July comes to an end...

Hey, Friends!

The end of July is near – full of heat and steam – and one of the best things about it?  A good old red, vine ripe tomato sandwich.  Some of my Southern Sisters are going to say I’ve ruined it with wheat bread, and I do admit I like the taste and texture of white better for a tomato sandwich, but that’s what was here.  And of course, that’s Duke’s you see oozing out!  Wan’a bite?

For some more ‘presentable’ recipes, do you know about the Pioneer Woman?  I just think she’s one of the best – and she does more than recipes.  Yes, she writes cookbooks, but is the wife of a rancher, loves her family and home, has good photo tips (but don’t use mine as an example), a great sense of humor, and some very fine giveaways.  Drop in to see what she’s up to when you have a minute.    

I have a request from you scissor lovers out there.  Do you have any idea where I could find a pair that I saw featured on the cover of an older Sheepish Designs chart called Bee Keeper?  They have what look like blackberries on them.  I’ve searched, but with no luck. 

I’m trying to get the Birds of a Feather Mystery done by the end of the month, but that is not looking too promising.  I’m going to get busy on it after I hop around your blogs for a few minutes.

Thank you for coming by today – I hope you’ll sit a spell, say a few words, and come back again real soon, now, ya’hear!  I’ll fix you a tomato san’wich and a glass’a tea!

Edited:  just realized it's the New Moon

* Reminder:   TuSAL is in the side bar this year à

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Is it Hot? or What!

Hey, Friends!

Have you read any posts lately that did NOT begin by stating something about how hot it is?  

Does the hot weather simply wear you out?  I do spend most of my weekdays in an office, but it seems lately when I get home and get to sit down to begin TV and stitching, I simply doze off.  I have done a little stitching – and really unlike me, on several things.   

Continuing with the patriotic theme, I stitched a couple of letters from the Shepherd's Bush Flag.  As I look at it now, I want to go back and put some vine on the small piece - the 'a'.

Last year I met Marie from Blackberry Lane and bought the kit to stitch Boo Moon that was in the Halloween issue of Just Cross Stitch.  I came across it recently and decided to get started.  Well, as you see, I didn't get very far. 

I finally found one that kept me in the mood for stitching - With thy Needle and Thread - Mystery Part II!  I wanted a bit more contrast in the alphabet, so I'm using Olive instead of the recommended.  I haven't gotten there yet, but did you see that Myra has made the birds cardinals, and they look fantastic!  Maybe I'll get to the tree later. 

I’m trying to decide – and would like to hear what you think:
Do you have/use Facebook and/or Twitter? If so, which do you prefer, if either, and why?

I suppose the reasons I haven’t until now are a few, but mainly paranoia, and secondly, who cares what I’m up to – it’s usually working or stitching; right?  But now there are some interesting links I’ve seen that may entice me more.  Not really games or ‘collecting’ friends, but links to interesting places like Pinterest.    And some of the favorite blogs say, follow me on twitter.  Do I really want to?  Right now I’m thinking I’ll go with Twitter, and continue to use this Blog as my posting spot larger than 140 characters.  So let me know if I’m missing something.  One Twitter sign up said it would allow them to modify my profile – that just doesn’t sound right to me!  And since I strated writing this, I created an account, so if you Tweet, let me know.

Stay cool - oh, and the new yahoo group Blackbird Stitchers are gathering today for a cyber stitch in if you'd like to drop by for some Lemonade and Pie! 

Thanks for coming by and especially for leaving a few words. 

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

All good things ...

Hey, Friends!

And so the staycation comes to an end.  Did I accomplish all intended?  No. Do I wish it could go on? Yes! Four years and counting… just not as closely as some!  One girl at work counts by the day, for about three years to go.  That would wear me out!  Anyway – it has been a great break, which I needed.  Only wish I thought there would be something different to make it better going back – but just don’t see that happening.  Oh well – mortgage and groceries go on.  If you’re an etsy shopper, like me, you may have seen this, but if not take a look at this video by Jenny Hart.  She’s a young embroidery stitcher/teacher/designer, but you can see that the passion lives on.  If I were brave it may not have to  be four more years!    

I’m not the only one who has enjoyed this time at home.  Miss Pixie has been chilling, too.  Here’s a look from out our kitchen window.  I’ve enjoyed taking time to visit your blogs to see what you’re working on, and posting a bit more often about my fun, too. 

The Patriotic mood for stitching smalls continues.  Lizzie Kate’s, Let Freedom Ring was stitched on white from stash with DMC threads.  Next was one of the designs from Homespun Elegance leaflet that I’m calling Hearts and Stripes that I stitched on 28ct R&R Dark Chino with Vikki Clayton HDF silks.

I think I’ll finish off the week with stitching.  Thanks for stopping by and especially for leaving your kind and fun words!  I really appreciate you!  Enjoy the rest of your day, too! 

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Land of the Free

Hey, Friends!

Know what I’m thinking of during my Staycation?  The Myrtle Beach Fall Fling Stitching Retreat with  PALS !  What am I talking about?  Lots of stitching, chatting, eating, and general fun times at the east coast of South Carolina!  Amy, from Down Sunshine Lane is the sponsor, and here’s a link to the general information if you’re interested in setting aside a few days in October for having a blast with a bunch of women with the same passion for stitching that YOU have! 

I finished stitching Land of the Free, the Blackbird Designs patriotic chart that was published in the July edition of Cross-Stitch and Needlework magazine.  By the way, the Yahoo group, Blackbird Designs seems to have lost its owner, so a new group was created, Blackbird Stitchers, if you'd like to become a part of a group who loves BBD.

After Land of the Free was stitched, I immediately picked up a Lizzy Kate small design and started stitching it.  It should be stitched up today.  Why do I want to get some smalls done?

When I’m visiting your blogs I see your beautiful baskets of seasonal displays, but I don’t really have a lot of table-top space for displays.  I thought I’d love to have a wooden dough bowl for my smalls, but here again, more table top area would be needed.  And then… I walked into one of my recent favorite places, Shoppes on the River, and what was there?  A dough trough on legs!  It measures about 22 x 11 and is 27 inches tall.  Where will it go?  I don’t know, but it’s perfect!  

AND something else I really “needed” was a set of Virginia Rose dishes that I so vividly remember from childhood – not in the table being set with china way, but pieces of the set, like eating from a soup bowl…  Anyway, this set was said to be from a 90 year old woman who said this was her first set of dishes.  There are six 9-inch plates, 6 inch bread plates, and five - inch berry bowls, but no cups and saucers.  I walked away several times, but just could not leave without them!  From what I've read, these "were distributed through Department Stores, primarily Woolworth, and later through savings stamps."  Here in the south, Woolworth was our 'dime store' and S&H Green stamps were given with grocery purchases.  I imagine the pieces in my memories came from Woolworth.  Those precious green stamps were saved for things like an iron or bath mat sets.       

After making the changes to the blog site, I noticed that my 2011 finishes page was affected.  Most of the recent information is gone.  I tried to download from previous saves, but what’s there is the result – not accurate, but all that’s left.  I will update it again, but that will be another time.  Ah, don’t you just love Blogger?  I said to someone the other day, it’s getting almost as bad as like Yahoo! 
And for other Staycation news – have not done as much cleaning and organizing as my plans included, so there are no photos of the nice, tidy craft room.  That’s usually the way it goes here for me. I’ve enjoyed what I have done, and that’s the point of vacation to me. I honestly don’t care about going away for every break I have from work. I’m basically a home body, and love to spend time here.

Thanks for coming by today.  If you have a minute, leave a word or two or just say, Hey!  See y’all next time.

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Happy Independence Day!

Hey, Friends!

I read on a blog a bit ago that one of the favorite July 4^th things to do was watch and listen to the music from the Capitol on public TV.  I don’t seem to be able to track back to where I read it, but it did cause me to start singing to myself … My Country ‘tis of the, Sweet land of Liberty, of thee I sing…

As we celebrate our Independence, have you noticed in public gatherings, when we’re called upon to sing our country’s songs that the youth don’t seem engaged?  I’ve wondered SO many times, don’t they teach these wonderful songs to the kids in school any more?

Do you remember “music” in elementary school?  That’s where I was when the announcement was made that President John F. Kennedy had been shot.  When my DS was in ‘music’ they learned to play the Recorder, and he did go on to gain the love for music playing the Bass in jazz ensamble and singing in the high school Troubadors.  But just yesterday, during the baseball game on TV when a gentleman (TimothyMiller from the Atlanta Opera will perform God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch ** ) and I were singing to honor the country, he said, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that song.”  That **link is from 2010. 

Rembmber that I'm doing some reorganization?  I was sorting through boxes of frames I’ve collected over the last couple of years when I came across a bag with an old Music book I’d picked up at one of the thrift shops I frequent.  Flipping through it, the pages that looked most dog eared were these … 

-- Can you name this song?

So what do you say?  Let’s all tune in tonight and sing along with the tunes that we learned, to honor our country and  … 

 

Happy 4th of July, Friends! Enjoy your independence doing whatever makes YOU Happy today - be it fireworks, favorite music, or sitting with a cold glass under the cool fan stitching to your heart's content!

 

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Independence Holidays!

Hey, Friends!

Today is the first day off work for my staycation.  Remember, I’m planning to do some cleaning and organizing…  This morning I cleaned the guest room vacuumed, washed linens and window, dusted, and it only took a while.  Why do I constantly put it off?  And several other tasks I’ve wanted to do – change the yard flags, hang the US flag,  plant a few seeds that have been sprouting…   Just need to take a little while every day to do a few little things and it wouldn’t get so far behind.  Ummm hu… that’s easy to say; right?  Especially when I come in from work and all I want to do is sit and stitch!

I haven't shown you anything from my year this year, either, well, not since the snow. These are the hibiscus out near the deck - after a rain earlier this week, they popped out!  After some painting was done, the planters needed to be refreshed.  Aren't these flowers pretty?  One of the next projects (that won't be a 10-15 minute job) is to paint the rocking chairs on the porch. 

I’ve been stitching away on the BBD “Land of the Free” and it’s coming along nicely, but won’t be finished by July 4^th.  Maybe shortly after.

DS and I are cooking hamburgers at the parents for the holiday this year.  Dad hasn’t been in the best of health recently, and we’re trying to ease back on the amount of effort he has to expend.  You know how 'they' are - we got someone to go cut their grass (acres) and he got out there to help, and paid for it with pain the next week.

Check out my TuSAL for July:  Reminder:   TuSAL is in the side bar this year à

If you’re out boating or having fireworks to express your Independence, please be safe! Have lots of fun and try to stay cool whatever you do!

 

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC