The Last Time....

Autumn has arrived!

My favorite season is here! I just love this time of year. The cool crisp air, the smell of goodies baking in the oven, seeing all the pumkins around town... Oh just to take it all in!

I have already baked an apple pie....

And oh! It is soooo delicious!! But I need to stop eating so much of the goodies and start working out on my treadmill... I will be starting today as it just arrived . No more walking outside worrying about stray dogs and weather! I have no excuses now!

I have been stitching more on my Harriet Elizabeth Coe by Brenda Gervais.. Here is where I am at..

I am absolutely in love with this piece!! I truly love sitting with my tea and stitching every chance I get on this design. Sooo enjoyable!

With the Fall upon us now a new member has entered our family. I had a choice of colors and that was quite a difficult decision .. I chose black. Although I liked the cinnamon red, I felt safe going with a color that would blend with any decor changes I made in my kitchen. Here she is!

A new professional series 6 qt kitchen aide stand mixer. These are by far the greatest mixers to work with. (In my opinion) I had a smaller version in white that was 24 years old and just now part of a knob broke off (just a little plastic piece)... But it was still running after 24 years!! They are pretty much workhorses. They may seem expensive but when they last that many years, well, you surely are getting your money's worth.

I had some visitors in our yard recently. Praying mantis! Interesting little bugs... Or should I say big bugs!

We celebrated our daughters 19th birthday! Our daughter is such a blessing to us.

Wishing you all a wonderful Fall Season! Happy Baking!

Louise

Small Patriotic Finish

Grand Olde Flag by Heart In Hand

Never forget

My Summer

Our summer has been filled with many travels. Attending weddings, visiting family and friends which took us over many miles and through many states.

While traveling I managed to make yet another little blanket. Babies seem to be popping up everywhere! This one is done in traditional baby colors. Again, a simple large granny square.

I also worked many hours on a stitched piece which I presented to my neighbor and friend Suzan. She has been very good to me and my family since we have moved here and I love her to pieces! I wanted to make her something special. I dated it 2012 for the year we became friends. This is called "Variegated Friendship Sampler" and it is designed by Ursula Michaels. It was a freebie originally given out by DMC and at one time was featured in The Cross Stitcher magazine August 1994 issue. From what I am told the design is no longer available and I have already passed my chart on to help another stitcher out. I am thankful that friendly Stitchers helped me by sending me some of the variegated threads I needed. Many of them have been discontinued. This piece really did come out pretty!

Along our travels I visited my childhood home. This is the home I grew up in!

While visiting, one brother gave me his Raggedy Andy doll from childhood. He needs major repairing, which I will do soon, all his stuffing is falling out! Another brother gave me an old Singer sewing machine he found at the end of someone's driveway for trash... I also brought home two dolls from when I was little... Baby beans, so cute!... And my first doll dated 1965, by The Effanbee company.

I was so happy that we were able to spend one day on our travels with our military Son. He surprised me with a very special hat! I love him and miss him so much. It's hard not having the family all together anymore. He has been in the military two years now and it still hasn't gotten any easier as far as missing him goes. A mothers love never ends ❤️

I was also given an antique crochet bedspread made by my maternal great grandmother. Although she had left pieces undone, it will be treasured by me always. It really is a stunning piece! I wish I could figure out how to finish it. It is a very old piece. I feel honored it was given to me! I thought it odd that the pieces missing were not along the edge, but sort of on the inside parts....

I visited with my dear friend Lillian who is now 90 years old. I love her sooo much!! She is an amazing quilter. I took some pictures of her quilts to share with you..

While visiting with Lillian I took notice that she still has the Angel doll sitting on her couch that I made her many, many years ago! 

Some summer creatures we came across.....

A frog...

A cricket!

A turtle too....

It's been a really good summer except for the fact that I am still not feeling well. A trip back to the doctor, this time a gastroenterologist. I deal with constant pain and can barely sleep through the night. He thinks the gallbladder surgery messed up my system and I am one of the unlucky few whose system did not adjust as it should. I am on a couple of different medicines now hoping they will help. It's been over a week and so far not much luck. I am upset but trying to be positive. It's hard having constant pain and not getting sleep at night because of it. It wears on me. Pain in my upper stomach and back. This has been on and off since last year. The doctor thinks I have post cholecystectomy syndrome. Something to do with the bile in my system. I have to drink these packets mixed with water two times a day, and let me tell you, it is the most awful tasting stuff I have ever had to take in my life!

I go back to the doctor in six weeks. If this and the other medicine doesn't help, I guess more tests will be done.

Sooooo.....

I am thankful I have a loving and supportive husband. I am also thankful I don't have to run out to work and can be at home. I couldn't imagine having to hold a job with this daily pain.

I am trying to focus on stitching to keep my mind off of of not feeling well.

I have decided to stitch my first reproduction sampler! I have started "Harriet Elizabeth Coe" by Brenda Gervais. I am already loving the eyelet stitched, yes I'm hooked!!

Well that's my updates for now. Looking forward to brighter days ahead. I will keep praying and know I have to be pain free for good one of these days!

Blessings to you my dear friends ❤️

Louise xx

Giveaway you cannot miss out on!

Stop on over at Hazel's blog at Quietly Stitching for a chance to win a lovely giveaway!
Also catch up on all that's new, and see her beautiful stitching in progress too. :)

CLICK HERE!

Louise

Sugar and Spice!

And everything nice, that's what little girls are made of! Every newborn baby girl should have a pretty new baby blanket!

I have just completed crocheting a new blanket for a special little Angel who will be arriving in a few short months. 

Pretty purples, pinks, blues and greens.

Such a soft snuggle blankie! ❤️

Pretty scalloped edging......

I used Hobby Lobby's own brand of yarn. It's one of my favorites! I made one big granny square. It's simple and works up quite quickly.

I am sure the new parents and baby will be happy! :)

My daughter is having her heart checkup this week. Please keep her in your prayers. We never take for granted how well she has been doing all these years since her open heart surgery when she was born. She is a blessing to us, and God has been so very good to us. She has been doing well for almost 19 years and We pray it continues❤️

Louise xx

Pinwheel piecing

My purple and green pinwheel piecing is complete! Here are my squares laid out on the floor before sewing them together. I think they came out sooo pretty and I am very pleased. I will be putting one or two borders along the edges to make my quilt bigger. 

I want to wish you all a very happy 4th of July! We will be spending this evening celebrating with friends and neighbors, good food and fireworks. We are ever so thankful for our military Son and his service to our great country. We miss him so much! 

I baked a bunch of chocolate chip cookies for this evening and also chocolate dipped strawberries

Blessings!❤️

Louise

New addition at our home!

I am beyond excited! I am now the proud owner of a Singer Featherweight sewing machine! She was born in November of 1946. She is in beautiful shape. She came with attachments, foot pedal, extra bobbins, and carry case. She also has a two year warranty.

She is small and perfect for sewing get togethers on the go!

I named her "Madelyn" after my great Grandmother, although I changed the spelling a little bit :)

Here she is!

Isn't she pretty! I love her!

I have already used her to sew together some small pillows that I have previously cross stitched for a patriotic display....

I know I will be using this machine a lot in the near future too. I have so many ideas for things I want to make.

We celebrated my husbands birthday yesterday. I baked him a vanilla cake.

And we spent some time in our yard. Noticed some pretty flowers have been popping up!

Lots of blackberries around too.....

We went out for a nice dinner then back home for cake. It was a nice day. Missed our military Son once again of course :(

Working on my "Rabbit Folk" by Notforgotten Farm. Such a sweet design.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Louise ❤️

It been a while....

We have been very busy the past couple of months! Preparing for our daughters graduation from high school (where have the years gone?), a trip to the beach in Florida, my birthday, purchasing acreage of land, stitching, crocheting, decorating our home. It's been a whirlwind of business!

This will be a picture heavy post so get ready! 

My sweet Sailor Son surprised me with this beautiful crucifix necklace for my birthday!

A beautiful stitched piece from my dear friend Suzan... Isn't it darling!!

I was surprised with a bouquet of fruit delivery at my door from my dear friend Jackie! I also received many other gifts and cards too. My dear husband and daughter took me out to dinner and we had a delicious ice cream cake. Yum!

I have been volunteering for the church, baking for funerals and other events. I also help out to set up and serve the families after the funeral masses...

I know this post isn't going to be in perfect order, but this is the land we just purchased next to our house. It is the cul de sac lot next to our house. We are very excited, now we have about 3 acres of land! Would love to get a goat one day... Maybe... :)

A wren made a nest in a basket on our front porch! Here are te speckled eggs ...

Here are the 5 babies! Sadly only 3 of the 5 babies survived and fledged the nest. They were so cute ❤️

Our Son turned 24. Sure missed him on his birthday. I baked him cookies an a cake in a canning jar and shipped it off to him with hugs and kisses! ❤️

Our "Andy" turned 10 years old!

Pictures from our beach vacation, woke up to the sun rising every morning ❤️

Something I stitched...

A baby blanket I crocheted...

Another baby blanket I crocheted..this one in multi colored blues. Love this one and the way it turned out!...

I stopped in at Dunroven house and purchased beautiful blue check fabric and recovered our dining room chairs.

I also sewed topper curtains to match and a tablecloth. Here the table cloth is folded up so it looks like a runner...

New babies in our house! White Parakeets! "Snowball" and "Crystal"

Our daughter graduated high school! Where have the years gone?? 

More things I stitched, for my daughters graduation...

Some miscellaneous pictures I took....

Our front porch, love sitting out here! ❤️

This is what I am on the hunt for. This is a traditional singer featherweight sewing machine. (Portable) I am hoping to obtain one really soon! 

Isn't it beautiful!

Well that's all for now, 

I hope this post finds you all doing well.

Blessings,

Louise❤️