Miss Abigail says Good morning to you!

Hi, it's Abbie here again! Just want to tell you that you make my mommie smile when she reads all your comments.

  My mom dresses me up in these silly dresses. She bathed, dried and fluffed my hair. I'm definitely a bit different than last year at this time when I came home to this place. My Santa list is growing each day! I wore this same dress last year but grew alot longer.

At full grown now, except all the hair, I'm 4 lbs even! That's what my old doc said last time I went to that dreadful place they call  "the vet".

I love to take naps on Sundays, or any day as far as that matters, on the big quilt and by the fireplace where it's warm and cozy. I really prefer laps of any kind but sometimes my mom and dad are reading and on the computer and my mom stitches too.

I got out my leg warmers and scarf today as the weather is getting downright bRRRRR!

This year I fit in them much better!

Last year I went on my first trip at Christmas. I like going on trips!

I can't believe how much I sprouted hair this year! Goodness!

But, my mom and dad love it, they call me "cute and spoiled".

Last year, I was a cute little buger and played with stinky socks.

This year, my mom, and my Uncle Paul and Aunt Noi, and Aunt Parsley have given me lots of toys for my toy basket to play with.

Last Christmas, my mom put out her old angels that she said her favorite grandma gave her. Her name was Grace. She likes that name. Anyways, she put them out around Ren's tree in front of Brandon's pic to keep him safe.

 I miss Ren, and she does too but we know he is in a better place right now and this Christmas will still be in our hearts, always.

My mom puts out a separate tree for Ren every year and last year, we shared it. It's time to get it back out again!!!! My Santa list is pretty simple:

treats

treats

treats

more treats

and lots of hugs and kisses

more toys to fill my basket

Here is a mat my mom stitched last year. Miss  Tanya at The Sampler Girl, one of her favorite designers, designed this and it's the candle mat we will use to remember Ren this year during the holidays.

Aunt Parsley gave Ren this sweater last Christmas and he loved it!

I have many sweaters too and don't mind too much wearing them.

My mom stitched this into an ornie for the tree last year, design is by Miss Tanya.

She loves it because it looks like my brother Thomas who is forever chasing squirrels up trees outside but is sweet too.

Well, I changed quite a bit from 1 lb to 4 this year, now all full-grown and happy.

Well, I'm just a happy camper on this quilt by the fire and this morning just wanted to let you know that my mom ordered her Christmas giveaway late last night and she will be telling you about it later. You will like it!!

She also is designing a series of samplers just for me! Isn't that cool?

I feel another nap coming on now, so I will be nodding off soon.

And remember that I love ya morenmytreats!

Simple Saturdays

Hoping you had a great Thanksgiving!

 I had a few minutes in between to work on Forever Hope I designed a couple of months ago. This is a band sampler and I already have a rustic black frame for it that arrived in the mail. The original grid I had used to plot out the design is useful but I have (in music terms) started doing this ad lib!  I will be adding another band at the bottom after my original design to complete it.

So far I'm lovin' it!

I unrolled it from my frame to show you the progress. This lap frame has been a lifesaver for larger designs. I like Qsnaps as well but this one travels better. It folds flat and goes right along with me in a canvas holder.

Here are 2 beautiful fabrics I found this past week, not necessarily to use together but you can see in the picture. My favorite is the one on the left.

 

And soooooo thankful my Kindle cover came in the mail yesterday so it will now be protected. I've been reading a book on it and 65% finished with it. I LOVE THE KINDLE!!!!!  Thanks to my hubbie for this birthday gift.

 I didn't even learn how to use it really until a couple of weeks ago. I think I was a bit afraid of the technology. ;p

 

I have loaded several books on it and right now reading an autobiography called Beyond the Tears. I was surprised how fast the reading goes on the Kindle and delighted to have something this small to take with me anywhere instead of a pile of books, although there is something special about a new book!

 

The thickness is similar to a small paperback book. This cover in particular I ordered from a different site than Amazon because I read many reviews about the Kindle cover hinge  system causing the device to not work properly and having to be sent back to the company. This one is leather and doesn't depend on a hinge system but has leather straps on the inside. I'm pleased with it and actually it's not much more in price that most of the Amazon Kindle covers.

If you like this, click HERE

I also caved to buy this movie at Walmart and still have not watched it, but will soon.

Wednesday was our wedding anniversary and for the 9th year traditional gift was pottery or willow.

I picked the pottery one. Will have to show you that pic later...

This led me to a small box which will hold a small motif.

I can remove the top insert and put something stitchey in it.

Haven't decided but most likely a Dutch motif or maybe something else.......

Around the house today, got out my Christmas Tree melts for the tin warmer and now it smells like we have a Christmas tree...(but we don't)....LOL

This was one of the best primitive store buys I've ever gotten. It's a tart warmer. I have 3 of them now. One for upstairs, and two downstairs. Much better than candles.

Hubbie surprised me when I came home from work late Wed night with roses and he went into the buffet and thought of the idea to put one of our napkins we had at our reception in the middle!  That was clever!

Back to work, watching movies, reading and enjoying the rest of the long weekend.

Last weekend we went both to get our eyes examined as we have about 12 pair of dollar store readers in a basket in between our chairs. I knew I was losing more vision in my left eye but didn't know exactly why except that I'm getting old....  ;)

I had a very good exam, something I haven't had in a long time. I opted to add/ pay extra for a digital exam and unfortunately (or fortunately they found) out that I have Traumatic Glaucoma in the left eye. Due to my family history, I was already more prone but evidently, the examiner could tell I had been injured in my left eye a long time ago as the optic nerve is damaged.

 Generally, I got glasses for the 20/40 vision, special sunglasses too as I drive and at night the bother of the light was the glaucoma. So far, it's affected only my left eye. She showed us both the images of the back of my eyes and how the left one had optic nerve damage. She asked me if I had ever been hit in the eyes and I was ashamed to say I had but it was 20 years ago. I thought surely this wouldn't be causing this now. She said yes, traumatic glaucoma is usually not detected from the eye damage until many years later. I was ashamed and embarrassed.

I have to go have GDX testing and some more very intensive exams in the next 2 weeks to see the extent of the damage, in order to know where they will proceed. The cornea also has scarring. I should have gone sooner to check my eyes but didn't. At least now my vision that is affected is on a small black area in the left side and not the whole eye. She said it is amazing how our other eyes will compensate for the loss for years.

Most likely will be on eye drops for the rest of my life. Maybe surgery. Will see in the next couple of weeks.

So, make sure you get an eye exam, especially even if it's been years ago that you had eye injuries. (here's hoping you haven't had eye injuries)

Just got my glasses in today, progressive lens and then will see what they will do for my left eye in the next couple of weeks as this has now changed into medical insurance with preapprovals and the such.

I'm thankful this Thanksgiving to have found out sooner rather than later that I was losing permanent vision in my left eye and that there are things available to stop the progression.

I'm thankful for many things that I see.

 Amazing Grace.

Ole Christmas Spirit 1855 sampler

Good afternoon, friends. It's been a short weekend.....so much to do, too little time but enjoying every bit of it. We've enjoyed our fireplace immensely and now Miss Abigail is drying by the fire after her bath. She is fluffed, conditioned and given a treat! ;)

She loves the fireplace as well as me and BG. As I pick up and clean the house today, I am bringing out a few Christmas things already. Have to take advantage of the spirit when it comes. :)

Late last night, I stayed up to design a freebie for you to stitch into an ornie. I hope I have the time to stitch a model of this one because I like it alot. I have a remnant of 30 ct Coconut Macaroon which I plan to stitch mine on  but any fabric of your choice is fine.

 Just remember, not to be sold or kitted and please give credit to Feathers in the Nest!

Old Christmas Spirit 1855 sampler

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2010

DMC colors

310 black, if desired to outline the candle holder

814 dark garnet

919 copper for flame

729 medium old gold

3011 dark khaki green for foliage and border, date

451 dark shell gray, for pewter candle holder


And remember if using all DMC you may choose to coffee-stain for a vintagey effect after it's stitched.
The size is 92 W x 63 H

This would look cute stitched up as an ornie to sit by your favorite Christmas candle or give as a gift with a candle to a friend.

Enjoy!