Riveria, Mexico!!!  ARRIIIIBBAAAA!!!  We'll be going at the end of March and I'm so excited!  We haven't been to a real "fly away" vacation for a couple of years now. So it's long overdue.  I want it to be hot hot hot!  It was a cold day here in Calgary...and frankly I'm sick of it!  Still a long way to wait but I'm sure that the time will fly and it will be here in no time!!!  

New Sunday SAL

So Kati and I have been Stitching A Longing for I think a couple of years now.  Every Sunday it's our way of stitching together.  As you know we did the girls by CHS. and loved doing them.  So now that those were done we have decided to work on something a little different, but something that we have both been wanting to work on for years now.  So we decided on Humboldt Coast by Silver Lining!  wooo hoooo 

After pulling out a bunch of fabrics, and purchasing more than I should have to see what I wanted to stitch it on...I couldn't decide whether I wanted it to be a stormy day, or a blue skied day...I finally decided on a dawn or dusky time of day, with some blues and whites and hints of purple.  The fabric that I chose is an older piece of fabric that I had called Romance by Silkweavers.  It's a pretty piece of fabric, so now I have a whole assortment of blues and greys that I can use for future projects!  LOL

Any how!  Here's my progress after the first Sunday night of stitching.  Love my little bluey greeny blob! 

hmmm it looks like blogger changed my uploading picture thingy, so I had to go thru another way to get this up..a bit inconvenient, but oh well, I got it :)

So tonight I am going to work on and hopefully finished 9 ladies dancing. I want to get those 12 days done and then I'll think of something to stitch up on my other days other than Sunday.  I know there are a bunch of ornaments that I wanted to stitch last year and didn't get to, and I have Mirabilia's Elizabeth, all kitted up so maybe I'll throw in the qsnaps after the PS ornaments.