Autumn

Greetings!  I am so happy to welcome the arrival of fall!  It is my favorite time of the year.  This has been a year filled with joy and sorrow.  In March I was able to go to Olympia, WA for the birth of my granddaughter, my 3rd grandchild.  Also in March, I was informed by my oldest DD that my 4th grand child will be arriving in October.  It's October now, come on baby!  We had a fun summer filled with a lot of family time.  My mother, while no better, is also no worse.  Joy!  The sorrow arrived on Labor Day.  My brother's wife was killed in a car accident.  My 4 yo niece miraculously survived with no major injuries.  She and her two brothers must now grow up in a world without their beautiful, wonderful, extraordinary mother.  A tribute to Elizabeth was written in our local paper Virginian Pilot.  She was more than a sister in law to me, she was my dear friend.  We met in high school and she and my brother have been together since 1987.  I've mentioned her before on this blog two years ago (here) and when she brought me stitchy gifts from Paris. 


I have not touched my stitching in many, many months.  I'm sad to say that I am falling victim to old age loss of eyesight.  I have bought readers.    I am close to the end of Red House Sampler, on the border now.  It will be dedicated to my sister in law.


Some sewing has been accomplished:

Candle Mats

Tiny Treat Bag

My adventure in knitting has had highs and lows. 

Hat for baby Matthew - knitted in the round using the Magic Loop method.  Yarn is Merino 5 from Crystal Palace Yarns. Colorway is 2302.  Pattern was free with yarn purchase.

Magic Loop Baby Socks - Pattern purchased on Ravelry. Yarn is Bernat Baby.  I tried these in the Merino 5 but I kept ripping and restarting so I thought I should practice before trying again with the good stuff.

I also knitted another baby afghan which I gave to my cousin in law as a shower gift (forgot to snap a pic).  I have been struggling with this knitting thing!  Seems I lack concentration skills, must be the ADD.  My husband says I have too many things going on and it's true....I do love to multi-task!


In August, my laptop suddenly would not turn on.  This was devastating because I am totally addicted to blogs, Facebook, Ravelry, etc.   had not backed up my photos in a long time.  I had lost all of 2011 and most of 2010.  Even if I were able to run out and replace the thing, I could not replace all of my lost photos.  A tech guy at work told me to bring him the hard drive and he would try to get the pictures for me.  My DD told me to take out the hard drive and put it back in.  I took out the hard drive and that was all that had been done for almost 8 weeks.  I put it back together Monday to take it to the "big box electronic store" to see if they could salvage my photos.  For the heck of it, I decided to try to turn it on and guess what?  "Shut Up!" you say?  I'm not kidding, it came on and has worked fine since.  I'm told maybe it overheated when I was using it under a blanket so I wouldn't disturb my sleeping hubby?  Who knows, but it works and Yes, I have backed up the photos!
August also brought us a visit from "Irene".

We lost one tree, tons of limbs, and power for 3 days!  It could have been much worse!

Oh and another joy I almost forgot to mention.....I have a new job!!  I left the Dept. of Corrections to ride down the road of the Dept. of Transportation. I am so happy at my new job! Less gas, less stress, less work, less drama, and more money!!  Does it get any better than that?
I will leave you with this family photo taken in July while my DD and her children were here for the entire month!  After all, family is the most important part of our lives.  Cherish them!

I love my family!!

Hello from the West Coast!

I am currently in the state of Washington.  A LONG way from Virginia and I have not posted in forever!!!  What have I been up to??  Besides the usual "this time of year" paperwork, I have been readying my life for a two week trip to visit my daughter, K, in Olympia, WA.  Her second child, my third grandbaby, was due on March 26 and my plan was to arrive here on the 23rd.  While working, planning, and waiting, I have been sewing and stitching fervently for my new granddaughter.  Since my last post, I have learned to knit!  The last thing I need in my life is another hobby, but since it's yarn related I'd say it doesn't really count as a new hobby.  K is a crochet queen so I had to make something for the new baby that was different than what she could make herself.  I still need a lot of practice, but here is the finished blanket:

I can't wait to make another one.  I have several opportunities this year including another grandbaby.  My daughter, H, is expecting her second child in October.
K is not very fond of traditional quilts.  She does not find them warm and snuggly.  Last month, I attended the Mid-Atlantic quilt show in Hampton, Va and I found an idea for the perfect quilt for her:

I used flannel for the quilt top and did a tossed up nine patch.  It was fairly easy.  I used a minkee like fabric for the back, no batting, and I tied the top to the bottom.  K loved it!!  I knew she would! 

I brought so many things here for her, for my grandson, and for the baby.  Some from me, some from her sister, some things she had left at my house.  I have plenty of room in my baggage for the trip home.  We're going to find a quilt shop or two, cross stitch store, yarn store...for me to check out while I am here.  If you know of any I should check out in the Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle area, please comment!!  I'll be here until April 4.  I arrived late on the 23rd.  On the 24th after my K's doctor appointment, we ventured to downtown Seattle so I could see the Space Needle and we could try to walk K into labor. 

We walked.......

and walked......................

and walked.......

and the very next day at 2:45 pm..........

Kiley Olivia arrived!!!  Thanks for visiting!!!!

TUSAL #1

Hi Everyone~
Today is the first new moon of 2011 which means it's time for my first Totally Useless Stitch A Long post.  The TUSAL is hosted by Daffycat.  I'm so glad I discovered Daffycat and this stitch a long.  This is a stitch a long that I can actually keep up with!

It's not too late to join in the fun.  Just visit Daffycat's blog to sign up...but don't wait too long, sign ups will end soon.  All you have to do is fill your ort jar and post a pic of it on your blog on new moon dates.  I have the dates posted on the sidebar of this blog.  I have not found the perfect ort jar yet but in the spirit of creativity, I photographed my ort jar with my skiing penguin to represent January.  So, I 'm not super creative but sometimes I try, lol!
In an effort to "meet" more people and find new blogs to follow, I plan to visit all the bloggers who leave a comment on Daffycat's new moon posts AND leave a comment!  Now that is going to be a challenge!  So if you are here because of that, thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment and let me know you were here! Happy Stitching!

Year End Summary

One year ago I posted my goals for 2010 on the sidebar of this blog.  How did I do?
1)My Cross Stitch goals were: Red House Sampler and Christmas ornaments.  I did not finish RHS but here is a pic of where I am on it.  Sorry for the poor quality of the photo!

I had hoped to finish this in 2010 but other projects distracted me.  I at least wanted to finish everything but the border before I go back to work on Monday but that's not going to happen.  I did not stitch any Christmas ornaments but I did stitch one Blackbird Designs Halloween stocking.

Unfortunately the haunted house bit the dust. It was accidentally knocked off the mantle.

2)My Quilting goals were:  Finish Washtub Scrappy....This project was my very first attempt at a quilt.  It has been quilted but needs to be binded.  I am waiting for a binding lesson from my daughter, Heather.

Denim Quilt for grandson.....easy and finished the same day it was started.

Quilts for Hubby or youngest daughter.....not accomplished.  DD says she doesn't want one but she'll get one eventually despite herself! lol  I made another quilt top.  It too has been quilted but needs binding.

I made a Christmas table runner top.  I'll have to plan to quilt and bind it in the coming year.

I

 I also made several tote bags, treat bags, pillowcases, and 12 quilt squares for my Underground Railroad Sampler quilt.

3)My Crochet goals were:  Black and gray scarf for youngest daughter...done!

 Baby afghan for a coworker.....done!

I wanted to make baby doll afghans for my granddaughter and my niece but I didn't.
I did finish this afghan which was started in 2009 as a "take-a-long" project.  I worked on it this summer while driving to, from, and around PA.  It was so close to being finished that I continued with it until it was done.  I love this stitch pattern.  This fall I found some green yarn on clearance and bought it to make another.  It will become my 2011 "take-a-long" project.

4)My Scrapbooking goals were:  Finish 2009 family album, finish family Christmas album, finish grandson's first year album, and finish granddaughter's first year album.  Despite a day crop and two weekend crops, I did not meet any of these goals.  The only time I really devoted to scrapbooking this year was at the crops I attended.
I guess I got a lot accomplished this year.  I'm working on posting my 2011 goals to my sidebar. Like I always say.....so many hobbies, so little time! I am ringing in the new year as I always do....watching the Twilight Zone marathon on the SyFy channel, with one exception this year.  We are going down the road to Heather's house to ring in the new year. The last time I left home on NYE was to ring in 2000!  Not as much stitching going on this year end but something better!  I am so thankful to bring in the new year with all of my family together.  Happy New Year!  I wish you health and happiness, and lots of time for your hobbies!
Ciao!

Williamsburg Christmas

Happy Thursday!  I love taking this week off each year.  I call it my holiday "stay-cation"!  It's even better this year since my daughter and her family are here with us.  Yesterday was my birthday and as usual I wanted to spend the day in Colonial Williamsburg so off we went.  Thank goodness it wasn't as cold as last year but there was snow and slush everywhere.  I love seeing Colonial Williamsburg decorated for Christmas but I knew I couldn't wait to see the snow and the decorations together, so 18th century!!

The Governor's mansion. People were building snowmen on the lawn.

Icicles were everywhere!

DH and me...the birthday girl

My daughter Kristin and her husband and son.....with baby girl on the way!

Nice patriotic touch!

This was on the same house as the flag wreath.  Patriots for sure!

Walking.......

Painting.......

So cute!  The door is nice too.

The blue ribbon winner

Pretty wreaths on all of the doors and windows

Less than two days left in 2010, I've got to get busy stitching Red House sampler.  It was started one year ago today!  Ciao!