A Road Trip Gone Haywire!!!

Alas, it has been quite some time since I last reported in. I just haven't been able to find the words.

My previously mentioned road trip was quite a hit aka I nearly totalled Blondie. To keep it short, I picked up a rental (the rollerskate) and headed back on the road twelve hours later. Got to court just a half hour before they convened. Had to call my BFF, Pam, in Vancouver, B.C. & cancel. I just couldn't tempt the fates in the lousy weather in a rental car with no chains or traction tires. Sooooo, I stayed on with Dot and learned to make Chicken Enchiladas and Need-ums. She made me a lovely apron which I will treasure. We gabbed and sewed. I finished the binding on my latest Quilt Of Valor (sorry, I forgot to take a pic!).

When I left Dot's I headed up to Nikki's. Nik has been inviting me and I decided if she could take in a wandering soul on short notice I'd park 'er there for a bit of stitching fun. Nik's been suffering with back problems and hasn't been out much lately so I was welcomed warmly. Besides, she'd gotten this new addition to her family that I've been dying to spoil. Sashi aka Sausages (my nickname) is a 5 month-old Lhasa. What a doll! If she ever turns up missing Nik, don't look at my house!!! By this time I had finished one cross stitch & was working on another. I was lucky to attend Nik's local stitching group & meet some more wonderful stitchers.

My last stop was at Julie's to celebrate her birthday. This was my first visit to her home also. We get along so well and had loads of fun. Me dragging her to a stitching shop and her showing me her favorite antique stores. After church and what was a very short visit I headed home.

Now, since I had had to skip lunch with Vicki in Portland on my way to Washington I made a stopover on my return. She convinced me to stay overnight rather than cross the pass at night (it didn't take much convincing). There had been problems with two of the pieces I had left at the framers on my last trip to Portland. I needed to pick them up. They've now been fixed and mailed back. I should be able to pick up the framed pieces later this month at our next GTG.

I arrived home and immediately got sick. I mean FLU sick! That's hung on for about a month. Enough already!!

I'm happy to report that Blondie was not as badly injured as first thought. She's now warmly tucked back in her garage. Man did I miss her heated seats!

I May Be On To Something! Oh yes, Happy Christmas too!

Sorry all for that bit of venting yesterday. The holidays are definitely not a great time of year for me. And, I think I've figured out part of my problem. I haven't made a stitch since the first of December. Matter of fact, I can still barely get into my sewing room so no quilting either. This must change!

This evening DH & I discovered that we were a day ahead of ourselves! Yikes! I was thinking we needed to head over the pass tomorrow morning. (ala "over the river and through the woods...") Soooo... now I get a day of rest. I'm going to get my nails done, maybe a facial and definitely some stitching will be done. Of course, we didn't discover this until after we had exchanged gifts. He was so good to me this year. I got a home docking station for my XM radio (did I say that right?) and a complete set of Moda 3 Sisters Park Avenue fat quarters. Woo Hoo!

I don't have Christmas decorations to show off like the most of you so I will share a few photos from my front porch. This was before our latest blizzard struck.


Moses always comes in with a belly full of snowballs (and wants to cuddle).

Papa and the girls out plowing the drive.


MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BARB, JIM, KELLY, JESSIE AND MOSES May all your wishes come true!

Oh Whoa! Woe!

Dang it all again! I've been home since December 4th & if I may say so, I wrote a pretty great update here. All for naught! Gone! Poof! Somewhere in cyberspace. Obviously, this blog hasn't been my main concern lately as this is the first I noticed. The short of it is...
I had the greatest month visiting my granddaughter in Daphne, Alabama. Wish I could've stayed longer. Much longer!

Today, for a plugged nickel, I'd leave the master of this house and move there. Some men just don't get it! If he's not going to participate in Christmas then neither am I. I have been on my feet all day baking for HIS son's Christmas celebration. AND he left all the shopping to me. My bad! He ordered 3 books off Amazon, but I'm supposed to wrap them! I've had it! Seems every Christmas I swear I'm going to run away the next year. This time I'm booking reservations!

Last Thursday I had minor back surgery again. I'm supposed to be taking it easy!

Ok, I'm outta here! No need to spread any more of my joyous self around.

With any luck and an attitude adjustment I'll be back to wish you all a Merry Christmas. If not, well... do the best you can during these stressful times.

Remember Our Veterans

I hope you've all done something, even prayed, for our veterens today. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend any parades, etc. today but my thoughts were with our service people past and present. My dear husband and our sweet friend, Tom. Both military retirees. My dad, my mom, six uncles, father-in-law, brother, all veterans of foreign wars. Our granddaughter's boyfriend is currently serving in Afghanistan and before that he has served 3 tours in Iraq. When will it stop? I support our military 200%. Not so sure about our countries objectives and policies!!

For Those Enquiring Minds...

... that want to know...
I am leaving tomorrow to spend a month in Alabama with my granddaughter. I miss her so. And I'm always thrilled to see her folks and Granny & Poppa. It's so wonderful there and the people are so sweet. It's become our tradition to spend Thanksgiving together. I missed last year & it just wasn't right for either of us. I'll definitely come home with my 'Southern drawl'. DH teases me about that!

I'm so excited! I think the hardest part about packing is what stitching stuff to take. I'd be happy with a suitcase full of SS and jammies. Grandgirl would get a kick outta that. Her mom, not so much!

So, I'm off now to pack. I'll check in when I can. Hugs

It's Back and A Finish

Well... yesterday the sun came out & melted all the snow away. This morning I awoke to this view from sewing room window...
I've finally finished both Florin and Guilder by Tracy Horner of Ink Circles. Stitched on 32ct Hand Dyed Silkweaver fabric of unnamed color. I changed the colors to better match this fabric which is a lavender/blue/purple. The threads are all GAST, Apricot Blush, Avacado, Black Raspberry Jam, Forest Glade, and Purple Iris. I have two skeins of Purple Iris. One is very dark and the other is very light. I used some of each on these.
Now I'm off to finish some housework. Ugh! Pay some bills. UGH!! Read my friends blogs. Yeah! And choose a new project to stitch. YEAH!!

SNOW....Already!!!

We had a great week-end! The grandsons came for a visit which always turns this place into a zoo. Best of all... it started snowing. They were thrilled. However, they weren't prepared with appropriate clothing. Freezing fingers... ouch!

Awoke this morning to a winter wonderland. It's still snowing and we have 4-5 inches. I'm sure the sun will come out soon & all will melt. The first snow of the season seldom lasts. Wonder if this is an indication of a hard winter??

DH must live under a lucky star! He's a procrastinator. So are his sons. Genetic, I think! Anyways, he kept putting off winterizing the motorhome. Lord knows we can't afford to go South this year. Then he ends up in the hospital & having surgery. Now he can't do the winterizing himself & Tom has injured his back recently so he's no help. I can't do it as I recently had back surgery. What a fix!! Enter son #2, Patrick! He & the boys arrive and DH instantly puts Pat to work winterizing both ours and Tom's rigs. Whew! Just in time for the first snow! MEN!

On the stitching front... very little got done this week-end. Last night I continued stitching on Ink Circles Florin. This pair, Guilder and Florin are going to be lovely. But I'm itching to start something new. I need to start organizing what I'll be taking with me when I go visit my granddaughter.

Oh, didn't I tell you? I'm leaving November 3rd at O'dark-thirty. Flying to Alabama to spend a month with my grandgirl. Heaven! I can hardly wait!

So, I'm off now to put this place back in order & do mountains of laundry. Sigh!

It's True What They Say...

The longer you put something off, the harder it is to do. Well, I found that out here! I've been trying to write on this blog for nearly two weeks and it's not getting easier. So I'll take the plunge. It's my blog after all. There are no rules or police. I'll try to recap the past month, it's been a busy one.

In September I went to the WA/OR Stitcher's GTG in Portland. I try to get to these as often as I can. The ladies are so wonderful & we have so much fun. Vicki even gave me a personal ornament finishing lesson (which I shamefully haven't tried yet).

I also attended the annual Elder Women's Retreat for the Coos Tribe (DH is Native American). These gatherings are so much fun and it's great to meet with and learn from such amazing ladies. DH's cousins always make me feel right at home.

On October 1st I met my dear friend Julie in Newport, Oregon. Julie & I used to work together in our previous lives. She's one of the few people I still keep in touch with. We had a condo for a week. Lots of relaxing, exploring and gabbing. Beautiful sunsets!! The weather cooperated and everything was amazing. Here are a few pics...



While I was away, our buddy, Tom (who lives in his 5th wheel in our driveway, temporarily) injured his back. Then he got awfully sick. We moved him into the spare bedroom to keep a closer eye on him. Then on Tuesday DH had to go into the hospital. Man! I'm sick of sick men!!! They're awful babies. I'm sick of driving these guys to & fro! I'm sick of doctor's offices and hospitals!

But wait! There is light at the end of my tunnel!!! I'm leaving all this testosterone behind!! On November 3rd I leave for a month in Alabama with my granddaughter. Whew!

In all these festivities I did manage to get some stitching done. First, I finished Lizzie Kate's "Time For God". Which I've managed to misplace. So I'll show you when it's found and photographed.
Next, I finished Lizzie Kate's "Prayer Connection" again. I loved the way this turned out on the one I sent off to Afghanistan, so I stitched another for myself on a larger count fabric. Mine will be made into a pillow, I think.
And then, I started "Guilder" by Ink Circles. It's the companion piece to "Florin" which is Tracy's SYHO piece. I chose my own colors by Gentle Arts. My fabric for both is a 32ct Belfast Hand Dyed Linen by Silkweaver. No color is specified on the package but it's a lovely mottled purple/lavender/blue. It's not quite finished in this photo but it is finished now & I've begun stitching "Florin". (pleae excuse my wrinkles)

Check This Out (Whoa! Please don't! I want her all for myself)

My friend Ginger has posted another contest over at her blog, BearBits. Now, a warning! Please don't go there! You'll fall in love for sure. It will end badly for you when I win.

A Finish, A Birthday and A Winner... and a bit of sad news

Well, I've finished stitching another of the LHN ornaments. This one is "Under The Tree". In 'real life' it's really much brighter. Moses & I were competing for the sunshine spot in my sewing room this morning.
My birthday was a fairly subdued day (which I like). Stitched a little, played POGO games, painted the front porch. DH finally realized what day it was & took me to dinner at the Legion (taco night, my fav). I spent the evening with my hospice client watching an old movie. No fuss, no muss! A few birthday cards from special friends but no pressies (we're still paying for our "gift" to ourselves, a big screen TV).

I will be celebrating this week-end when I go to Portland for my stitching group. Man, I miss those girls! I missed July's GTG. There will be stash enhancement!!!

I know some of you have been waiting for this so I won't linger... the winner of my blogoversary/birthday giveaway is Bluladie ... Cathryn, please send me your snail-mail address so I can send your prize. And, for those who are curious, this is what Cathryn won. A Debbie Draper Designs "Pumpkin Band Sampler", 32ct Zweigart Belfast Linen in Light Terra Cotta and the six Gentle Arts Sampler Threads to stitch this piece. Happy Fall to y'all!!


Our dear Matty has gone to Doggie Heaven. I could see the signs last month. But it was such an awful month I couldn't bear the thought of losing him. Matty began to have seizures. I was up all night Friday calming and crooning to him. Saturday I got maybe three hours of exhausted sleep and awoke to the inevitable. He had the worst seizure yet before we could get him to the vet. Proud as ever, Matty walked himself into the vet's. This precious little dog had become so completely embedded in our hearts in the short five and a half months we were blessed with him. A sweeter, gentler spirit I've never known. Our lives have been enriched by his presence. Now if I could just stop crying.

OK, let's give this another try...

Please let me apologise for my previous 'pity party'. Depression is nothing to snicker at and I've had my share. Fortunately I have good friends, doctors and meds. One great place I've found that has really helped me this time around is Pam Kellogg's site. Pam is an amazing and talented woman. Her willingness to share her journey has been inspiring to me (and so much more eloquent than I could've ever said). It must have been devine intervention that sent me to her blog at just the right time.

I won't talk about August here other than to say I had let circumstances beat me down. September will be better! I know this because I have several "me" time activites planned. Got to get back to 'taking care of me'.

As I mentioned before, I have been doing some stitching and have a few completions to share. First is the birth sampler I stitched for DH's niece's baby. It is based on Ellen Chester's design "A Child's Prayer". I modified it, of course, to suit my needs. Stitched on 18ct Celeadon aida with DMC threads. Unfortunately, my photo doesn't do it justice (a bit too blue).

Then, I have finished stitching several Little House Needleworks' Christmas Ornaments. Notice I only said "finished stitching". I am still finishing challenged. Oh, how I wish I had someone talented that way to help me take the plunge. Guess I need to get brave and use some of the wonderful on-line tutorials.

This is "The Merry Skater".
Next is "Red House in Winter".
And finally "Peppermint Twist". I followed this chart to-a-T except I just couldn't put the candy-cane button on it. The button I received was mostly red (Christmas Red) with a white stripe. The chart showed a white button with red stripes. I just couldn't put a bright red button on this lovely subtle shade of red floss. A personal preference.

I've just received the next ornament in this series so I'll have another soon. I can't believe I've kept up with these all year. I love Diane Williams' designs.

Now, since you've followed along this far and since I had a blogoversary September 1st and since my birthday is next week, I'm going to have a giveaway. Let's call it my birthday present to one of my readers. Only one rule: you must respond to this post before Monday, September 13th. I will have DH pick a number on the 13th and announce the lucky winner. Oh, a small hint, as our weather has been perfect Fall weather (I'm expecting an early Winter) that will be the theme of this giveaway.

Beware! Pity Pool - don't jump in!

OK, I know it's been a full month since my last post. So much has happened. Most of it bad stuff. I hate feeling this way. I'm considering giving up blogging. It's all I can do to get through reading the wonderful blogs I love so much. So many creative people out there and I'm so envious of your many talents.

I have been able to put needle to thread occasionally. I have finished the birth announcement and an ornament or two. No photos now, sorry. When/if I get the energy to blog again I will have photos to share. Promise! They're taken & in the computer, I just haven't the energy to post any more right now.

Missing you,
Barb

OMG!!!!

So, I drop by to post a bit about my latest finish and see that last week's post disappeared! Where did it go? It's not even saved as a draft. Sheesh! Don't know if I have the energy to regroup & repeat it all.
It was about the Sisters Quilt Show, which was fabulous


There's a great little antique/junque mall in Sisters. I found these lovelies! More frogs for my growing collection. Isn't this porcelain one the most beautiful? In the white one I plan to make a pincushion (I know this wasn't originally made to be a frog but it will become one now). I couldn't wait to put a few scissors in them. Woo hoo! Now I get to buy more scissors!!!
And we took a few relaxing local rides. This is Elk Lake, about a half hour West of here. We took the dogs swimming at East Lake, about an hour East of here. The bugs were awful. Didn't stay there for long!

So, back to this week's business... I've been working on a birth announcement based on With My Needle's "A Child's Prayer". I've changed the font to a back-stitched one rather than the cross-stitched one mostly to make it a bit smaller. I'm liking it! Perhaps a photo next week. Also I finished one of the LHN monthly ornaments "All Dolled Up". The bird is charted to be white but it just didn't look 'right' to me. I took it out & redid it in red. Much better, a cardinal!
So I can add this one to my stack of over two dozen ornaments needing to be finished. Yes, I've stitched them but have a finishing deficiency. Do you suppose Vonna would give me a bulk rate?

Quilting, Quilting, Quilting and a bit of Stitching!

This has been a very busy & glorious week for me!

First off, our little town has it's Frontier Days celebration the July 4th week. We have an excellent Quilt Show as part of the festivities. So many wonderful quilters in this area. Lots of inspiration!

The second week-end in July is always the Sisters Quilt Show. The week leading up to the Show is busy, busy, busy! Our little burg is right smack on the highway to Sisters. Our quilt shop, Homestead Quilts, is becoming very well known to quilters, especially those traveling up from California, Nevada, Utah and far beyond. Fortunately for me, with all the additional traffic (aka customers) in the shop, Cathy (the owner) needs more hands to work. I always volunteer whenever extra help is needed (and get paid with a very generous shop credit). It's like putting a kid in a candy store. I love being with all the fabrics and helping and meeting the people from all over. Yesterday I met a lovely lady that traveled from England for the Quilt Show. Too much fun!

This year I'm skipping out of work for two days. DH's cousin, Madeline, is flying in from Alaska & we will meet in Sisters. She has a room reserved (not an easy feat) for four of us. M & I always have great fun rooming together. Living so close I've gone to the Show before but never for more than a day. This will be a real treat to stay over and take my time seeing everything.

On Sunday I'll be back in our quilt shop. Loads of customers stop in on their way home. Many have pre-ordered items to be picked up. Like I said, I'm just a kid in a candy store. Then I'll also have to 'pay the piper' for all the goodies I've stashed under the counter. Yummy!

In the evenings I need to sit with an ice pack on my knee so it's perfect for some stitching time. I'm working on A Child's Prayer by With My Needle. Slightly modifying it to be a birth sampler for DH's niece's baby boy (no pics yet).

Happy 4th & a small finish!

Happy 4th of July! Please have a safe celebration!

Guess I'm not a very good holiday person. I enjoy the deeper meaning of the holidays rather than the celebrations. Christmas has gotten out of hand with all the commercialization etc. But back to the 4th.. the fireworks terrify my Kelly dog. Won't know how Matty will respond but I doubt it will be a problem as his hearing is so impaired. Besides that, I firmly believe that children and fireworks are a very bad combination. Even most adults shouldn't be playing with fire. Leave it to the professionals please! Now I'll step down from my soapbox.. .

I finished this small piece designed by Aury . She does such beautiful designs. I have last year's piece also in my finish drawer. Decided this would fit nicely as a quilt block in one of my Quilts Of Valor. Not sure I'm liking the fabric, I may change it to a solid color.


I've been quilting this week. No photo yet but I'm making a QOV with some signature squares. It felt like a good patriotic way to spend the week.

This week begins the Sisters Quilt Show activites. I'll be volunteering at our local quilt store as we get an amazing amout of traffic even though we are an hour away from Sisters. Friday night I'll be staying in Sisters with Madeline, my cousin-in-law from Alaska. Two days of wild fun with M at the quilt show! You'll be hearing more about that!!!

Today my two grandsons, Alex (10) and Tyler (6) are arriving. There will be no stitching or quilting goin on! We call them the terrorists. It usually takes Pops and I a week to recover from them. I'm hoping they'll want to attend our local festivites and rodeo. I want to!

Have a safe and fun 4th celebration!

Happy Dancin'

Everybody, get out your dancin' shoes! I have finished stitching the Wiehenburg Contest Sampler. And I love it! I used SilkWeaver's Tranquility 28ct Lugana and Sulky Threads 12wt Peacock Plume. It's turned out so lovely and I bet you can't even find my MAJOR foo-paw. Yep! I found one last night just as I was finishing and I've decided not to rip it out. Can you see where I personalized it? Along with my initials, which are both B, I added a bee and a butterfly. Both of these have crowns above them so I'm calling them Queen Bee and Monarch Butterfly. (BTW, that white mark in the upper right is NOT on the fabric!)

Have decided I need to work on some smalls for a bit. Maybe try some finishing techniques as I have at this count 27 ornaments sitting in my 'little drawer of finishes'. And, I'm still not caught up on my LHN monthly ornaments or the Bride's Tree ornaments. So many goodies calling my name plus the ever-growing stash acquisitions. What's a girl to do? Where does all my time go? Whew!

Thanks for stopping by & sharing in my dancin'.

A Little Catching Up!

I'm a sucker for counted cross stitch. If you've been here before you will know this. It happens that our National Parks offer a cross stitch of each park in their gift shops. Crater Lake NP was no exception. I think this one is particularly lovely. Now, having these little kits and stitching them is a whole different story. I've not completed a one of them yet!!!
Here's my "almost completed" Weihenburg Contest Sampler. I'm so pleased with the way this is turning out. I love the colors! Can you see the bee and the hive I've put in to personalize it? I may rip the hive out as it looks a bit crowded. Maybe I can put it on the unfinished side. Hmmm!
Soooo, while I was out & about the other day I caught a sale at Michael's. I bought a few trims, a few beading do-dads, this lovely white frame and this unfinished box. I have just the piece for this frame!

Notice the two little yo-yos on the box? I happened upon a NEW quilt shop in town. I actually read about them in the paper & was heading their way. They just opened June 1 but his week-end was the "Grand Opening". Quilt Works (no web site yet). I'll be visiting them again soon! Of course a gal has to support the local economy and I wish them much success. Oh! The yo-yos, I made them during a demonstration. I have one of those yo-yo makers somewhere around here but have never tried it. Pretty neat!

Of course, when I get to town to run the usual errands I always stop by Joann's. They had patriotic fabrics on sale. Aren't these lovely? I needed some neutrals.

But then, I was wandering past the decorator fabrics and it struck me that I had recently disembled two throw pillows, saving the nice long zippers. I 'needed' to make new covers. Look at the lovelies I chose. Don't they go well with the sofa fabric?

So, today I was tidying up my sewing room and got inspired to frame a little piece I had stitched years ago. I think it was a Brooke's Books pattern. I like the white frame but maybe it should go in a darker frame. Wouldn't wash out the pretty pink fabric so much. I'll look at it a while longer.

Happy Father's Day

Oh, how I miss my dad! I miss him every day. I was a daddy's girl.

My dad died in 1983, while away on a trip to Vancouver, B.C. Canada. He had gone there to pick up a family friend, to bring him to Seattle to celebrate Christmas with us. Christmas has never been the same since that awful year. We had to have his services the morning of Dec. 23 or wait until after the new year. Hardly any relatives were able to attend. Fortunately, dad was an honored member of The Seattle Men's Chorus. They did a lovely service and also dedicated their Christmas Concerts to Dad.

On a much brighter note... here's my dear husband. The love of my life. I may complain about him, he's not perfect. Who is? Certainly not me! But, I'm blessed to be his and he is mine. I'll keep him!
He is father to three boys, grandfather to one granddaughter and two grandsons. Thus far, all of them have shown themselves to be outstanding citizens, loving and kind. I am proud of them all!

Surprise!! Here I Am Again!

Shocking is more like it! Shocking that it's been almost three weeks since my last post. I've been one busy little bee.

I'm offically a Hospice volunteer now and have met my first client. She's a sweetie! Her only reason for living is her darling Corgi, Tucker. Fortunately she lives less than 2 miles away so I can check in often.

One of my dearest friends, Julie, from working days has been here for a visit. We've been playing tourist for days. Luckily the weather has been the best so far this year. A few photos to enlighten you (caution: this portion will be photo heavy):

Beautiful Crater Lake at Crater Lake National Park (Of course! Where else would it be?)

We had the most delicious lunch at The Lodge!

Julie's not terribly short - the snow is exceptionally deep!

My 'Edith Ann" imitation. Anyone remember that from Lily Tomlin? I couldn't get up into the rocking chair so this bench had to do.

A different direction this day... into the desert. Smith Rock State Park, there are actually people climbing on these rocks! Hoowee!


Lake Billy Chinook, one of Central Oregon's "mini grand canyons"

Central Oregon's Painted Hills My itty-bitty camera just couldn't do them justice.



Fort Rock in "The Oregon Outback". Shaped like a horseshoe, this monolith grows up out of the desert like a mini Ayers Rock, although it's not mini by any means.

We also visited the Fort Rock Museum. Very interesting AND for those stitchers and quilters who have stuck wtih me this long, a bit of a treat.