Bordering the Peace

Bordering~~~~~~

Bordering the Peace block tonight

I watched too much O'Reilly Factor and didn't stitch fast enough but did get most of the border done. I can't wait to get to the house in it. I love to stitch houses.
My goal is to have it completed and framed by Halloween.....let's see if I can make that goal......

Interesting to watch all the news on Afghanistan as I stitch the Peace section. This will be a mark in his presidency folks so I have a sampler to prove what I was doing while the President made the decision about Afghanistan which on either way of sending troops or not to send will put him in a predicament. Maybe one day while I'm in the nursing home and reading through my stitching journals I can say, Yep, I remember that one. That's the one that was a critical decision in AFghanistan.
Well, on to another day of the week tomorrow, Thankful Thursday. I will post what I'm most thankful for tomorrow. It's a strategy I'm trying to stay with to ignore the things I cannot do anything about. Stay tuned.

Peace~~~ a so long desired concept that we really need in our country right now.

Before my son went to Afghanistan I was not a political person. Now, I'm gaining more insight at the political world......yeppers, Peace. Peace is what we want at Christmas and say that it will last all year but does it really?

There are concepts that I deal with daily that zap that peace right out. I have to work on coping with that and moving on to fun things like stitching and friends and chocolate, and oh, I am rambling.....time for bed :)

October Give-A-Way Breast Cancer Awareness Month

After listening to what you voted for in the polls here, I picked carefully a few things for a give-a-way to add to any stitcher's stash! The favorites seem to be 32 count linen and Crescent Colors Floss........

First, I'm envious.....I wanted these scissors, Oh how I wanted for these scissors when I saw them at The Dogwood Patch! The color is my favorite--PINK! And, they are Kelmscott scissors, Breast Cancer Awareness scissors. Cool! Cool! Cool!

The give-a-way includes:

Little House Needleworks design "The Mountains"---honestly, honestly, it struck me on the ride home from the needlework shop that I picked out a design called The Mountains for Breast Cancer Awareness Month..........I really didn't intentionally pick out something called "The Mountains" to match something related to the breasts but.......it just happened!

This kit includes the Crescent Colors Silk Floss in

• Chocolate
• Baguette
• Icing
• Blue Lagoon
• Cinnamon Stick
• Eiffel Tower
• Enchanted Forest
• Creme de Menthe

This kit is one of the kits included in the "From Sea to Shining Sea" Series which can be stitched together but alone are still very pretty designs.
If you haven't used silk floss before, this will spoil you! Stitches like butter!

I also picked out 32 count Belfast Natural Raw Linen---9 x 10 inch cut and serged

A small basket to hold your notions or threads

This give-a-way is in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

To enter for a chance at the give-a-way simply:

1. add your name as a follower to the blog (or if you already a follower skip this one)
2. put a post in this posting only by 12 midnight on Oct 15th, drawing to be announced on October 16th Saturday---- please include a way to communicate if you win.
3. If you want to put your name in twice, put another post that you announced it on your blog (if you have one)
4. And for a chance at your name going in 3 times, put another post with the name of your favorite designer or designers.

Remember to put these only from this posting; otherwise, my senior brain will not be able to keep up with it! ;)

Good luck, and remember to schedule that mammogram if you are over 40...and female.....I have to add that part.

A Stitchy Kind of Day

I started out the day going to Hawaissee, to the Dogwood Patch. It was a steamy, cool, day. The trees are starting to change.

I went through Helen. This is a good bakery. Helen was quite busy for the middle of the week, I guess because of peak Octoberfest season.

The folks behind me in my car probably cursed each time I just stopped in the middle of rode when I wanted to snap a pic..........

I finished block 5 of Heart of America tonight. I'm loving the colors and can't wait to move on to

another block......hmmmm which will it be? well, right now I'm leaning towards the 1st block to the left and then downward with a final finish at the bottom.

That Honor block took me twice as long as I thought it would but so worth it! The colors are gorgeous.

The directions say to put your own initials in this block........I almost put Brandon's there.

The earlier part of my day was a trip to my LNS, the Dogwood Patch, soon to be changed to another location to Buford, Georgia and renamed The Stitch Store. Terrie is such a cool friend. We had Daniel's buffet for lunch and everything they have is wonderful! Then got some goodies for a friend of mine to start stitching and I will post a pic of it when she receives it, it's a surpise.......and also I gathered some special items for a give-a-way.

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we all know at least one person who has touched our life with breast cancer. Current evidence shows that 1 out of 8 women in their lifetime will receive a diagnosis of breast cancer. My give a way pics and post will be posted most likely Thurs or Fri. so stand by for a chance at some goodies.

Over 40 years of age, mammograms are recommended yearly. I encourage all women reading this blog to stop this week and take a few minutes to call your GYN health care provider for scheduling that routine mammogram. October is a good time to remember yearly as many advertisements and products promote their pink labeling due to the Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In my own practice, breast cancer has touched the lives of many people, most get an early diagnosis and are doing well. Digital mammography has come a long way now and detects early signs.

In my personal life, I have had one friend I especially remember in October each year. Her name was Dianne. Dianne was one of my first Women's Health Nurse Practitioner clinical instructors and she had a late diagnosis and unfortunately died for the disease. I think of Dianne alot because she taught me so much of the obstetrical background of my graduate program.

Look in your local papers if insurance is an issue because during the month of October, many mobile units offer mammograms at reduced costs.

Of course, I can't go to Terrie's and not come home with another project or two but most of the afternoon we spent on learning some basics and helping her set up a Google Blogger.

So stay tuned for her new stitching blog called Sprinkles!

The goodies and giveaway will be posted at a later time this week.

Tomorrow after work I unfortunately have to attend a viewing. One of my coworkers close friend, died last night of a heart attack. He really was a good man and I'm very saddened to hear this. Margaret, you are in my prayers!

Well, I have to run now type a letter for work and then on to snooze time for that 6am awakening............

Ren has had at least 3 bowls of frosty minwheats, 2 hotdogs, a piecs of fried chicken and a roll.

The dog is living it up! LOL

Things he will not eat include dogfood of any type, green beans, celery, snow peas, bread with it lightly toasted. Ok, I know he is spoiled. I take the blame for it! ;)

The makings of a good Fall evening

This is one thing I absolutely love---my tin which melts the most fragrant tarts, which I have right now in Pumpkin Pie. The fragrance is stronger than a candle and makes the house smell luscious! I've just got to bake a pumpkin pie this weekend.

My nesting spot for the Blue House Sampler landed here...........

right by the Body Guard's favorite resting spot in the evening. His dad made this corner clock many, many years ago and we enjoy it.

Here's my progress so far tonight on the Heart of America. I'm watching every news clip tonight I can while I stitch the Honor section. Obama, please send help where help is needed. Our men are fighting and they need the help. Hello???? After receiving the news that pulling the troops out of Afghanistan will not be an option, then let's get in there and protect the ones we have in this dangerous situation. Meeting with McCrystal more than 25 minutes every 3 months might demonstrate an interest. I don't think the General would ask for more troops if the situation didn't warrant it.

And, it helps to calm down with a good fire and a good hubbie who gives me a foot rub to make the day pass away..........

When I first got home, we built a fire----correction he built a fire, then I lit all my pumpkin tea light candles and got my tart warmer going so the house is filled with calming scents.

A fireplace does wonders for me. Before I knew it, I had grabbed the heavy quilt and took a brief nap before starting my stitching. It makes me sooooooo sleepy.

I've always dreamed of a fireplace in the bedroom.....so relaxing.

The rains have stopped and hoping for a bright, sunshiney day tomorrow. The leaves are beginning to change. On my way home from work, I saw the world in DMC and Crescent colors. LOL Joshua Tree Green and DMC 211 are the leaf colors now.

Tomorrow, I plan to go to my LNS and lunch at my favorite restaurant there.

Back to stitching and news..............

The rains and Monday

Well, I have a quick break. The morning is a dreary, dark, dark and did I say dreary ? outside with misty rains. I guess our weather forecaster was a wee bit off track.

I know on my list of things to do tonight is to
1/ find another beginner project for Parsley and mail. I'm enabling a friend! LOL
2/find my lost library book
3/catchup more on Heart of America
4/plan out what I need from my LNS, may go tomorrow on my day off

My reasoning behind the polls at the right is because I wanted to get a give-away gift which included what readers' interests are particularly. Looks like there is a close run between 32 and 40 count for linen and Crescent Colors won for threads!
This gives me some ideas. Stay tuned this week for an October give-away!

I tell you that my very favorite from the St. Charles needlework show is Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow but it's quite a big project to start now for Christmas, I may have to keep in mind for next year though.

Samplers, samplers, samplers. I love 'em!

Hope the sun is shining and your Monday is bright!

Jennifer

Waiting by the mums for mum.........

Raven and Ruby, also known as Thelma and Louise, were waiting a long time today for me to come out of the house. I have been quite the hermit this weekend. Here they are looking into the house to see if any motion is stirring this morning. It's almost as if they can sense the stress as we watched the morning news to see the big battle that occured in Afghanistan through the night. Such a mess. I'm so much trying to not speak of politics here but, I have to say, Obama is scaring me, quite frankly, by being so slow to take advice from a good commander. If we need more people, and after last night's battles he should see, then send them for support. Riding the fence seems to be his pattern but it is not going to work with this war. But that's just my opinion. Ok, I feel better now........

Not much stitching at all today, but plan to work and catch up on the TV news in a few to fight insomnia. I basically researched and read alot today and time flew by in a jiffy. Bodyguard coaxed me away from the computer with chocolate cake from the grocery store about 4ish. He could read my mind that chocolate cures anything! LOL

Last night we had flood warnings out for this afternoon. But no rain today. That was strange but we have had our share of rain lately so that was fine by me!

I researched about frames and came to the conclusion that there is not one way to stitch. I did win the frame on EBay---Yey! With much thought realized that this is going to be great for travel, but most likely I will still do most of my stitching with a floor stand.

And then there are times, I use an old-fashioned hoop. Then at times, I hold my stitching with no frame, no hoop, just me and the fabric/thread.

I feel good about my decision to get this goody because the price was absolutely a good deal. Seems someone was cleaning out their basement and I got a good deal if not for all the time, but for travel. I just haven't yet figured out how on the bumpy interstate highways to not have the needle bob up and down until I find the right place to stitch. The car we have now is so much better with traveling and stitching than our previous one and hopefully on our 13 hour trip in Dec. I should get some stitching done. Now, I will change my mind a hundred times before we leave on what project/projects I will carry with me! ; )

Ok, I can tell I'm rambling......LOL

Hope your Sunday has been restful.........

The Bay of Good and Evil

Oh, I'm using Deb's phrase for Ebay, the Bay of Evil, today as the Bay of Good and Evil.......
I'm so not needing to shop but I couldn't help but catch my eye on this and made a bid on it.
Just wondering if any of you have experience with this type of dowel system. I think I could order some of those black knobs to cover the screw thingies on the side which I've heard make it much better to use. The seller says the bag is slightly worn but the product has never been used.

This is the bag cover for storage, which I thought was kinda cool for storing it away.

And it collaspes down for travel.....ok, now, I'm preparing for my Dec trip to Chicago......we're driving......yes, driving my friends, 13 hours.........oops back to the frame

They say it has the instructions and papers but it will already be put together. The length of the dowels are about 18 inches, so not a large, large one.

If anything, I could use it for a weapon if needed in Chicago, right? LOL

Just joking, really. I've checked out a really good site Deb sent me and I love them. I think this is like those, not sure. Any experience with these?

Block 4 complete and on to block 5--Honor

Holja a minute?

Here's Brandon when he was about 18 months old in the pic on the left, 7 years old at DisneyWorld at the bottom and then recently here. Some of his first words were like the pic on the left. He would come up to me and say with his arms out "Holdya a minute?" He really meant he wanted me to hold him so I always did and hence his spoiling began.

We sure are worried about him right now. We get no information if he is alive or well or what?
I counted last night, 17 letters, no answer. We watch the news and look up on a website to see if he is on a list and that's all we get. I lost many nights sleep when he was a baby, changed diapers, protected him from any harm that I could, loved him, and this is what we get. I'm very disappointed and hurt. I had a really bad dream last night about him and so this is on my mind.
I hope he is ok. And most of all, I hope he can deal with his anger issues because I know I didn't raise him this way, that's for sure.
We just simply want to know from time to time if he is ok. That's all. No long conversations or anything else but it seems that this won't happen so we will wait and wonder and hope he is not harmed while, according to the news, the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated. I really admire the military for its service to spouses during this time of war but I'm very disappointed that parents are not given the time of day which is strange to me because we spent many more years, birthed the child and raised him. Simple communication would be great.

I know that one of the scriptures from 1st Corinthians says that "love never gives up" but it's really hard to continue being hurt like this intentionally.

I've had to listen to some very uneducated remarks about the war from other people(not on this blog) and I have always taken up for him and our country. We are proud of him for being so brave. But, I can't say we are proud of this cruel coldness that is obviously taken a part of his heart.

http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/Fatalities.aspx

http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/Index.aspx

Heart of America, Block 3 complete

Here is the completed block 3. I spent 3 hours finishing this one. I had to frog the bronzie color because I was one count off. But all in all, it's finished.

On to another block.

We built a fire tonight and it's really toasty inside now. We went out on the porch for a bit and heard a screech owl tonight!

Hey, pop over to this blog.....

http://dipdiddlydesigns.blogspot.com/

for a great generous give-a-way of a very cute Halloween design!!!

Random Thoughts for Today

My mind is full of random thoughts today. I had many things to get done on this bright, sunny first day of October! The drive to work was beautiful. A bite was in the air this morning (although for me it felt good LOL). My coffee tastes better in the Fall on the way to work. The humidity is gone and the drier air is nice.

Besides getting my drivers license renewed........not online like a smart person would do......nope, I let mine expire and kept putting if off to enter that lovely, nice, Ga. Dept of Motor Vehicles to sit with other various and sundry folks getting their license. It was an interesting wait actually, especially if you are an analytical person. The greeter at the front desk was actually very nice and laughed at me and scolded me then for my license expiring. I told him, yes sir, I'm guilty.

Then another lady came in and she had to have worked at Hooters. I really thought that she probably was going to burst out of her top at any given moment but thank goodness they didn't ask her to bend to do a eye exam there or....oh my............LOL You know, kinda like an open biscuit can........but extreme!

You know when you are called and given a number and your number starts flashing so that everyone can see you line up in the part 2/the picture........well, this woman (the Hooters woman) actually sat next to me and asked me to tell them she had to run into the bathroom to freshen up her hair and eyeshadow for the picture. I'm sure my eyes got quite large when she said that. It was only 2 seconds later that they called me for my mugshot so, whew! The experience was then over!

I came home and noticed that the bananas we bought this past week that were all green as grass look like this today. One batch has ripened and one did not. Strange.
Thomas stares at his bowl and really eats now about 5 times daily. I guess he is storing up for the winter........LOL

Our wood is ready and begging to start a fire. I love the fireplace. We are going to build our first one for the season tonight.........cozy, cozy, cozy! Now Body Guard is the fire building expert. I don't know if it was Boy Scout experience or the Reserves or what, but he builds the best fires.

Me, I can if I have a huge chunk of fat lighter......

I'm wondering where I will put our swing. I have to find a good tree. I do have a few choices here......LOL

Another sign of testosterone is building fires outside. My hubbie built us a firepit in the yard, or actually he moved one from one side of the property to another. He does a great job and has it meticulously ready for our fire outside. Fires outside make me nervous but.........this one has all rocks around it so getting ready for S'more time......

Ruby waits patiently at the front. She is the head of the pack or so they say.

Our cozy spot on the Earth.......

But I zoom in and go........what is this? Anybody see what is different in this gathering of Fall items? Yeppers, shoes. BG evidently thinks this makes a good shoe rack...........hmmmmm.....well, at least they match the autumn colors.............LOL

The mums have bloomed.

Our summer ivy needs some trimming.........There's no telling what's under all that.......nope, don't want to think about it..............

Well, now it's time to figure out what's for supper. The daily question that we all ponder after lunch. Think tonight we will just cook some frozen pizzas and cozy up by the fire.

I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday!!!!!!! WOOHOOO!

Slowly but surely.......

Slow progress tonight. Filled in another border. Then started on the inside of the border which is inside another border.... ;0


I'm glad it didn't show too much in pictures but I read what these places in linen are called that are like extra threads all matted up-----slubs. I read that the more the slubs the less quality of the linen. I haven't run across but one slub yet, it was about 2 inches long though. Fortunately it was exactly over the bronzie color at the top under the Freedom word. The threads covered it better than usual. Do you have trouble covering slubs? It's a natural part of linen and really not a problem unless the design calls for stitching over them. Then, it's a challenge.

My goal is to finish this block and start the small block with the date underneath this one tomorrow.

Because, you know, tomorrow is another day.....according to Scarlett. And speaking of Scarlett, I hope to get her started after this one as my next big project, with little projects in between.........Scarlett is feeling neglected in my sewing basket right now. LOL