Ornament finish and March Ramblings...

I finished up my ornament for March. I am trying to keep on track with stitching one a month for the year. This is from the Just Cross Stitch ornament issue 1999. It is called Christmas Basket by Theron Traditions. I just love this design!

Looks like Spring has sprung in our part of NC!

Seeing these flowers gave me the inspiration to finish stitching "May Flower Basket" by Blackbird Designs :)

I also finished up my Patty Dovecoat sampler! This was a SAL in a Facebook group I belong to..

I went to a stitchers gathering in Rock Hill SC. It was so much fun! We shopped at A Stitch and Frame Shop. I wanted to buy everything! I did pick up two charts, The Irish Blessing by Erica Michaels and Time and Season Sampler by Moira Blackburn. Cannot wait to start stitching these!

Here are Bonnie's Belles!

I am in there also :)

I am in the back with the blue scarf!

With Saint Patrick's Day, I did lots of baking and cooking!

I also have been volunteering at the church on Wednesdays preparing the soup lunch for after mass.

Here are my Irish Soda Breads...

Our meal of corned beef and cabbage.. A tradition in our home!

I also made Irish potato pancakes, also known as "Boxty"

I baked some delicious shortbread too :)

We took a trip to GA and met our Sons wonderful girlfriend! We just absolutely love her to pieces!! They have been dating for a while now and we are looking forward to seeing what God's plans are for the two of them. They look so cute together! We attended mass at Our Lady Star Of The Sea. It was wonderful!

Pretty daffodils from my neighbor and friend Suzan! Picked right from her own yard. Love them!

She also knows how much I love my tea, she stitched and framed this little design for me :)

With the warmer weather, Charleston has been enjoying himself sunning on our back porch. One spoiled bunny, and rightly so! :)

I tried out my new bread machine.. Had to return the other one as it didn't work. It really makes a nice loaf of bread!

Now looking forward to Easter! I have my new running shoes on! :)

(No I don't really run) ;)

Wishing you all a blessed day! 

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!

My Birthday!! :)

I celebrated my birthday this week! Although my husband was away with work, I had a very nice day. My son took me out to lunch on my birthday, My Sister in Law also took me to dinner another night, then I went out with friends two more days after that! It was wonderful..it was as if the celebrating was never going to end! :)
I didn't have a birthday cake...I chose not to have one. I am still eating so healthy and am trying to stick with it. Our Son Patrick's birthday is the end of May, and I want to be able to celebrate his birthday early before he leaves for the military in the couple of days. I thought it would be much better if we bought him a cake for his special day...this way we won't be left with too much cake in the house!
I can't believe how fast the days are flying now...the hours are just passing so quickly. I wish I could make time stand still!
I enjoyed lunch with my son. He is such a wonderful young man. I love him so much! We took family photos for Mother's day with his camera and we got a really nice shot of the two of us together. I am happy for this photo.

I had a great time having dinner with my Sis in Law, and lunch with my friends. It is once again hard to say goodbye. I was so surprised when I was given such beautiful cards and gifts! Gifts from family....I also found gifts at my front door, and in my mailbox for a couple of days too. It warms my heart so much to realize how very much I am loved.
Amazing gifts and goodies!: 

I think this was the most perfect time to have a birthday :)
I am truly blessed indeed!
I am so grateful for all the wonderful family and friends in my life.

Happy Birthday to Me! :)
 

Pine Cone Patrol, Stash

Most people might think Florida is mostly pretty palm trees. I can tell you it is not. :)
We live in Northern Florida and our backyard is jam packed with pine trees. Yes, pine trees. It is sort of nice, a reminder of living up north, but not nice when they start dropping all of their pine cones and you have to pick them up!
So...the daunting task begins...over a span of many months!
Noooo...they don't drop all at once. That would make it much easier. They drop on a continual basis and it seems like you never get any headway with clearing off the lawn. They even drop right when you are picking them up and bagging them. Almost as if they are laughing at you while you are doing it. I was hit on the head once while I was doing it!
Here is a section of our yard..you can sort of get an idea of how they are spread out everywhere...

At first, it seems like it would be easy to pick them up...but bending over and over a zillion times is a real workout and I guess it could be considered aerobic exercise? hee hee :P But! It is beautiful out today, and I was really enjoying being out there in this beautiful weather we are having!
I worked and worked..and this is what I gathered up....
4 whole bags!

Some of them are quite large..as you can see in comparison with my hand..I have small hands...so some of these pine cones are quite large!

By the time I came around to the front yard..I was about exhausted! I laid down on the grass to rest..and noticed how beautiful the front lawn is coming in.....this was grass that we planted from seed last year!

As I lay on the grass...well...ummm...I shouldn't have looked up into the trees...because..this is what I saw!!
YIKES!

Busy yard work for another day! Nature is providing in abundance!
The mailman just came and I had a sudden "pick me up"! :)
3 new charts arrived in the mail today. Aren't they sweet!!
Just love bunnies, and when I saw Rabbit Folk..I knew I had to add it to my collection :)

Happy Monday Everyone!
Louise

Doctor Visit, Stash

Well, I had my neurologist appointment today...
I told the doctor, since I have been eating well, exercising, not drinking diet sodas anymore (only drinking water or clear tea) no substitute sugars, lost 30 pounds...I have not had a migraine in a month and a half now!
He did say that some people have "triggers" and that can set off migraines. Well..two nights ago, I was really craving a sweet cup of hot tea. My husband made me a cup with two Splenda sweeteners in it. Well...the next day I had a headache..not a migraine..but a headache, that lasted into today..I had that nagging headache all day today.
Now, I was a BIG time Splenda user, and was faithful to drinking my diet colas (could drink a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi Max) every day. Yes, I am serious. Well...the doctor thinks that perhaps the substitute sugars could be setting me off.
Yes, I do feel that I am getting a little bit bored with the diet I have been on..and  I am trying to find ways to mix it up a little bit.
I am going to do some further research..but have been handed a list of "don't eat" foods from the doctor which is making it all the harder.
He says though I am on the right track.
He also said that stress can trigger migraines. He told me I have to try to calm any stress that came my way. Now...how is a Mom supposed to do that?? I wonder.....
Our family is in for some big changes in the next couple of months, and unless I ignore what is about to happen, HA! well, that isn't going to happen....I guess, I will grin and bare it all. I will make things happen in a positive way, and I know that God will get me through everything that our family will be needing to get through soon.
It will be very exciting things to come...I will tell you all soon..but just can't yet! :)
It is all good and happy things though...
but in the midst of all the new things happening, will be all the feelings of letting our son leave the nest also for the military.
Sooo...My mind swirls with so many thoughts and so many things to think about.
I have to try and stay calm, relax and enjoy each and every moment in this time for now.
The doctor said to keep a food diary (which I am doing)..and when I do get a headache, migraine, or just plain ole' headache, to think of what I had eaten previously, maybe I can figure out what a trigger might be for me...

Guess what?!!!!
It just happened that the cross stitch shop was right across the street from the doctors office! Ha! What do you know......
Here is what I came home with! lol

Sampler of the Season "Autumn" With thy Needle & Thread

"Singing the Blues" Little House Needleworks

Crescent Colors Tartan Plaid, Cupid

The Gentle Art Oatmeal

Soooo...going to the doctor today, well, it really wasn't so bad a trip after all!
I just finished baking a homemade coffee cake for new neighbors that moved in around the block...time to make the glaze, and quickly run it over to their house to surprise them before the night gets too late!

have a nice night everyone,
Louise