Sunny-side up!

This is our outside duty cat, Thomas.

 He keeps all the rodents at bay around the homestead and every now and again brings us the remains at the doorstep for us to be thankful for!  YIKES!

I think I have screamed enough when I suddenly see them there that he connects leaving such at the door, with excited screams. In the summer on two occasions he has played with and batted down to the house  baby snakes and that was supposed to be a reward for us. NOT!

We love him. He is a rescue animal and is about 6 years old now. Our son found him near a McDonald's trash bin where he was put with an empty can of cat food near it. Every since he was brought here, he has made himself home and loves every minute of mountain country life. I am most sure an angel was involved in his bringing here lots of love.

His main thoughts for the day are

Eat

Eat

Eat

repeat.

He occasionally gets a sneak inside for milk and treats but with both of us having cat allergies, Thomas stays mostly on the porches, wherever sunlight is for the day and he is known to move every couple of hours around the porches in different chairs or on the swing when the sun moves!! ; 0

We really dote on Miss Abigail, our 17 month old , long-haired CHI so much that we leave poor Thomas out. We love him just the same and he has been a blessing to us.

When ole man Winter arrives and the weather gets below freezing, we take our Zyrtec and he knows that he has a special sofa on the basement level that he lounges.

He gets along well with our 2 Labs and I think it's because they are about the same age and know nothing but each other.

This weekend the weather is beautiful  here in the North Georgia mountains, sunny and very mild!

We woke about 9ish and had some cinnamon toast and tea and conversation,

and now I'm starting on my list of chores to do. This morning woke up headache free and I'm so thankful for that.

Yesterday, I went by Target and found exactly what I needed for some additional yoga!!!

I also found the prettiest little birdbath that I will post later when I find where it's home will be outside!

Hope your day is beautiful and if not in weather too, in blessings surrounded by peace and those you love.

Like Thomas and......

Mario.

You just never know......

who you might run into these days!

Sunny-side up!

We have alot to be thankful for!

What a day!

My day was lifted seeing this sent to me. Isn't it pretty? 

This is Tracey's finish of one of my freebies for Valentines!!!!

Check out her beautiful blog!

Thanks Tracy you did a gorgeous finishing and the colors are very contrasting, I like that.

Next, sent to me are a basket full of 3 of my freebies along with one from Heartstring samplerey and the others that in their too. So sorry. But this brightened my day!!!! feathers in the nest desgins on the far right larger pillowkeep and the two in the middle

Thank you Catherine. Just click on her name and it will lead you to her blog. The basket makes a great display!!!!!

She also has a great stitching blog!  Just click on the names above to visit their sites!

Migraine is still there. Have taken lots of medicines and feel worn out. Plan to sleep as much as I can tonight because I got very little last night and then off to work. I'm in the nausea phase and it's miserable. I'm sure this will pass. Hopeing the good weather that is predicted for the weekend will make it a good one.

I through a few stitches in tonight but not enough for a pic. I'm hoping to finish this by tomorrow.
I have Irish stitching to do!!!!

Thanks you for all you comments, compliments, and positive thoughts. They are so kindly accepted and energizing. I have had a few people who can't post a comment but if you go go the bottom of the posting and see comments, I think there are over 200 now and click here then it will lead you to the comment box. Hope this helps.

Well, time for a little snack before going back to bed.

Fiddle DD
Jennifer

Enjoy while your daffodils are rising

The Daffodils are growing

copyright 2011 by Feathers in the Nest

suggested colors are CC sunshine girl and CC Finley gold, CC Steamed Broccoli, and CC Auburn and

CC peach for the flesh

Progress on Bent Creek sampler Land of Liberty

update on progress of Bent Creek Zippy Land of Liberty. For newcomers, this was a RAK from my friend, Karyn, Ma Teakettle. The fabric on the side, I plan to incorporate in the finish in some way. Colors go so well!

previous progress~~~  Had a hunk of white to fill in

Found this DVD on the 5.00 pile at Walmart today and even though it's a very old movie, it's a good one but make sure you have lots of Kleenex. Sad.  I remember seeing this movie when it came out in the theatre years ago, Where the Red Fern Grows.

Yesterday, after getting home from work and just starting dinner, I lost my vision in the periphery of my left eye, with waves moving like crazy, so much that I couldn't see my left hand or anything to the left. I definitely was freaked out. Lasted about 20 minutes and have had a headache, not really a bad one but dull until I went to bed early. Called my eye doc while it was going on and she had me come in first thing this morning to dilate my eyes to see if the retinal hemorrhage was back. It had stopped by the time she called back and otherwise I had to go to a place in Atlanta if it started again. 

 Thank goodness, it was an ocular migraine instead of a detaching retina in my glaucoma eye. Had my eyes dilated and examined good this morning.  I've never in the history of having migraines since age 13 experienced anything like loss of vision completely.

I don't know what triggered this type of migraine but I thought it was ok, until tonight about an hour again, the headache is starting again a bit more. No visual problems but just a bad headache again so medication just taken. I'm hoping it goes away by in the morning when I get to work.

Thank you to all the responses for the giveaway!!! Can't wait to see who the lucky winner will be!

I have so much in my stitching basket to work on. I finished a design for "ye Irish eyes" which ironically, was for St. Paddy's day and maybe my Irish eyes were definitely smiling last night. ;)

The verse is:

My Irish eyes are smiling,

ABC,123

Always for thee

1823

JD

stitching in CC Attic Tea

Hope to start stitching on that one after I finish Land of Liberty. More tomorrow when I'm thinking a bit straighter............

  early to bed now,

Jennifer

Spring Fever Give-a-way starts now!

Brand new pair of scissors from Pineberry Lane

Old Fashioned Scissors--the small pair

These were mine while I opened them a while back. I ordered a pair for this giveaway too.

So your pair will come like this with fragrance of Sweet Annie on the tie and let me tell you!  These are sharp, sharp scissors. I LOVE mine!  I had to share as I had alot of comments on these before.

The second item in the Spring Fever Giveaway is a new pair of Gingher's

 Gingher Epaulette scissors, new in box and ready for your stitchy hands!

I also have a pair of these, for about a year now and they are sharp as well and of course the name, Gingher will explain why. The quality is awesome! These have gold handles and very ornate.

So.  The lucky winner will have 2 new pair of scissors and if you already have a pair of them, they will make beautiful gifts.

For the Third part of the giveaway is this beautiful sampler pattern from Pineberry Lane, brand new in package

called

A Faithful Friend Sampler

188 x 112

Got cabin fever yet? Well, about this time of year, with the touch or two of warmer days, brings hope for Spring. However, I know we still have a little Winter to go so I'm hoping that these will brighten someone's day.

Remember to post separately for up to 3 chances for your name in the pot.

For one chance, just post as a follower.

For two chances, post again if you have a blog, that you have put it on your blog,

and for a third chance post how you usually stitch the most, whether it be "in hand", a hoop, a needlework stand, Q snap or however.

International accepted

Remember that a random number generator will pick the winner on March 1st so this gives you time to spread the word to your stitching friends! Only post here on this posting if you are interested.

I just want to thank everyone for all their comments. They mean alot to me. Your messages, both on the blog and email, have been encouraging and it's so delightful to connect to people all over the world! 

As in this sampler verse

Remember well and bear in mind,

A Faithful friend is hard to find.

~~~~~~~~

Surround yourselves with loving friends and those that choose not to be, pray for. That's the best gift you can give!

Till later,

jennifer

Options

~~~~~~~~

Abbie at work, multi-tasking. She's deciding on which option. Doggie treat 1, 2 or 3?

~~~~~~~

Still trying my hand at yoga and so far can see the therapeutic benefits from it. The stretching really feels good. My mantra is Serandipity. Let it go.

My options for this week are here:

Stitching present project?

stitching new project for the lucky Irish design this morning?

or

focusing on the house and sewing panels for kitchen cabinets?

Need to do all of the above. Also getting an early start on cleaning out and donating some linens and things. Must be the touch of warm weather this week.  :)

  I have just finished designing a new one for St. Patrick's and can't wait to start that one. I stitched a bit last night after a wonderful cooked dinner by hubbie of Steaks and potato. They were GOOD steaks too! Also got some beautiful flowers yesterday which made my Irish smile a little brighter.

This morning slept late to catch up on some Z's and methinks I should get busy checking off some of my to-do list of things in my journal book.

We are having milder weather here in North Georgia this week and I'm lovin' it!

I noticed this morning that the daffodils are popping up in the yard, always a promise of Spring.

Another promise is a giveaway soon. I just received it in the mail late yesterday so pics to follow.......stay tuned. I think you will like this one!

Stay tuned, stay safe, and till later,

Jennifer

Color inspiration and creating

I often find it inspirational to get about halfway through my piece and then ramble through, thinking what fabbies I could compliment the design with best.

I pulled out these two and stitched a bit, filling in the off white color. I liked them alot.

But then, I went back down to my fabric stash and remembered this one I got from Boston last year.

And I REALLY liked this one. This piece was pretty special to me. The feel of it a bit thicker and it blends with the Americana so well too.

This one pulls out the colors well and I think it's the winner.

I'm still not sure how I will finish this....framing or pillow, or hanging but I just put the fabric beside my stitching piece while I stitch and it helps me decide. Anybody else like to do that? ;)

The temp today was 60 and sunny. Sooo nice here. A teaser of Spring for sure.

Abbie got her bath and we did a bit of work on some shelves I found a couple of months back at a thrift store for 7.50 each. I had fun with them on the back porch scuffing them up a bit to look a bit prim as they were then placed over 2 windows upstairs in our remodeled bedroom.

When I get it complete I will show some pics.

The shelves were a nicely stained maple color. I thought that matte black paint and then a little scuffing with a hand sander would make them just right for over the windows. Perfect shelving for stitching finishes.

Bodyguard painted these last week with a matte black (please excuse the dusty back porch)

so this is before.

And then afterward

And Abbie stopped chewing and looked in shock at how I knocked off the paint job.

 

 Next is putting a dowel rod through for panels.I was going to use tension rods to hold but this didn't work so well. 

 Hopefully, will get this part done this week. Then I've got to decide on tiebacks for the panels as mainly they will be "tied back!" Simple and plain though, this I know for sure.

As a lover of the Lover's Knot pattern, these large throws are at the bottom of the beds.

The sillouhettes of George and Martha

It's getting there, slowly but surely a bit at the time.

I heart home.

Create a special jewelry gift with Chunky Bling

Check out this website if you love jewelry!  You can create and design rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces and with Swarvoski crystals, the price is unbeatable!  Just check out the side bar to the right and click on Chunky Bling pic and you'll be there!

My favorite is the ring page here
I also love the bracelets........well, I like it all, actually, and wanted to share with all the creative souls here. For example, if you want to make a special Mother's Day gift bracelet or birthday giftie, especially for her and a little bling too, this is the place to go.
Swarvoski crystals are beautiful in bracelets. I have one and get complements on it all the time STILL and I've worn it for 2 years!

Midnight Steeches!

Bent Creek

Land of Liberty

Stitchin' up some love for my country this Valentine's.

Speaking of BENT!

Laughter is the best medicine.

See if a couple of things make you giggle and if they do, I'm happy. I put these on Facebook and no one thought they were funny.............what's your favorite. Mine would be to skip everywhere you walk tomorrow.

and

confirming 2 or 3 times at the drive thru window, that this is a "to go" order.

16 ways to maintain a Healthy level of insanity.

1. At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hairdryer at passing cars, see if they slow down.

2. Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.

3. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.

4. Put a garbage can on your desk and label it "IN"

5. Put decaf in the coffee maker for three weeks. Once everyone is over their Caffeine addictions, switch to expresso.

6. Finish all your sentences with "In Accordance to the Prophecy".

7.Don't use any punctuation.

8. As often as possible, skip rather than walk.

9. Specify that your drive thru order is "To Go"

10. Sing Along at the Opera

11. Go to a poetry recital and ask why the poems don't rhyme.

12. Put mosquito netting around your work area and play tropical sounds all day.

13. When the money comes out of the ATM, scream "I WON I WON!!"

14. When leaving the zoo, start running towards the parking lot, yelling "Run for your lives, they're loose!!"

15. Tell your children over diner, "Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go."

16. Send this to your friends to make them smile, It's called therapy.

Love ya'll!