Friday bits

The weather is finally turning to spring in our little town. It is so wonderful to see all the beautiful blooming trees as I drive around now. 

I snapped a couple of pictures to share:

I was busy baking for the Lenten soup luncheon I volunteer for at the church, along with Saint Patrick's day baking for our family. I made wonderful loaves of Irish Soda bread, an annual tradition in our home!

The Deacon of our Parish surprised each of the volunteers with a ladybug planter with zinnia flowers for volunteering!

I've been stitching a bit more on our anniversary sampler, "love never fails" by Barbara Ana Designs

I have joined the blanket and shawl ministry at our church. I am very excited about this! I know the women will be able to teach me so much more than I already know with crochet. 

I have made my first hat for donation!

My husband starting working on a project at home, a wonderful project! I won't post about it until it's done though. I am pretty excited about it!

That's all the news for now... Just some little bits!

Wishing you all a blessed weekend,

Louise xx

Linzer cookies for Valentines!

I've been busy baking cookies!

These sweet treats came out way better than I could have ever imagined. 

I made Linzer cookies drizzled with milk

Chocolate, and filled with raspberry fruit filling. Just delectable!

Look how pretty they turned out!

I am pretty proud of myself with how they turned out :) 

I'm including a picture of the recipe just

In case you are so inclined to give them a try yourself! 

❤️Louise

Love Never Fails

A quick stitch, "Love Never Fails", a free design by the Primitive Hare. I loved stitching this one! I stitched this on 28 count linen using Crescent Colors hand dyed floss, color Boysenberry Jam. 

An early stitch for hearts day! ;)

Happy weekend all!

Louise xx

Wedding Bells!!

Our Son was married right after the new year! We traveled to TN for the big day. It was a beautiful wedding. I did all the decorating for the rehearsal dinner, and it turned out so nice. Everything was in a nautical theme. I stitched "wedding doves" by Stoney creek designs for the bride and groom and had it framed. It turned out rather nicely!

Here are pictures of the rehearsal dinner night decorations...

The needlework I made for my son and new daughter in law:

The bride and groom were married in a beautiful Catholic Church:

The bridal party:

They had the most beautiful cake!

Our family circle.... Our Son is now married, but our love never ends...

God Bless the new couple, our Son and "Daughter" as they live happily ever after!

Louise xx

12 Days of Christmas SAL

Hop on over to Plum Street Samplers blog, there is a wonderful free 12 days of Christmas stitch a long that has begun. I have decided to join in the fun!

I have stitched the first four days so far and when I am done stitching the whole set, I will be sewing them into individual ornaments. 

I am stitching them on linen I purchased off of the big bolt (in the home decor fabric section of Hobby Lobby) using DMC threads.

I have decided I love the crowns to be gold in color too :)

Colors chosen as DMC #'s 902, 729, 730 and 3740.

So thankful to Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers for graciously providing these charts to all of us for free! 

You can join in the SAL by going to her blog each Sunday for the newest download of ornaments at:

Plumstreetsamplers.typepad.com

Hope you join in too, it's lots of fun!

Louisexx

Sailors in prayer. Artist Kristen Dukat ; Navy Mom

50!

I recently celebrated a wonderful milestone in my life. I turned 50 years old! How blessed I am! What an amazing journey my life has been so far and I know God had planned everything from the beginning. I look forward to another 50 years, I am truly blessed indeed!!

I decided to stitch a special sampler to commemorate this special milestone. This is a bonus pattern by Blackbird Designs, loose Feathers, Anniverseries of the heart, Pattern 12. The leaflet is titled Elizabeth Jane, but I did not stitch the cover pattern, I stitched the bonus pattern included in this leaflet, it is titled "for those recorded here". I used my own colors of choosing and personalized it to mark my milestone. I love it! 

I did blur my last name and town for safety measures. I just loved using colors of purples, greens, and yellows!

My birthday was a wonderful celebration. My husband made me a special gift. I had asked for a special display quilt ladder to put my quilts on. He made a gorgeous 7 foot tall ladder with 6 round dowel rungs. He stained and sealed it. It is beautiful!! 

I was so surprised to receive the most beautiful flowers from our wonderful Son!!! 

What a special delivery! I miss him so much. 

We went out for a wonderful birthday meal! 

We almost had to call the fire department in... I insisted on 50 candles!! Hehe :)

It took three of us to light the cake!

We needed two cakes with so many candles!!

I received so many phone calls, texts, cards, gifts, packages, it was amazing!!

I even was given a new beta fish!! Thank you Suzan! 

So many wonderful gifts!

Some new charts from my dear friend Suzan! Country Cottage Sampler by Moira Blackburn

Stars and Stripes by Brenda Gervais

A gift card from sweet Jane to stitches N Things, a gift card from my neighbor Judy for Brighton, along with an embroidered towel. My friend Denise sent me the most wonderful devotional book, jewelry, candy and notepad.... Family sent me a Brighton watch, necklace, earrings, Volland reproduction raggedy Andy doll and book, light up turtle, Marianna sent an amazing Alex and Ani bracelet , Suzan, is always so sweet to me, so many wonderful things, even a birthday cake! Most things are pictured but not everything. 

The most wonderful surprise was a gift from my husband. He presented me with the most beautiful stand of pearls and earrings to match. I love him so much. He is always so good to me. He made sure my birthday was extra special even though he had to work so hard all day. He is such a wonderful man, I love him so!!!❤️

It truly was a most wonderful celebration of 50 years of my life. I know how richly God has blessed me over these past fifty years. I look forward to seeing where he leads me in the next fifty years to come. Although I wish our little family could have been together for my milestone, and I do miss our Son terribly, not a day goes by that I don't think of him, but in my heart I am so very proud of him for serving our country. I look forward to the day we can be together as a family again. 

Happy 50th birthday to me! :)

Louise xx