SNOW and Stitching ❤️

Hello again, it's me!

Well an amazing amount of snow decided to plop down on us here in North Carolina. I had this vision in my mind even before the snow began falling. I was on a mission! I was thinking of maybe the perfect picture for our next years Christmas card! I know, I know... Planning a bit early!! Snow doesn't pass this part of town too often and I had to take advantage of this awesome opportunity!

So I gathered up my supplies and waited... And waited. Then it began. Oh boy did it begin! Snow like I remember when I used to live in New York as a child. Snow, snow, glorious SNOW!!

Big FAT FLAKES lightly falling down, beautiful splendor all around. I thought I was in heaven!

Have you ever just sat outside while it snowed and just listened? Listened to the peacefulness? Oh it's so wonderful!

I snapped many photos....

Our backyard....

The end of our street right next to our house..

Footprints from our nightly visitors...

The front of our home at night with the snow falling down..

The view from my bedroom window...

More snow pictures....

While it was so chilly outside I baked a chicken for dinner...

Then made homemade chicken soup too!

Now back to the mission I was on that I mentioned in the beginning of my blog post... I trekked out back into the snow by myself and made our family of four snowmen!! I made them patriotic Americana style in support of our United States Navy! There is my husband, who is a United States Navy Veteran Dad, Navy Mom, presently serving Sailor Son, and Raggedy Ann Daughter❤️!

I am thinking of using this for our Christmas card this year!❤️

This past Friday night I experienced something I never felt before. Yes it was Valentines Day but it was also the first time I experienced an earthquake!

I was sitting on the couch and felt it starting to shake! I thought I was imagining things... Then this came on the news!

Although it was in South Carolina, it was felt all the way up where I live in North Carolina! Glad it wasn't stronger than it was!

I finished part four and five of my Jardin Prive Positive Stitch A Long. I am very pleased with the outcome! I shall hang this in my sewing room. ❤️

Love it!!

I hope you all had a very nice Saint Valentines Day. I spent a little more time in the lovely snow before it melted... And I snapped some photos!

I also baked heart shaped butter cookies with red sugar crystals and dipped strawberries in chocolate! Yummie! ❤️

Looking forward to warmer weather soon and getting projects in order.

Blessings to you!

❤️

A little update

Just a little update!

I have finished parts 2 and 3 of Jardin Prive's SAL

I am really loving this beautiful design!

I am stitching all the letters in the same pretty green as the leaves on the plants.

I framed my Prairie Schooler Chicken :)

I added more stripes to my crochet blanket... This is queen size, so you see why it is taking forever to make!

I have been sewing pinwheel squares out of my Violetta RJR fabric. I have been wanting to do this for quite some time! This fabric line is no longer available. It is oh so pretty in purples and greens!!❤️

Cannot wait to put them all together for a quilt top!

It snowed here in our part of town. Only about two inches, and it didn't last very long .... But it was very pretty!

I left a note on the front steps for our Military Son and snapped a photo...

Not enough snow for a snowman, so I made a snow angel!

Another angel... But this one held the snow in her arms!

Although it was soooo cold outside, we kept warm inside with cocoa and a hot meal of a roast in the crockpot!

I think everyone is ready for Spring to come along now. This has been a very long cold winter!

I may have to be traveling back to the doctor again, which I so do not want to do. I am having terrible hand and foot pain. Not quite sure what could be wrong. It worries me. The pain gets so bad I cannot even stitch. My hands ache!! I am thinking arthritis?

I am praying it's nothing serious.

I couldn't imagine giving up all I love :(

FREEBIE!

From the Primitive Hare for St. Valentines Day :)
I LOVE this!!

Click HERE!

Good Morning!

I have been a busy bee! I took down the Christmas tree , oh so hard to do....I think it was the prettiest one by far we have ever had.

I had a wonderful shopping day with my dear friend and neighbor Suzan. She is the best! We went to all the craft stores, and had  lunch at Panera ...oh I just love to go to Panera!! I think God had a plan for me to move onto this block where Suzan lives, she too bakes, stitches and crafts! 

While out and about we both picked up the DMC threads needed for the Jardin Prive Positive SAL we are doing.

I have already completed part one:

I am stitching this on 28 count antique white Jobelin. If you are interested in joining in the fun, you can find the chart which is free HERE!
I have joined with a bunch of wonderful ladies on Facebook who have started the SAL yesterday. Another group has formed and is starting on February 1st if you care to join..just search "Jardin Prive's Positive SAL" on Facebook. :)

I have worked a little more on my Miss Adelaide Snowlady (Paper Snowflakes)

Sampler also... Coming along so wonderfully!

This design is by Brenda Gervais. Just love her designs!

Some great excitement in our house...

Our daughter graduated high school!

She graduated early, also received recognition by being inducted into the honor society for computer studies! We are so proud of her! She plans to further her career in computer studies, such a bright future ahead for her.

I cannot believe both of my babies are now graduated. Time really does go by so quickly. 

I never imagined my Son would enter the military and be so far from home. He did. I miss him, but am so proud of him. I am proud of both our children. They have always made good choices, worked hard to achieve their goals and are blessings to us. Time slips away and has a way of changing so many things. Sometimes I look back and wish, wish just for a moment I could go back, but then things might be different now. We are where we are meant to be I suppose. God always has a plan. I cherished every moment along the way.

I am Blessed Indeed,

Louise xx

My First Finish of 2014!

My first finish, although small,

Is a chicken by Prairie Schooler

Designs.

This will hang in our kitchen once I get a little frame for it :)

Louise xx

Free design!

New freebie from Shepherds Bush!

Adorable :)

celebrations Freebie

Updates

Well today started off with our Sailor Son leaving after an extended leave home for Christmas. Oh it was so hard to hug him goodbye! I cooked him a big breakfast and made sure he had some goodies packed in the car for the long road trip back north. Oh how I worry while he travels in bad weather. Please won't you pray for his safety back to his base.

I have been working on "Paper Snowflakes"... The chart my Son bought me for Christmas. I have come pretty far for one week. I was setting a goal to maybe get it done before he left, but that really wasn't realistic.

Here is how far I have come...

Coming along now!

This piece will always remind me of my children, when they were little, cutting paper snowflakes to place in our windows...and always , always running out in the snow to build a snowman with them. So many cherished memories of when they were young.

I wish for you a New Year filled with health, happiness and wonderful memories that will forever remain in your heart...

Louise ❤️

Paper snowflakes

My Sailor son surprised me with the chart Paper Snowflakes by Brenda Gervais. This is the beginnings of my stitchery. I am using 28 count country mocha linen with DMC threads (just picked my own colors)

I have named Miss Snow lady "Adelaide" ...it seemed proper for her! 😊

I added my own heart to her chest as you can see, because I felt she needed one ❤️

Here is my progress

I was so worried about my daughter being sick for days with a bad headache. She was also having trouble seeing. I took her to the doctor and she has been diagnosed with migraines. I feel so badly for her as the pain was like a drill as she described it. I too suffer from migraines and visual disturbances with aura that accompany the migraines and it can be very sickening. I pray this won't be frequent for her. It lasted over three days this time. 

She felt better last evening and I took her out shopping a bit and she got a new hair cut. It was so good to see her smile again!

We are hoping we can ring in the New Year with good health, this past year has not been a good one for us. With my surgery, all my many tests and doctor visits. Losing a very dear friend that has left me heartbroken, I miss her terribly!

Looking forward to feeling better and brighter days ahead!

Louise xx

All things Christmas!

What a wonderful Christmas it was!

Our Sailor Son made it home...what a blessing for our family to be together once again! Christmas Eve service together was wonderful, then time spent with friends too. Then a wonderful Christmas just us, our wonderful little family of four, Mother, Father, Son and Daughter!! 

Some things I stitched...

I finished and framed Plum Street Samplers "Mary's Sampler " just in time ....

I framed my "Dashing" by Birds of a Feather in a red frame

Our Christmas Tree!

Our new fireplace that my dear husband installed into our home. He also built the mantle. A total surprise he planned for me, I was so excited, it was finished in time for Christmas! 

I baked a blueberry pie for my guys...

Made cookies too!

My traditional orange peel Christmas Cookies...

Christmas Chickens!

And fudge!

My Son wanted rack of lamb, while my daughter wanted turkey, I made both!

My Son surprised me with two new charts!

Two Yellow Houses by Little House Needleworks...

Oh!!!! Cutting paper snowflakes by Brenda Gervais!!! :)

Wonderful nights with cocoa sitting by the fire...

The elf having fun with our bunny and bird...

Merry Christmas!! Wishing you many Blessings for a wonderful New Year filled with all good things to come.... From our little family to yours!

Louise xx

Giveaway at Victorian Motto Sampler Blog!!!

What a wonderful giveaway Nancy is offering up on her blog. Make sure you stop by and enter. She is always so very generous! Thank you Nancy for your kindness always!
GIVEAWAY