Showing posts with label Andy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andy. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

So many happy and wonderful things!

Well, it happened before my eyes... I turned another year older! Yes, I celebrated another birthday, and it was wonderful!
My dear husband took me out on a special date to a local antique mall. The weather was absolutely fantastic that day, and we enjoyed looking around the shop. I spotted some pieces of Johnson Brothers China that match the set I found at Goodwill years ago. The set is called "Hearts and Flowers". I just love this design. It's country, with a touch of Folk Art to it. My husband said I should have these pieces, as it was my special day, and they were priced just right. Aren't they lovely?!

We stopped and had a nice lunch, then it was off to a home and garden center. 
We picked up pretty bird pillows for our front wicker bench on the porch, along with two new big brown chairs to sit in out back near the pond my husband made in our yard.


Yes, he put a beautiful pond in, which already has tadpoles in it! It didn't take those frogs long to jump right in!
Here are some photos...



We were pretty fortunate that there were lots of rocks on our property in the woods... So we just hauled them over with the riding mower. Saved us a bunch of money!
Here are the baby wren birds in their nest, just before they fledged. It was so much fun watching them grow. It was hard to see them leave!

Here is another picture, if you look closely, you can see one of the babies on the cross, and another on the porch railing. I feel blessed I was their to witness them leaving the nest!
We also started our first garden since living here in this house in NC. We planted some tomato plants, pepper plants, green bean seeds, sunflowers, and wildflowers. Everything is looking good and everything is growing so far! 



Seeds are popping up everywhere! It's so exciting to me!

Here are my  flower plants, from seed!! ..

Some wildflower seeds I planted in a basket....

Remember my porch railing planters?! Well.... They have come a long way since my previous post! The morning glory seeds have sprouted and really have taken off! Look! :)

So pretty right?!! :)  oh and the honeysuckle in our yard smells heavenly...

A pretty ladybug cross our paths... It even had a heart shaped spot on it's back. It must have known I have a thing for hearts!

Haven't stitched too much more on our anniversary sampler... But have done half of my husband (hee hee ) :)

Been busy working on granny squares for donation blankets for veterans through the ministry at our church...
Red , white and blue of course!

Something wonderful my husband surprised me with!! He custom built me a table for my Janome sewing machine!!
He knows I have been struggling for years because it sits too high on the table I was using for sewing. 
He made me a table out of pine where the machine drops down into the table. He even cut the hole so I can use the lift bar for the presser foot! I have never been able to use that before! 
Yes we could have purchased a ready made table for my machine, but they are extremely expensive. This saved us tons!
My husband is so talented, he amazes me day after day the things he can do.
I love him so very much. He is so good to me! Here are some pictures of my new table. It is still unfinished, my husband will be painting it for me in the near future. Probably in the color white. 
Now I can sew sitting at the proper height! No more sitting on a bunch of pillows to reach the machine!



My birthday cake! :)

I love celebrating my birthdays, perhaps for some as they get older that may sound strange. To me I feel each year is a blessing. Every year I get to be here is another year to learn, love, live, and give. I feel blessed to be the age I am.

Speaking of birthdays... A very special bird turns 12 years old today!!
Happy Birthday to our Andy the Bird!! 
Cake to follow... As I am putting this post at almost 3am! 

Blessings!
Louise xx


















Thursday, March 26, 2015

Beautiful Day Number 85!

Hello and happy 85th day of this year !
I am keeping up with making one mini granny square a day for each day of the year. I started with purples because I love purple so much! I have added greens and yellows now too. I think this looks good, and sort of reminds me of pansy colors. Just love pansies!

I have finally finished a long time Piece called "Briar Rabbit" by Lori Markovick of La D Da designs. I love this bunny , so very sweet! Someone noticed I had four stitches left to put in, I did that after my picture I took ;) isn't it darling! Everyone knows how much I love my bunnies ❤️

Took a drive today, and was happy to see the cows are out grazing on this beautiful day! I love where I live :)

I snapped a picture of our sweet bird Andy as he was eating. He is such a cutie! What a messy eater though. He is a very sweet hand tamed bird who loves kisses, and has amazing whistling talents. You can see his videos on Facebook. His page is called "Andy The Bird". Be prepared to be very entertained by this feathered love :)




I hope you are all enjoying this splendid day!
Louise xx




Friday, January 2, 2015

Happy New Year 2015! Long Post, picture heavy!

It has been a wonderful year. Started off with lots of glorious snow so I could build our snowmen (and women!) family. Our Son graduated the U.S. Naval submarine school, and our daughter graduated high school. We had a wonderful Beach vacation. We were blessed for the times our Son was able to come home, and we could be together as a family once more. We traveled to New York for a family wedding
spending lots of great time with both our families. Took a trip to CT. Took trips to Saint Mary's GA, and Florida for another very special wedding! Spent an amazing Thanksgiving together at home, all four of us ! Thankful the second doctor helped me to feel better after my surgery. Becoming closer to our priest and parish. Our Son meeting a wonderful young lady that we cannot wait to meet! Buying our first ever brand new car... So exciting, first one in 28 years of marriage! Feeling blessed for our beautiful town and home. Although there were some sad events, we pray and know God is always watching over us all. Sad to see our sweet bird Misty pass away on Christmas Eve. First Christmas our Son couldn't be home, but it will make those special times ahead that we can be together that much better! This year, I plan to be the best I can be, not only for myself, but others. Give more, love more, pray more, and always, always thank God for my blessings. Love to each and everyone of you, and may your new year be filled with nothing but blessings!

I realized after looking at all the  many pictures I took, I was one very busy lady! I do have a couple of finishes to show. I know I haven't posted in a while..been just that busy! These pictures are in no particular order....
Here are my Christmas cookies, baked a special batch for our Sailor Son!
 We have a new pet betta fish that joined our family, her name is Snowflake :)
 I baked cinnamon salt dough ornaments for bowl fillers, wreaths and ornaments.
 I crocheted a couple of these scarfs. I like red best!
 I whipped up some needle cushions on my sewing machine and filled them with crushed English Walnut shells for stuffing...
 More needle cushions that were gifts. As you can see in the picture, I purchased an old oil spout to put on a quart sized mason jar. Perfect for filling cushions!
 My little men with painted faces :)
 A pretty "Prim" garland using the cinnamon salt dough ornaments...hearts too!

 I fabric strip wreath with my little men :)
 purchased a new hoop! Although not wooden, I have found this hoop to be fantastic for stitching and holding fabric taught.
 Our "Andy" the bird looking pretty in a basket :)
 Our sweet little Parakeet "Misty", who passed away on Christmas Eve :(


  Something special I stitched for Thanksgiving..this was a freebie design. This design is by Heartstring Samplery titled "It was Enough". You can find the freebie HERE
 A little Christmas ornament I stitched up for a friend...
 An amazing cross stitch kit I received from my dear friend and neighbor Suzan for Christmas! This is called Family ABC's. A kit by Design Works.I just started stitching on it! :)

I have discovered pomegranates!! Soooo Yummie!

 I am a big tea lover..look what I found over the holidays. YUM!
 We finally unpacked a lot of our "Annie" collection...lined them up the stairs to the sewing room! I think they look happy :)
 We have a Christian Ministry in our town. I like to donate things, then venture inside to see if there is anything of interest that I just might need. :) Look what I came home with one day while visiting there. Cross stitch books, magazines, and a big linen tablecloth that I can cut up and use for stitching! All this under ten dollars! Magazines are always free there. Such a treat!
 Fall baking I did. Apple pie, black cat cookies, and pumpkin cookies :)
 Our sweet bunny "Charleston" peeking from behind the pumpkin to say hello!
 stitching on my Thanksgiving piece (picture further up is the finished piece!)
 Our Raggedy Ann Tree...
 Our Family tree..holds so many memories with all the ornaments so dear to us...

 A sampler bag I stitched...had so much trouble putting that zipper in!!

 My husband surprised me with a wonderful new standing OTT floor lamp. It has a wonderful magnifier and chart clip/holder too! I am loving it..makes stitching so much easier!
 A giant yummie Gingerbread man I baked and decorated :)
 knowing our Son could not be home for Christmas, I couldn't stand the thought of him not having a little Christmas tree to decorate his room. So we mailed him one! <3 br="">
 Our Sons boots at home on Thanksgiving. We were so happy to have him home..and I loved every minute of cooking for him!
 As children grow older, things change. With our Son being in the military, its hard. So many birthdays missed, and special events and holidays too. Although we are apart, our hearts never really are. We are family, and will always have those special bonds. I stitched this to help me get through Christmas without our Son being home.


 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was so nice to be home all together as a family. Christmas was hard. Very hard. Not having our Sailor Son home for the first time in all these years. It was much different. Although we did get to skype..thank goodness for technology. It still didn't keep the tears from falling though. Family is important to me. I love my husband and children dearly. I know that time must march on and life is always about changing. I have to learn to accept these changes and embrace them...for I know great things lie ahead! I consider myself very blessed. I am happy for my life and family.
I want to try really hard this year to stitch at least one ornament a month..between doing all my crocheting and other stitching too! I think it would be so neat to have a collection of ornaments from this year that has just begun.
Now lets see if I can stick with my plan! :)
I wish you all a beautiful New Year, and may only the best come your way.
Blessings to all of you,
Louise xx

Celebrating 60 Years!

I am celebrating 60 years of me! How blessed am I that God gave me all these years. This is One Stitch at a Time by La D Da. Stitched 2/2 ...