Friday Flashback----The Waltons and Spencer's Mountain

Tonight, I've settled in with a good book that I happened upon, going up and down the public library isles last week. I was really not looking for anything special, but the library has always been a quiet place for this introverted-spirit to roam. The quietness of the rooms and variety of old and new books fills my mind with diversions I sometimes need in a busy pace of life.

 I was there to take back a couple of books, always telling myself that I really didn't need to check out any books right now, as life's pace is pretty busy; however, that little tug in my heart to just "see" what was in the library took me down an aisle of randomness. True randomness.

It must have been a matter of fate because I'm a lover of The Waltons TV program. 

We have been watching re-runs for a couple of years now on the inspiration channel and in fact it is one of the 3 programs ( I don't watch alot of TV) that I will just sit and watch the entire episode, never tiring of seeing one again and again, knowing very well the story and the ending.

The episode takes me back to the years of high school and college when The Waltons TV program was very popular. I always yearned to live in the mountains. 

Low and behold...........one day I did.

While roaming in the library I picked out an interesting book that drew my attention because of the handmade bookcover. I love an old book. Don't get me wrong. I love my Kindle too but a very old book I love more.

When I saw the author, Earl Hamner, Jr., I raised an eyebrow and had not heard of this book, but I knew he was the writer in The Waltons show.

Published in 1961, I guess this book has been read quite a bit. It's spine is reinforced and the handmade, wallpaper cover had me interested. 

And remembering, don't judge a book by it's cover, I just had to pull this one.

I turned through the pages and sure enough, it's the story where The Walton's came from. I have heard Spencer's Mountain is also a movie but I have not seen it. Where have I been?

And so, the old book, had to come home with me. Tonight, as I picked it up, I looked up to see what was on TV.

A meeting of the minds I guess.

Old Zebulon, is the grandpa in the book but John Boy is called Clay Boy. The other characters have some differences but so far it's right along the lines of the setting as The Waltons. However, in browsing through this version, it is a little less demure..........

It's interesting what peaks our memories and mind sometimes. I'm definitely curling up by the woodstove with some chapters of this book.............................

because it's due by next week and ......

I don't think I'm checking another book out right now......again..........but......

well you know how that will go next week. :0

#lovingpubliclibraries

#thewaltons

#spencersmountain

#ilovebooks

Grab a book this evening and read a bit. Does the soul good.

Abbie is curled up next to me tonight. I think she is ready to go to bed.

Good night, John Boy.

Another Random Stitchy Start

Just picked up the needle, with a little time to work on it a design I've had from a designer  , and inspired with it, so another start for a cloudy afternoon. I'm using this with DMC 355, monochromatic.

 The fabric has been in my stash for at least 10 years. I've always LOVED it. It has flecks of Colonial Blue and Red in it with a dark linen main color. It has a wool feel to it. I've always wanted to know the name of it, I had taken the tag off. I got this many years ago in a stitching shop in Augusta, Ga. that I don't think is there anymore.

I thought the red picks up the flecks of threads perfectly.

Can you guess what this sampler will be?????
Can you guess the designer?????

I like the "wooly" feel to this linen and I'm finally putting it to use. This is what happens when I clean out my stash. I find too many things to start on. :)

Last night, went to see The Lucky One out in theatre based on a Nicholas Spark's book and it was very good!

More later with pics of Miss Abbie when my camera is behaving. :P

Jennifer

Happy Independence Day!

Just want to check in and say I hope that each and every one that reads this blog, is having a great 4th! ;)

This weekend has been full of fun, relaxation and meditation, TV watching on the Anthony trial, cozy time with hubbie, cooking for our holiday meal, and at opening day of Larry Crowne Friday night, excited to see the first showing local. I have looked forward to this movie for a long time. I love both Julia and Tom and when they are in a movie together...........wonderful! If you haven't seen it, it's a must-see. Julia is soooooo good in this movie.

We waited in line and with my free spirit, ready for popcorn and the movie! We went after a long day of work Friday night. Got pulled over by the cops for having my bright lights on too much after the movie......that was new one for me. Anyway, I guess I've resigned to driving at night unless it's an emergency as it's very hard to see at night for me.

Ann Hill progess. Right at the round border at the right.

Borders.

I always feel better when borders are done. ;)

Kind of like boundaries. We all have them. Hopefully.

I'm so enjoying my Gingher scissors with this piece.

As with alot of people in America, just waiting on the verdict from the Anthony trial.

We had an invite to watch fireworks tonight at a local Jewish camp for boys; however, it's thundering and pouring rain right now, so much as the electricity is going off and on.

Bodyguard and I cooked a DELISH meal for the two of us tonight.

Grilled filet mignon, marinaded in his famous, secret marinade,

Fresh potato salad I made with some red potatoes.

Fresh, shucked corn on the cob, boiled with butter and salt

cooked carrots

and

deviled eggs.

I've gotten alot more work done in the basement (an ever ending task) with donating piles, and to do piles

and plan on several things to do this week on my staycation.

Well, ready for the fireworks....whether through this lightening storm or the official ones in town.

Hope you had a great holiday. It's a great week for meditating on the positive.

And one of those positives is freedom, which is a true blessing but comes at a cost to so many families.

Happy Birthday, America.

My home, sweet, home.

Stay safe on this holiday,

Jennifer

If you need a really big 2 hours of laughing.......

then, go see this movie....but no kids....it's a chickflick for sure/ adult content though.

 I can't even tell you how many times I laughed hard while viewing this movie after work......

The funniest movie. Crazy funny!

It's so funny, you might even go twice. ;p

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

It was a movie night Friday

It's been such a long time since I went to the movies but after a long day of work, I spontaneously went to see Eat, Pray, Love with Julia Roberts in it. It was GREAT!  SOOOO many good lessons from that movie. I have had the paperback book for several weeks and haven't read it but I plan to. I always like to see the movie first. I know that sometimes movies differ than the book but that's ok.
All the actors were awesome in this movie. It's very much a chick-flick though. But aren't those the best kind?

 http://eatpraylove-movie.net/

After you see this movie, you'll want to take a year off somewhere for reflection, meditation, love, and good food in between.

Of course, in my opinion, Julia Roberts is the best actress and I probably have every one of her movies somewhere tucked away. She is still going strong in her acting career and this movie proved it.

Sometimes

Emma Project Progress and Stitchbow Bag Giveaway.....

I just finished watching the second part of Emma, the movie on PBS and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. I could absolutely absorb myself into the characters and of course, Mr. Knightly was such a gentleman.......I digress......

Here is my progress thus far on the sampler~~~~


And also I finally drew a name for the DMC bag and.........TADA! JOSIE is the lucky winner.

Thanks and I hope you enjoy it. Please email me at jennifer.dalenberg@yahoo.com

to let me know your mailing address. I will be getting this one and the last one out next week.

This past week has had me tied up a bit and then it iced so I couldn't get to the post office....so Arlette in Costa Rica, your Cabin Give-a-way will be mailed at the same time this week, I'm aiming for Tuesday. Please forgive me for being late with it.

Oh, this movie left me with such a happy thought for pleasant sleep.

Till later,

Jennifer

Early Morning Awakenings

Mornings like this are rare for me on days off. I'm not usually awake and alert without coffee at 6am but this morning, I'm awake. Looks like it's starting out to be a dreary, cloudy day outside and Raven has only moaned like a cow once on the front porch this morning.

Speaking of Raven and Ruby, did you know they are sisters and born on a cattle ranch? They were adopted by us at 4 months of age, the last two of the litter. One was Ying and one was Yang. My hubbie thought that was fitting for us as we are also Ying and Yang.
Maybe this is why Raven, moans and groans like a cow at times. She is remembering her younger days.

Bodyguard and I are opposites, like night and day. He likes it warm, I like it cold. He likes creamy peanut butter, I like crunchy peanut butter. I like pink, he likes green. When he is tired, I'm usually wired and vice versa. He likes soft cookies, I like crunchy cookies. He likes the history channel and I go to sleep with the history channel. What is this in nature to attract our opposite? That's a thought worth pondering on another day........oh, my, I'm starting to sound like Scarlett. Another day? yes, tomorrow is another day.........

Speaking of Scarlett and Gone with the Wind, my favorite part is when Melanie is about to birth the baby and Scarlett is responsible. She depends on Prissy who told her previously that she knew everything about birthing babies.

Then, when it comes time for her to really help, Prissy screams, "I don't know nuffin bot birfin' no babies, Miss Scarlett, OH, Miss Scarlett!" Then you see one of the many slaps given by none other than Miss Scarlett.


Now, Scarlett, did have some persistence and some personality, didn't she?
Ah, but Rhett, she says, "Rhett, you devil, you varmit" and then slaps him too. I'm definitely not condoning slapping people but there is a little to say about Scarlett's assertiveness! LOL


I've since percked my coffee, add a little hazelnut flavor creamer and flopped down to read. I'm even thinking about stitching in a few and if so, remember this date, because I've never stitched this early in the morning.
Fiddle-de-dee!

Saturday Progress

From this~~~~~~

To this~~~~~ Saturday night

Almost there. The New Amsterdam 1624 Sampler by The Sampler Girl. Plan to finish and frame today! YIPPEE!

I have enjoyed stitching the blue colors in this piece.

Yesterday we had fun, went to a hotdog grill-out then came home to watch a little Gone With The Wind video I have had for awhile and one of my favorite movies.

Then Bodyguard helped me rearrange my bedroom..........every now and again I get in the mood for the bed to go a different direction or such.......not very often but last night was one of those days. I really like it. It's a good change.

The sun is out this morning and my coffee is tasting mighty good right now! Summer is definitely here with the warm temps, upper 80's, maybe 90 today.

Well, I will post my next project or projects coming up soon.

Fiddle-de-dee..............

Progress on the Sarah Bottomly sampler--raising the roof

This is a picture of a finished Sarah Bottomley sampler, a dream for me one day! :0


This is pictures of my progress so far on it, in my standing frame which takes a load off my arm and is a God-send.

Well, today has been full of rest and intermittent diversians to stitch (especially if on Flexeril) to help with the arm pain. But all in all yesterday and today, not much completed as I would have hoped. The house is solid stitching so progress feels slow. I can't wait to get to the front door. As you can see in the pic#1 the blue is so pretty and so vintage. With my goal being to complete this house this week I must not tarry long on other distractions.........

The Bodyguard helped me all weekend do some things around the house because he knew my arm is splinted. He's so sweet ;)

Then, we popped some popcorn and relaxed this evening to a movie from the Library called Sense and Sensibility, one of the first Jane Austen delights. I will take it back on Tuesday and see what else do they have or can order for me. I just love the way they talked to each other back in those days, with alot of respect . People actually thought before speaking .

Back to the Sarah Bottomly sampler from the Scarlett Letter~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am currently wanting to finish the roof which is dense repetual stitching and I may put a few more in it before I retire to bed, but probably not many because the medication that the docs have me on are making me very sleepy and tired. I hope I make it though work. At lunch I will be having an EMG where they use needles to test different muscle groups. I hope I don't scream too many times. YIKES.

Here's hoping your Monday is the BEST!!

Saturday stitching

Here is the progress of the Be Still and Know sampler by The Sampler Girl. I used the stitching stand today with the Qsnap frame and gained more progress. The linen is 28 count R and R Light Expresso. I'm almost finished with the border. I wish I could learn to use my new camera better and get better pictures but its out of focus and we have been unable to reset it yesterday.

I watched more TV than usual today while stitching. A couple of Law and Order shows, to a couple of Leave It to Beaver shows, "What Not to Wear" program and alot of news programs and others.

Our weather here is stormy but luckily no power outages today.

Tomorrow we are planning to go to see a movie. I looked to see what exactly was at the theatres because I really have not kept up with it. It is a tie between Duplicity with Julia Roberts or Knowing with Nicholas Cage. I'm leaning towards Duplicity but again, I'm a Julia Roberts fan and this movie is about 2 CIA agents. The trailer looked good. The Knowing movie looks intense and I'm not exactly excited to see a virtual plane crash right before I go flying Tuesday!

Well, off to sleep..........

Monday mornings

Its so nice to wake up on Monday and not have to go to work today. We stayed up late last night watching a movie from the library. Its second in a series of 7, of which Love Comes Softly was the first. It was really good and now I"m ready to get the third one. Between the first two movies was a span of 10 years (in movie time) so will be interesting to see what the plot is for movie # 3. The name of the movie is Loves Enduring Promise. This sequel is based on a book, Love Comes Softly and Missy is the main character this time, grown up now for 10 years, she meets 2 guys of totally different character but both are interested in her. One is a wayward son that had been away from home for 6 years. He is all grown up now and comes back to resolve issues with his father. In the meantime, Missy finds out what true love is and chooses the guy without money but alot of love and duration. The actor Kathrine Heigl was in this one again as Missy's mother. She really did a good part in these movies, I think more so than Gray's Anatomy.
I read a little each day from The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck and it is a very good book. I can only digest small amounts of it each day, it's just one of those kinds of books. The original copyright is 1978 and some sections look familiar like I may have read through it a long time ago. But anyway, it's good reading now again.
Today's mission is to find 40 count Silver Fox linen somewhere online for the project "Dancing by the Light of the Moon". So far, haven't been able to find it. So here's off to another cup of coffee and a mission............

Update on Stitching Projects

Here is a new start from The Scarlett Letter. I just had to start another sampler. The colors are very pretty and are varied in blues, rust, black, and browns. The stitches include the herringbone stitch, which I am having some difficulty with but plan to learn better. The herringbone stitches will comprise the borders of seven layers. These are two very early reproduction samplers, Francis Bliss and Lydia Hinckley. Guess what? The J is missing again. Of course the dates are in the 1700's so again, the J was not even yet in the alphabet. The fibers are regular DMC floss on 25 count fabric. This is a reproduction of 2 small samplers in a museum.

The Twiggs sampler, number 1 and number 2 small samplers. I stopped to take a break with one over one thread on the second one. Its very tiny and I can only do with magnifying light. These two will be separated when finished and framed as a pair. They are from The Scarlett Letter reproduction samplers.

This is a couple of pics of my almost complete Dutch sampler. I have one and a half letters to go! 2001 is the year we got married and moved here in the mountains.

The drive to work today was pretty cold but we are supposed to be having some 70 degree weather by Friday, Sat and Sunday. I'm off tomorrow and will enjoy sleeping in and then hopefully will get some cleaning done. I've put it off too long now.

I went to the library on Tuesday and got a sequel movie to Love Comes Softly which I returned. We enjoyed this movie over the weekend. I did not realize that there were actually a series of 7 movies following it and can't wait to see the next one. That's one good thing about checking out movies from the library~~2 weeks to return them!

On the cooking scene this week, I finally made some corned beef and cabbage. I have to say that after watching it boil for 3 hours I didn't have the appetite to eat it! It's something I can eat in a restaurant already cooked but if I have to cook it then I just can't eat it.....until next time.......

stay safe and warm!

Jennifer

The Arthritis Daily Indicator

Ok, just looked at the weather on North Georgia Access website and it's so cool! (no pun intended). This explains my aching joints today. It's true I can tell the change of weather by changes in joint pain. I bet though if I wake up Sunday morning to complete ,white ,beautiful winter snow, that joint pain will get better right away! We usually only see snow like this about once a year if lucky so it's a BIG DEAL when it happens. I already have my thermals and boots ready to go out and play in it. .........of course, after taking my arthritis medication!

Not that anyone with arthritis would need to check a daily meter, but it's a cool thing to find on there. There is also a mosquito daily indicator. I guess having alot of mosquitos and arthritis on the same day could be pretty bad or I guess, if you think about it, swatting at mosquitos will give you plenty of exercise in those old joints.

I guess it's good for folks to have an arthritis indicator because if you live with someone that has it, then you can be on guard for some moodiness...........not that EVER happens to me LOL HEHEHEHE

Well, anyway, speaking of moodiness, we watched a good movie today from the library called Love Comes Softly. It has the girl.......in Grey's Anatomy, can't think of her name now.....anyway as the main character and the setting is sort of like Little House on the Prairie. Very good family movie. Life was hard back then but oh, so much more simpler. No one is text messaging and watching TV ........just simple hard work and life.

I'm so close to finishing the Dutch Alphabet Sampler that I can't stand it. I guess it's like running the last lap before the finish line. I have been measuring what size frame I will need and for the space and the size is odd~~ May have to get someone to frame this little pretty.

The Day After Christmas

Today we went to see a movie, Marley and Me, and it was really sad but good. Make sure you take plenty of Kleenex. I can't tell the complete story as I wouldn't want to spoil the ending but it sure was very gutwrenching sad.

I can't wait to read the book as books are usually more detailed than the movie. The website has really good information about the author who actually wrote this based on a true story of his dog. It's really about time a good movie came out!!!!