The Older I Get and Hoe Hoe Hoe Update

Ok, I love turkey, but did we have to make it twice??? I just finished yet another helping of left over turkey dinner. I know, I know, I shouldn't complain, but we had Thanksgiving dinner at my mother-in-laws and everything was really yummy. I didn't over eat so I felt good about that. As a kind gesture my hubby's boss gives us a turkey with "ALL" the trimmings every year at Thanksgiving time. So I fixed round two yesterday which was Sunday. So, what I'm saying is "where's the beef"!!!! lol

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a wonderful holiday. Now it's on to Christmas. I can't believe that 2009 is almost over, it will seem weird to write 01/01/10 for the new year. We watched the movie "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" with Henry Winkler (remember the "Fonz" on Happy Days?) over the the weekend, in fact I watched it twice! I love the "redbox" greatest movie rental system for only one buck per night!!!

I am getting closer to having "Hoe, Hoe, Hoe" done and then I can do the happy dance. I have enjoyed this one, maybe because it has to do with Santa and the anticipation of things to come. I took two photo's one with the flash on and one with it off, just wasn't sure which one I liked best so I posted both of them.

Notforgotten Farm

"Hoe, Hoe, Hoe"

***flash on***

Same photo....."flash off"



I Love Christmas

The Older I Get…
the simpler my holiday preparations become…
the closer I feel to old friends as I write my Christmas cards…
the more I cherish the oldest ornaments…
the more fondly I remember Christmases past…
the longer I hold on to a holiday hug…
the more I realize Christmas is a matter of the heart…
the tighter my throat gets when I sing “Silent Night”…
the more I enjoy giving than receiving…
the more I try to see Christmas through the eyes of a child…
the longer I sit at night in the glow of the Christmas tree…
the more wondrously beautiful the Christmas story is…
the deeper my awe at God’s infinite love…
the More I Love Christmas! The older I get…
the more I enjoy sharing Christmas greetings with wonderful people like you!

BLESSINGS OF THE SEASON

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVE

May each of you have an abundance of love, time with family, yummy food, good health, fun and laughter this Thanksgiving.

I hope this post finds you all well and you aren't suffering with the flu that so many people are experiencing nowdays. My son was home from school for three days last week with it (this being his 2nd round with that darn bug this year). Yesterday we were able to get the H1N1 vaccination for him, hopefully this will help in some small way, but he still needs to get the regular flu shot also.

I have a few things I would like to share today. First off, my Aunt and Uncle are serving a mission in South Africa so we won't be able to see them during the holidays this year. I did receive an email from my Auntie just the other day and it included this poem I thought you might enjoy reading:

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.
TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.
MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Here is the first photo I took of my progress on Hoe, Hoe, Hoe by Notforgotten Farm. I really love the shades of green on the tree. They have been fun to stitch with. I will post more photos after Thanksgiving. I still have pies to make, apple, pumpkin and cherry cranberry (my fav) before I get any shut eye tonight. Tomorrow is going to be a long day but I am looking forward to spending the day with family.

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends in the USA!!!

BOOK PHOTOS - CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS?

Happy Friday friends!! I posted a photo of this book I got last week and I have had a few requests to see what it looked like inside. I am not sure what the language is, but if you know what it is I would love for you enlighten me/us with your knowledege. It's obvious it is some type of religion book, but I am not convinced this is a bible.

If you are able to identify anything about this book, I would love to hear from you. Thanks.

SHOW & TELL & MANY BELATED "THANK YOU'S"

Wow, I have so much to post today. I have been the lucky and fortunate gal for some giveaway winnings and private exchanges, not to mention the treasures from the "captains" I've received. I have been wanting to post all my goodies for sometime, but am just now getting around to it. I appreciate all the hard work and dedication that was put into the making of each beautiful item I have received, but mostly the friendships that have come along with them.







First of all, the "captains" of our Sail Away SAL, Terri and Loraine, both made some fun gifts to commemorate our SAL for Terri's 50th birthday. Captain Terri made each of us "sailor's" a beautiful blue fob with a daintly little turtle dangling on the end. And Captain Loraine made us each a fun little needle case with a little sail boat inside. They are both so fun and I appreciate all their efforts of making the SAL a fun time for all of those who participated. (Just as a side note, I am still sailing on my project......but I have a goal to finish it before...........) Go Jolene!!


Look at the beautiful strawberry pincushion I received from Sharlotte. I love it, it is so pretty and I collect pincushions so this is a great addition to my collection. I am thinking it would look really nice as a scissor fob also, so I purchased a pair of red scissors and I am going to attach the berry to them. She also sent some delicious chocolates and check out those sweet little handmade strawberries she made into pins for me. Thank you so much Sharlotte, I love everything you sent me and I will cherish your gifts always my friend. In fact, I actually just finished your floss tag and I will be putting it in the mail for you tomorrow!!!

I won a giveaway from Pumpkin and she sent me this wonderful package filled with nautical themed items. Check out the cute bag, it's a Pumpkin original, handmade and signed by no other than Pumkin herself. I received a pattern for a lighthouse with fabric and thread to boot! Not to mention the pretty postcard. I was so happy when I found out I won a giveaway from her and I sent her an email and told her I was soooo excited that I didn't know if I was doing the hokey pokey or the monster mash!! Whatever it was, it was definitely a "happy" dance!

Check out this beautiful needlecase....it is from Kellie. Her father made this beautiful turned wood needlecase especially for me. Thank You Kellie and Kellie's Dad, I was so thrilled to receive this in the mail. You are such a talented craftsman "Dad". The picture just doesn't do justice to it. The wood is so smooth and appears to be cherrywood in color, so I have named this case "Cherry". You are probably thinking what is this girl doing, but don't laugh, all things deserve a name.

Look at those pink scissors!!!!! I won the Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway on Jennifers blog. I received everything in the picture, a cute basket, fabric, threads, scissors and the LHN pattern. What a wonderful theme for a giveaway, thank you soooo much Jennifer.

In closing I would just like to mention that today, November 15, marks my Mother's Birthday. If she were still alive today she would have been 73 years young. Happy Birthday Mom, I love you and miss you!!!!

A SNOWMAN, TREASURES AND MEMORIES

Who loves snowmen? I do, I do!! I have been dabbling in punchneedle a little bit lately, a nice change of pace for a couple of days. Below are some photos of "Moonlight Skate" I just completed. I really enjoy punchneedle and the best thing about punchneedling is you can start and finish a project in no time at all. With Thy Needle & Thread has THE best punchneedle kits. Their designs are wonderful and so fun to do. If you have never tried it, you should, its habit forming (just like cross stitch) and I find it very rewarding!

Moonlight Skate

by With Thy Needle & Thread

Hope you are enjoying the beginning of a new weekend. It has been a long week! This morning I woke up to snow, yes snow, bbbrrrrrrr!!!!! I guess I need to start getting used to it because it is only going to get colder. My sweet cat, Jaspurr, is snuggled up against me and helping keep me a little bit warmer.

Yesterday I had a few extra hours of me time, so I went on a treasure hunt. I love to go shopping at second hand/thrift stores and antique stores. I found a few things I really liked so I thought I would share some of them with you.


First off I found this time worn book, I love the designs and scroll work on it. It was printed in 1904 and measures about 7" x 3". It is written in a different language so I am not sure exactly what it is, but some type of religion book. I love to display old books and one (meaning me, myself and I) can never have too many.


A fun darner with chippy yellow paint, which I will turn into a Christmas ornament to hang on the tree in my kitchen.



Ok, these spoons have not been cleaned yet, but I was so happy when I found these. They are the same pattern as my grandmothers silverware that she used when I was young. I squealed when I found them and the lady down the isle from me had to ask me why because she could tell I had found a "treasure".

And lastly, sorry for the blurry photo, I just couldn't get it right. I found this beautiful pair of silver scissors and look at that adorable postcard of "Adam & Eve", it is a real picture and it was printed in Germany. Very unique. I loved their bellies and that umbrella. I really had a fun day Friday.

SPIRAL EYE NEEDLE

Spiral Eye Needle

Has anyone ever tried these needles? I just found these and they look interesting. I can still see pretty good close up to thread my needle, but these would be wonderful for those of you that find it a little difficult to do. Click The Spiral Eye Needle to find out more info. I would like to purchase a package just to try one out. They are around $5.50 (I think that is for a single needle).

A NOTFORGOTTEN START

Happy Tuesday!!! I decided my next project will be "Hoe, Hoe, Hoe" by Notforgotten Farm. It looks simple and primitive and fast to stitch!! Right up my alley right now. I gathered the threads for this and I was shocked that Santa's coat was stitched in two shades of "orange". I've never seen Santa in orange....have you? I thought (for a brief moment) that maybe orange would be ok if I tea dyed and distressed it, but I quickly changed my mind and opted for a couple of red shades. I don't have much to show right now. I started it last night and all I completed was the key in the center.

Just wanted to share a glimpse of what's on the horizon, so I'll close for now so I can get some stitching time in.

HO HO HO!!!! DID I HEAR "WINNERS"?

It's a beautiful sunny day here in Utah. The hum of lawn mowers running in the neighborhood picking up the last of the fallen leaves. Kids are riding their bikes and skateboarding, everyone seems to be enjoying one of the last days of beautiful fall weather. Some people find it strange that I love to mow the lawn. Many a time during the winter, I will wake up on a Saturday morning wishing I could "mow" the lawn! My husband thinks that's crazy.......whatever, but I really will miss doing that chore once the snow starts to fly.

Here are a few photos of the new Prairie Schooler, Christmas Eve I have been working on. I really enjoy PS designs, especially the Christmas ones. I have been working on a private exchange for Sharlotte that is nearing completion, I think it is turning out nice. I will share photos of it after she has received it, don't want to spoil the surprise.




I have enjoyed each and every heartfelt post you have shared with me about your favorite gift you have either given or received for the Grand Finale Giveaway. So many wonderful memories, some happy, some sad, but nethertheless memorable. I would say the best gift I received and maybe the best gift given came when I was born. It was Decemer 23, 1969. I was given two wonderful loving parents who loved me and I was one of the best gifts given to my brother and sister. I came home from the hospital on Christmas day in a big wicker basket and I was wrapped in a snow white blanket with a big red bow. My brother thought that I was the neatest thing and he carried me around all the time. (Mother told me that story many times while she was alive.) Memories, what would we do without them?



Thanks for visiting my blog and as always I love to read your comments. I have to say there are so many wonderful and friendly bloggers that share my love of needle and thread and the various forms of art we can create with them. I have had so much fun with my blog this past October and I hope in some small way I have helped make this month fun for you also.

Christmas Eve

by Prairie Schooler

using DMC threads

no color conversion



My dear hubby got the honors of randomly drawing this last round of giveaways and the following are this weeks winners:

Robin

Carol

Pumpkin

Kellie

Congrats to you all. Please email me with your addresses and I will send you out one of the lovely and awesome gifts, you just never know which one you'll receive.

P.S. Sorry I didn't get the winners posted on Thursday, I just had too much on my plate. Thanks for understanding.