Lots and Lots!

Busy busy end of October! First let me show you my stitching updates....

Here is my "Dashing" by Birds of a Feather, slowly coming along! Stitching this on 28 count mushroom even weave lugana.

I am also keeping up with the Plum Street Samplers "Mary's sampler"....

Here is where I am so far on this one....also stitching this on 28 count lugana even weave ...

Here is my newest stitching spot in our living room...

We received a very loud knock at our door one evening.....

What a surprise!!!! It was our military Son (aka big Brother) I screamed!! I was so happy and excited to see his handsome face. I have missed him so much. It had been almost a year since he has been home. He was able to be home for a full week..much to our delight! 

We carved the pumpkin...and roasted the seeds...

We built a wonderful Bon fire in our backyard and made s'mores as a family!

Wonderful river rocks our next door neighbor gave us to build our bonfire and make it pretty!...

A picture of me and my Son by the fire at night :)

Oh how I didn't want to let him go back to the Navy but I knew he had to go. We all loved having him home again and having our family as one ....in the same place at the same time! I don't think a million kisses and hugs was enough now that I think about it...I want to give him a million more!

I didn't cry as he quickly left for fear of upsetting him, but I think I know why he so quickly left. As his car drove away, well that's when I broke down and cried! I love my children so very much!

Our bunny Charleston dressed up for Halloween as a chicken!

Mr. Pumpkin became a sailor :)

Our daughter dressed as Morticia Adams!

We live in the country and only about six trick or treaters came by! Ugh!!! That means all that leftover candy......

The leaves of the season are just beautiful this time of year in North Carolina! Here are some pictures I took when I was out and about the other day..

This is by the front of our house:

And leaves I had gathered in my yard...

And around town....

We are not sure we will be able to be together as a family for Thanksgiving. I am grateful for the time we had together recently and am thankful for that. It certainly is hard on military families, especially during the holiday season times. Our heros sacrifice so much. We need to be reminded that while most of us are together enjoying each other's company, there are others that are not. They are doing this because they want to, for all of our freedoms and to protect us. When you say grace this Thanksgiving please remember all our soldiers who cannot be with their families this year. Also, the families...It's very difficult because we love and miss them so much! We all miss them.

Blessings to you!

Thank you for stopping by my spot on the web,

Louise

Updates! :) Pic Heavy

Hello Friends!
I thought I would catch you up a bit with what has been going on in my little part of the world. :)
Tonight was a wonderful night filled with carving the pumpkin and roasting the seeds. The weather is fantastic, nice and cool. I hope that it lasts a long time! We have our back door open and the breeze coming inside is absolutely delightful. I have been enjoying today, spending time with the family and working on my crochet. I did also take a nap! Love these sort of days :) Perhaps I shall have a cup of cocoa in a bit.
Here is our lovely pumpkin, who now has a darling face!

My daughter waited impatiently for the pumpkin seeds to be roasted in the oven. I rinsed them well, sprinkled them with coarse sea salt, then baked them at 250 degrees till crispy. They are delish!

The other day I took a trip over to a second hand shop. I found the neatest Vera Bradley purse in a design I have wanted for quite a while. These purses can be pricey, but second hand, at only 14 dollars I thought was not too bad.

While out shopping, I found the most beautiful Christmas cards at BJ's Wholesale club. They really are gorgeous, including envelopes, a really good buy!

I like to find cards that actually SAY Christmas...after all, that is what we are celebrating ..the birth of Christ our Lord!
Earlier today, I received a package in the mail ...some charts I had been waiting on. I love them!

Merry Christmas by Carriage House Samplings, and Bless the Harvest Sampler by Primitive Needleworks.
I did notice that Bless The Harvest Sampler does not have the letter "J" in the sampler. I did not see that when ordering it..I am assuming it is representative of how they did samplers years ago..leaving a letter or two out? Not sure..but I love the chart!

Not too long ago, I also received another small package from a family member up north. They are sending me things from my past..things that they thought I might like to have. I had forgotten all the things I used to do as a teenager, I guess I have always had a crafty side. Most people know I love dolls, especially Raggedies! I made these dolls from a pattern in a book from what I can recall..many years ago. I think I was about 12 years old when I made these little dollies :)

One of them never received her head of hair..I shall have to work on that for her. I will treasure them forever!
Another surprise in the mail was a chart from my dear sweet friend Kerribeth. She is always so good to me!
The chart is titled "My Favorite Things" and as you can see, spotlights my sweet dear Raggedy Ann doll. :)

I have been working on my crochet afghans this evening. While others finish their blankets in no time at all..I think mine will take years! I don't stick with one thing very long...
But, here they are..coming along, coming along!
Blue and white ripple:

And my 70's blanket...That's what my husband calls it..I call it kind of ugly..I don't like the colors I chose! But, I will keep on...it is really growing in size and will be very warm! This is a crochet Granny Stripe:

Some people know from years ago I love turtles..well, I love a lot of things..but the turtle love started back in high school! I found this bag some time ago at TJMaxx..a store near us. Turtles all over it! It is very large and perfect for holding my yarns and afghan. A bonus is the money paid for it went to charity. :)

Blessings to you!

New Things

I decided to take a little drive today and treat myself. I was headed over to a local stitch shop, then decided to stop off at one of my favorite Antique Shops on the way called Enchanted Antiques . Oh my! This shop is absolutely filled to the brim with the most gorgeous things! I couldn't wait to see what they had put out for the Fall/Halloween season. I was not disappointed, the shop was beautifully decorated once again!
I found two little things that I could not leave without. A little "Prim" (as in primitive!) doll..isn't she ADORABLE! I love the little stitched saying on her dress..a simple little "Be You". Sweet!
Then, as I meandered around..look at the little bag of itty bitty candy corn! Are they not adorable? I believe they are made out of some sort of resin and are painted and sanded for that time worn look

...I could not do too much shopping for I knew if I wanted to get to the stitch shop and then to the church for my daughter's arrival from school I was short on time. I was busy before this food shopping and having lunch with my wonderful son.
Then..I headed over to the stitch shop and picked up two magazines I have been wanting. Just Cross Stitch Halloween Collection and Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments issue for this year. I have to say, they are both fantastic! Most recently I had seen this adorable chart by Bent Creek titled "Quaker Moon". I had picked that up also.
It was a very good day! I cannot wait to decorate for the Fall season. I am thinking I am done with the hot humid weather that Florida brings. Some new things happening on the home front..but will have to wait a bit to mention what they will be. They are of the good sort of things though :)
I am presently working on a Lorri Birmingham Design that must get finished before the end of October. It is for a darling baby that will turn one soon. We are invited to the birthday and look forward to giving this sweet little Angel something to hang in her room......my progress so far:

Many color changes in Lorri B. Designs...but well worth the effort. The designs usually end up being beautiful!
This design is from this leaflet:

While I was out shopping with my son, we came across some interesting packs of chewing gum. I think this is new, I have never seen it before..we decided to try it out. WOW! Tastes just like eating apple pie. (hee hee!) This will be very good for my diet..by the way, I have lost 10 pounds so far! :)

I came home from my little outing and was surprised to find a treat in my mailbox as well! My sweet stitching friend Kerri sent me a Raggedy Ann pattern by Gloria and Pat Designs. Thank you Kerri!!
Well, that's about all for now. I am going to go do a little stitching for tonight and go through my new magazines..I cannot wait to look at all the beautiful new designs the pages hold!
Blessings to each and everyone of you!
Louise

Pumpkin Freebie Finish

This is a little Pumpkin freebie that I just finished up tonight.
This is a design by The Stitcherhood
Love her cute freebies!
I stitched this one up with DMC #920

I was hoping to stitch this into a little pillow, but I am still buried in boxes from moving and I cannot find my Fall fabric that would go with this design. Hopefully one day soon!

Have a great weekend!

Memories of Halloween Past

When my children were little, I always made sure they had a wonderful Halloween costume to wear for that special day of trick-or-treating.
They were always excited about something new each year, may it have been a particular television show, or perhaps a certain doll they loved.
I would venture out to the closest fabric store each year in search of that perfect pattern to sew up..
I would always get so excited doing this! This was one of the great joys in my life of being a Mom, doing all these wonderful things for my children.
Two costumes that remain vividly in my mind that I do remember my children wearing were My Son's Power Ranger Costume, and my Daughter's Raggedy Ann costume (Raggedy Ann of course!) :)
I know I could have chosen to purchase a store bought costume, but I wanted to put love into making costumes for them!
They looked so cute in their outfits...oh how I wish that I could turn time back and go back for just one more day of them being little again.
I miss those days so much!
My daughter still would like to dress up this year..but she wanted a store bought outfit this year...
I am happy for all the years I was able to sew for my children while they were little!
I love Halloween, one of my favorite times..I guess because I love candy so much..I waited this year to buy the candy till this week..thinking it would last, was I wrong!
Looks like I will be going back to the store for some more..
One of my favorites are Mary Janes!

I remember living in NY and the neighbors would get together and have fun chasing each other with shaving cream. We used to have so much fun! We would be covered with shaving cream and we didn't even recognize each other.
Lots of memories and fun times.


Wishing you all many happy memories this Halloween!
Raggedystitches,

A Halloween Finish

This Cross Stitch is taken from the Just Cross Stitch ornament issue that came out recently for Halloween. I just loved all the ornaments that were in it !
I stitched this on dirty linen 25 count with DMC threads.
I will frame this one eventually.
Raggedy Stitches,
Louise