Last Post of 2016!

Hi there cloud friends. I decided to do my last post for this year on New Year's Eve.  I have been enjoying all the blogs that have kept track of their stitching for the year.  I guess I could go back and look at my posts but I probably missed a few finishes anyway.   Plus I am not one to plan for the year.  I sort of stitch on whatever speaks to me in that moment. However, I do plan my next design.  For the start of this year, I plan to stitch Little House Needleworks ABC Sampler Houses.  There is a wonderful shop in Decatur, AL called Cross Stitch Peddler.  I was the only customer in the shop that early morning.  The owner was so friendly and helpful.  I got all the supplies I need to do that design. Plus a few more goodies.  I concentrated on floss and linen.  Charts are so easy to buy on line but not floss and linen.  I like to see the colors myself. 
We were in Alabama for Christmas with our son and his family.  What a treat for grandparents to spend Christmas with their grand children!!  Ian , our adopted grandson is 16, Caleb is 11, and sweet Hannah is 3 1/2. Since I use this blog as a sort of journal , I am including some favorite photos of the week.  I hope 2017 brings all of you good health and much happiness and lots of stitching!!!!

 This was a joy to stitch.  It is Emmaline Cole's Christmas Sampler.  It was designed by Melinda Cole, Merry Wind Farm.  You can find her blog Merry Wind Farm.blogspot or on Facebook. She does a wonderful job designing samplers. I changed the name to Rebecca Morris to honor my DH's 2 greats Grandmother.  She would have been 10 in 1835, the date on the sampler.  I did change all the colors to go with a sort of matching sampler that I am stitching now.

 All ready for the big day!

 Christmas cupcakes , what a treat!!

 Notice Miss Hannah in a sundress, it was 73 on Christmas Day and 70 on Christmas Eve.

 My sweeties!

 The holidays can be exhausting!

 Cookies and milk for Santa.

 Christmas morning!

I love the way they decorate for Christmas in the South, cotton on the wreath!

Thank so much for joining me and again Happy New Year to you all.  I am so grateful for you, my blog friends!

Cross Stitch Update!

Hello cloud friends.  As I promised, I am devoting this post to the stitching that I have been doing.  This will be my final post before Christmas.  We are spending time with our grand children so no time for blogging! I have been fairly busy so here we go!

 This is a small part of a design I did for my family.  It's from a very old Prairie Schooler Book, Christmas Alphabet Blocks.  I feel very fortunate to have this chart.  I have stitched other gifts from it.

This design is Fragments In Time by Summer House.  I saw this on Carol Fun's blog "Polka Dot Chicken" and knew I had to stitch it.

 

December 25thMerry Christmas Pinkeep by Stacy Nash.

 Most of these are from Little House Needleworks Sampler Tree Ornaments series. The one in the middle Merry, Merry was an ornament I won a few years ago from Andrea at the blog "The Craft Room." I would also like to give credit to Vonna at the Twisted Stitcher for her tutorials on how to do a pillow ornament.  Her blog and tutorials are wonderful. They gave me lots of good ideas on how to finish these pillows. Most of them were stitched last year.

Last but not least, this is a gift from my very good cloud friend Jamie.  Her bog is "Cricket-bug Corner." If you have not visited her bog, take a visit.  It is always a great blog to read.  She is an awesome stitcher. She knows how much I love witches.  She sent this with a long ribbon for me to wear.  Well for the time being it is an ornament.  Who says you can't have a cute little witch on a Christmas tree?!! Thank you so much Jamie, I love her plus I really can't stitch on 40 count so this is something I could not easily make for myself.

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  All of you , my cloud friends, are very special to me.  Thank you so much for reading my blog!!

A Road Trip

Hi there cloud friends.  I thought it was about time to share a road trip with you.  Over Thanksgiving week-end, my DH and I took a road trip to Astoria, OR.  We have been there before.  It is a delightful little town full of great shops, good food , and wonderful coffee shops.  It's also very near to the beautiful Pacific Ocean and the spot where Lewis and Clark spent one long wet winter. If you read this blog to see cross stitch , come back in a few days, I have lots to share.  But for today it's all about Astoria.

This was the view from the hotel room.  The bridge over the mighty Columbia River connects Washington and Oregon. 

The beautiful Pacific Ocean

I thought this shed was fun and very decorative!

A sign reminding you of just where you are!! 

Fort Clatsop.  This is a replica of the fort built by the Lewis and Clark party.  This is where they spent the winter.  

Yes , lots of great coffee shops.  This one is my favorite.

Coffee Girl  is out on a pier with a cannery.  There were lots of interesting signs and history concerning the canning of salmon in Astoria.

Well, a house for me and the DH to rehab.  Funny thing, when I found this he said it was time to go home.

Thanks for joining me today.  I will have a Christmas cross stitch post in the next few days.

A

Day 3

Hi there all you cloud friends.  I am posting today for the Advent Calendar that Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching has organized.  Thanks for all your work, Jo.  We are asked to do two things.  First post a photo of a seasonal design and second tell you about a special object we have to help celebrate the season. For my design I have chosen a Plum Street Samplers piece called "Promised Lamb." I stitched it during the Christmas season last year. This year we are enjoying it in the family room.

I had a difficult time picking the object as many of the things  I use at Christmas time have sentimental value.  My entire Christmas tree is a tribute to family.  However, I was able to pick one item that is very special.

I can not remember a time in my life when this was not being used as the stable for the Christ child.  The lovely figurines were a gift from my step-mother who passed on last May so it will be especially important this year.  My mom used to let my sister and I play with the figurines so the original ones are long gone.
I hope you have enjoyed my holiday memory trip and I wish for all of you ,a very Merry Christmas!

Happy Veteran's Day!! 

 

 Happy Veteran's Day to our favorite vet.  Everyday we are  thankful that he came home safely from two tours in Iraq.We are extremely proud of his service to our country. 

 

 

He is also a wonderful family man.  Here he is at Caleb's birthday party with the whole gang, Caleb, Hannah, Ian, and his lovely wife Kacey! We hope you all have a super day!

A Halloween House Tour

Hi there Cloud friends.  Today I am taking you on a tour of my house as it is decorated for Halloween.  If you are not interested, I totally understand. If you enjoy this day as I do then come along...

 As you walk in the front door, you will see my pumpkin collection all made by Tom Jones of Fairhope AL.

 Then my desk will great you.  I love this antique, it is one of my favorite pieces of furniture!

 To the left is the dining room where several of my favorite witches will greet you.

 A wonderful folk art witch, a birthday gift from my DH.

 My DD gave me this puppet witch for Christmas one year.  She is a good NW witch, and enjoys her coffee!(Notice the empty mug)

 Another gift form my DH.  That man really knows what makes me happy!

 Now we are in the upstairs hallway.

 First cross stitch I ever did!

 Welcome to my craft room where I have just a few photos of my sweet grand children dressed for Halloween!

 Back downstairs for a few close-ups.

 On the desk.

 Two of my favorite Halloween stitches.

 Even the powder room is decorated.

 A gift from my BIL and SIL.  My BIL says it is a family gathering of my family! That man has a good sense of humor!

 Family room with a focus on the fireplace.

 A shock here, I actually finished a few pillows!!!!! If you look closely, you will see a few gifts from my stitchy friends! Thanks Jamie!!!

  We are now in the kitchen.

 A dress and hat just waiting for the right little witch!

If you made it this far, I thank you and wish you a most Happy Halloween !!!!!