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

A Beautiful Day !

Woke up to an absolutely beautiful day where I live. The sun is shining, a slight breeze, all the windows are open and I feel great!
I have two recent finishes to show all of you. Remember that baby sampler I posted that I was helping a friend out with..well, it is finished! YAY!~ It was a lot more stitching than I had expected it to be, but it came out so pretty, I just have to share:

The Mom had stitched the Monkey square separately, and I made a tooth fairy pillow out of it for her baby:

I put a big "pocket" on the back so the tooth fairy can leave some coins for a very special little girl :)
Now, onto something else I had finished stitching. I have a very dear and wonderful friend that has always been like a Mom to me. She was always Grandma to my children also. I have been wanting to stitch her something special for some time now. She will be turning 87 years old this year and knew I wanted to give her a stitched piece for her birthday. Here is what I stitched for my dear friend: "A Friend Indeed" an old freebie from Blue Ribbon Designs:

I had a "helper" while I stitched...here is my daughter's bird "Andy"!

and...his side-kick "Misty"!

By the way..if you would like to listen to Andy's whistles, he has his own Facebook page, yes he does!
 Click Here :Andy The Bird

My Son sent me a picture he took while on leave. It's our neighbors dog "Sparky" What a beautiful dog!

The picture looks like a postcard! Oh!, look at the closeup...
What a GORGEOUS FACE! I just LOVE him to pieces...yes I do! :)

I have been up to more crocheting...made another frilly scarf :)

Saint Patrick's Day is upon us..Although a wonderful day to celebrate, its also the day my husbands Father Patrick passed away , 20 years ago today. Our bird "Sunny" also passed away on this day years ago. I still make the traditional meal of corned beef, and I make the most wonderful Irish soda bread! I cannot stop eating it...(which is not such a good thing)! This recipe bakes up a wonderful bread that is so moist inside, I make this recipe every year now!

If you would like this recipe, head on over to my recipe blog! Click HERE!
My pansies have survived the winter months in their special planters...they are blooming now, prettier than ever!

I ordered some new stash in the mail, a new chart, and DMC threads. Sometimes I am able to get a floss fairy to help me out with DMC floss. The craft store for me is over a half hour away, and with the price of gas, I just don't go often :( It always seems that when I am in the middle of a project, that is when I run out, or need a certain color, and of course it is always the color I do not have! Love getting new stash in the mail!

This chart is called "Amish Alphabet" the designer is From The Heart. Pretty design!
I will show you a quiet place I go to sometimes..there is plenty of woods behind my house..sometimes I go for walks through the woods, sometimes I even sit down and take time to pray. It is so peaceful and serene out back, I know how blessed I am..

Sometimes I find little things as I roam around...

I wish you all a very Blessed Saint Patrick's Day!

Birdies

Our dear birds Andy and Misty enjoyed their free time today. I took a bunch of pictures and was able to get some really good snapshots of them. They are so cute! I noticed that Misty was having a bit of trouble..upon investigating further I could tell her toe nails needed clipping. After having birds for so many years, I am very good at clipping them myself. I carefully held Misty in a small towel and she was so sweet and well behaved while I took care of that for her.
She was so happy when I was done to get back to business getting into things again!
They really get along well. I am so glad we brought little Misty the parakeet into our home. She is a wonderful addition to our family!
Here is a snapshot I took today of the two of them.
Love our babies!
Raggedystitches,
Louise

This and That

I have decided I would like to make an attempt at doing the Raggedy Ann block of the month that the Painted Quilt is offering. (See button on the right side bar if interested!). It really is an adorable quilt..and everyone knows how much I love Ann and Andy. :)
I do not have a light box big enough for tracing, so made do with what I do have access to, and that is a nice bright window! It works! I used packing tape to hold the pattern to the window while I trace the design onto the fabric I purchased. I decided to go with a Kona cotton in place of muslin.
I have yet to pick out my quilt type fabrics for the blocks that will be placed around the design.
I have picked out the DMC cotton thread to backstitch the pattern and decided I like the darker red number 815 best! :)I am considering making the quilt all red and white..but we shall see...
I found out about this BOM (block of the month) a little late, so I am behind now, but that's ok. I just hope I can stick with it!
My husband is going to build me a sewing room, and I cannot wait! I haven't had a sewing room for many years now, and I know it is going to be worth the wait. Finally a place to organize all my stash again. We still have so many things to unpack, but it is so good to be back home again.


Our new Parakeet "Misty" has settled in nicely. Our cockatiel "Andy" is not lonely anymore! They really hit it off very well. Misty loves snuggling up to Andy. It is quite a sight to see! They really adore each other. Misty preens Andy, and he just loves it. We were surprised how well they took to each other, as they are different breeds of birds.



Yesterday we attended a reception line that was many miles long down a major road in our city. It was to welcome home a HERO! Corporal Tyler Southern, a wounded marine returned home from duty in Afghanistan. It brought tears to all of our eyes. He had lost both of his legs and one arm by an IED explosion.
He returned home for his 21st birthday this weekend.
Many people lined the streets, with flags, balloons, and wore red, white and blue.
I think all of our military should be welcomed home in this manner. We are so blessed to have our freedom here in America, and they help fight for our freedom.
Thank you to all our military!






I wish you all a weekend full of Blessings,