Wishing everyone a Happy 4th of July weekend! Enjoy your family and friends, and find a little time for some patriotic stitching!
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Yes. . . Merlin has found no-no land, my loft office! The plant is now doomed and I also have to remember to put my stitching away and leave no papers, charts, or anything for his brother Gandalf to shred. Never a dull moment with these two. But kittens do steal your heart. Look at that innocent face!
It’s been very hot here, way too early for 100+ degrees in June. We’ve spent our month doing WSU’s Summer Symphony Orchestra with rehearsals two night a week and the concert was last Thursday. The Summer Symphony group was a mixture of students who play in Wichita Youth Symphony (which is how Liann was invited to play), college musicians, and adults.
They played several excellent pieces. The Wasps Overture, Elgar’s Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra in E Minor and then Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The concert was incredible. Their guest cellist was Timothy Archbold from Australia. So talented. It was a pleasure to listen to his solo in Elgar’s piece.
I finished stitching my Blackbird’s March Quaker Stocking for the Quaker Exchange on STO. Now I just have to finish it into a stocking this week before I mail it off to my exchange partner.
I hope the instructions are easy to work with and that I can find beads close enough in color to the thread to make the hanger. Stay tuned!
Have you ever noticed how comfortable cats look when they sleep? Here’s Jacqui . . .
Sunning in the window by my desk. Just looking so relaxed. And then there’s Merlin. . .
I was trying to figure out how he could be comfortable with his legs on the doggie bed and his body sliding off into the cushion of the sofa. He loves to stretch out.
Notice one chair wasn’t enough to nap on with Gandalf. Merlin used two chairs to spread out on! He really makes me laugh.
These last pics make me realize it’s almost midnight and I need to get some sleep. Off to gather up the four legged family and read a bit before I doze off. Thanks for stopping by!!
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Wow, I know it’s been really busy but I didn’t think it’s been months since I posted last until my friend Adele emailed me and said “where are you?”, good question! We were in the midst of KMEA State competitions (Liann got a 1 – way to go Li), music recitals, High School Orchestra, invited to several graduation parties, and now Bethel College Music Camp. Liann’s also playing in WSU’s Summer Symphony Orchestra and the music they are working on is awesome! So we’re still music busy. So much for the theory of a summer break.
This is a picture of their last HS Orchestra Concert played at the Indian Center. Liann is the first chair cellist to the conductor’s right. What a great concert! The graduating seniors had solos they performed during this concert and we were so proud of them. Next year will be Liann’s turn as she’s a senior in August.
And then look at this face. . .
How do you not want to spend all your time snuggling with him? Meet Merlin! Or sometimes known as Merlin the “monster”. And this is all another story in itself. . . I know how I lost a lot of time. . . His mother, Midnight, was hurt when he and his brother Gandalf (yes pure grey and I call them the Wizard Boys) were only three weeks old, so this was five weeks ago. Liann came in and said Midnight had some scratches on her belly! So we went and looked at Midnight and what was “scratches” was actually cuts into her belly and she was in very bad shape. We rushed her to the vet’s on a Saturday afternoon who said we’d have to leave her over the weekend. Picked her up that Monday to find she had been lucky to make it, had lots of stitches, and would have to be inside. The bad news, she couldn’t nurse the babies. I’d already coaxed Ewok to nurse the boys and felt guilty because she was in the process of weaning Silver, Pippin and Tux. Both Mom’s had been nursing each other’s kittens off and on and playing nursery duty, so she did ’step up to the plate’ and took care of them. However she also tired of this rather quickly. Merlin was the smallest of the two and we adopted him into the house and I took over feeding and taking care of him. We quickly learned he is quite the little personality! In the middle of all this, we started to take runs to the vet to neuter seven cats, house cats and “barn” cats! The girls needing to be inside to get well. So it’s been the revolving door for the kitties! But it’s all done, all the boys and girls are fixed. My Jacqui and Midnight included. I have four kittens to give away, Merlin is mine! Two long haired and two short haired. Here is a pic of Merlin “sleeping” on Gandalf until I showed up with the camera, they are just too cute and so much fun to watch!
To quote my friend Monique as I noticed her saying this on her blog just the other day, ”I really have been stitching” ! I did manage to stitch up the Cat Block for the STO block exchange in April. It’s a Brittercup kitty and stitched up really quickly during one of our monthly stitch in’s. I had almost finished the entire piece at Marcia’s that evening.
May found me really working on my models and I have several going. I know I’ve lost track of time, I also know I haven’t felt too well since the surgery in February and I suddenly realized I was way behind my goals for this year. During May’s stitch in I started my quaker piece for the STO Quaker Exchange so here’s the WIP of that, which by the way, I also worked on Tuesday during June’s stitch in that I hosted. It’s one of Blackbird Design’s March Stockings. What a great stocking series they have going! And I can tell you it’s a quick stitch, I’ve only spent two stitch in evenings with the girls to get this far. I’m stitching it on 30 ct Murano with GAST Sarsaparilla. Of course I can’t wait for another stitch in, it needs to be done and put together by the end of this month. I’ll share the finish with you then!
I also stitched up this Stacy Nash Primitives design. It’s her Early Style Alphabet Pin Cushion but I’ve played with it some and made changes, and still might do something more across the bottom or just let it be and finally frame it. Of course I started this as my Saturday morning project in September while Liann was rehearsing at Wichita Youth Symphony so it’s been a long WIP for what should have been a quick stitch. Youth Symphony ended in March and I only finished it last month when I saw it was just a few more stitches. Ok, maybe more than a few stitches, the urn that I changed and the V and Z that had to be moved to make room for the U.
I have to share a gift my friend Margit sent me. I love happy mail! A lovely lavender filled sachet. Love it! I cut flowers from my garden today to make this small bouquet, roses, columbine, and lavender, and it just matched perfect with it! What a sweet surprise! Thank you Margit!
Speaking of flowers I did take pictures last week to share of my small gardens. The bleeding hearts did well this year.
And here are some pics of the columbine. I love all the colors!
So you can see the shade garden is happy and doing well. I have lilacs that I rooted that probably need to be moved as they are getting too big for this flower bed. And the red roses in front really filled out! Next Spring we’ll add something more to this spot.
I’ve been baking alot as with each recital it seems my brownies are a big request! In fact I brought them to two graduation parties as well. Liann’s German friend, an exchange student this year, came with her mother for dinner end of May before going back to Germany and it was such a lovely visit. They happened to love Italian food and we all know I really enjoy cooking it so that worked out great. I baked foccacia, made my homemade meatballs for my spaghetti sauce, Liann made a salad, and I finished the meal off with a pumpkin roll filled with a cream cheese filling. This past Tuesday I hosted the monthly stitch in and the gals were treated to my meat sauce over shells, homemade bread, and a fresh blueberry cake. Last night we had a music friend over, our bbq plans washed away with the drizzly day so homemade whole wheat rolls, spaghetti, and chocolate chip shortbread ended up on the menu. We also had a fun evening of rummy cube! All in all it’s been a busy and fun week that will continue with more music events in the next few days.
I also need to update my Gallery! I will let you know in the next post what’s been uploaded. Thank you everyone for sending pictures in of your Midnight Stitching finishes! I love seeing them and sharing them with everyone! And thank you for your patience while time slipped away from me.
Enjoy your evening! I leave you with yet more cat pictures. I managed to snap Merlin napping and snuck up on JJ on the deck, not an easy feat I might add. Thanks for stopping by!!
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“This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.”
Thank you, I am so honored Lynda!! I am asked to pass this along to eight other bloggers. I love everyone’s blog that I visit. You are all so talented, your finishes amaze me, and I enjoy sharing in your lives.
I wanted to share some finished Midnight Stitching projects sent to me! I love this creative finish for Quaker Faith Hope Love by Sally! Just beautiful!
And this is Lavon’s finish of Friends in Stitches, an STO Class piece I taught last October at their Retreat. This turned out so pretty!
Thanks so much for letting me share these pieces with everyone!! I always enjoy seeing anyone’s finish of my designs.
It’s after midnight and I’m realizing it’s Easter! Shortly I will be baking my Creme Caramel French Toast for breakfast and making a Lemon Gooey Cake to take to the family Easter celebration at my in law’s.
I leave you with a picture of the tulips blooming at Friend’s University. Liann had a cello master class with Ruslan Biryukov Thursday and the flowers just called to me.
I wish you all a day full of sunshine, family, friends, happiness, love and easter goodies! Happy Easter dear friends!
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Thank you Debra for this sweet award. I now have to name eight friends as well.
And I might add that Donna, of By the Bay Needleart, has a beautiful Bunny freebie on her blog.
Since when is spring soooo windy?!! I feel like the house will blow away. Winds are howling at 41 mph and gusting to 52 mph. Buddy and I went for a walk and a truck snuck up on us it’s howling so bad out there! I was absolutely startled. Might be the last walk I take today!
Thanks for visiting and thank you again Debra for the Friends Award! I need to get back to my needle and thread and finish up this last Heartstruck model.
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Top o’ the morning dear friends! The sun is shining through and it’s looking to be in the 80’s today. Sounds like a perfect day to me.
Is everyone making their St Patty’s Day dinner of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes? I like to serve glazed carrots too. I can’t wait! It’s my yearly favorite meal. I know, I know, my family asks the same question, then why not make it throughout the year. I don’t have an answer to that. Just know I make it on St Patty’s Day and that’s that! I’m thinking of surprising hubby with apple pie as well. Of course that’s only in the “thinking” stages and I’ll see as the day progresses.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted. We’ve had three solid weeks / weekends of music deals. And a concert every weekend. I would like to think that it’ll settle down but now it’s time for cello master classes and solo competitions. Bethel College Wind Ensemble is already rehearsing for their May concert and I’m sure HS Orchestra will have another concert soon as well.
Finally got to ride Ras last night. It was a wonderful evening. Felt good riding again, even though it wasn’t for that long. He’s about as out of shape as I am, so we’ll work our way slowly into a long ride. I feel good all the way around so I’m sure all is healed up. I find out tomorrow.
Well everyone, I’m off to make cranberry walnut biscuits for breakfast and start my day. I have a model to finish up and a smidge of stitching left on an Irish piece I’d love to put in my tuck. May your day be filled with sunshine and smiles! Thanks for stopping by!
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It was definitely a music weekend! Remember Liann made alternate for State KMEA?!! Turned out one of the other cellists had a college visit that could not be changed and Liann made it into State!!! The concert was Saturday afternoon and these kids were incredible. We stayed and watched 56A Band concert as well. Sunday afternoon was rehearsal for Youth Symphony, their concert is this Saturday. Hubby and I grabbed a late lunch at Il Vicino while we were running errands and waiting. Yum! Do like their wood oven pizza!
Wanted to share a clever finish for Snowman’s Quaker Christmas! Coral stitched him up on gold perforated paper and carefully trimmed it down! How pretty is that? I like the gold peeking through. Thanks for sharing your ornaments and idea with us Coral!
Well everyone, I’m off to feed the horses and birds. They are having their own concert as they’re chattering with each other and the hawk must have just stretched his wings, I heard his cry as he flew past my loft window. Our red winged blackbird is calling from the highest branch he could find. Pretty soon I’ll hear the blush bellied woodpecker looking for seed and hammering away on the trees in the woods.
Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoy your day! I hope to get a lot of stitching time in today.
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It’s been a couple of weeks and I now realize I’ve never shared my pretty prim pillow from Murf! She did such a beautiful finish on it! Looks nice next to my Betty Ann dollie! The pattern is a freebie from primitivebettys and can be found on Betty’s blog. I love it Murf! And love your hand dyed fabric for the piece as well. It’s perfect!
Funny story on this Oh Sweet Valentine piece. . . as I was stitching my rendition of it for myself Murf was chuckling because she was stitching it up for me! As I put the last stitches in my piece (I’m such a slow stitcher) I received her lovely finish in the mail!! So here’s my primitivebettys freebie stitched up and now I want to find a way to “prim age” the piece before I decide on a finish for mine.
Yes, I changed the design around a bit. But that’s me. . . I was in “valentine mode” when I stitched this one I think. Any suggestions for the aging the stitched piece?
I also managed to finish my red block for STO! It’s a freebie from Handblessings titled Valentine Acorn Birdhouse. I think it turned out rather cute!
Now to get back to my models after I finish this signature RR I’m working on.
Has the weather turned on all of you? It was in the 70’s a couple of days ago. A little voice told me I really should pull out Ras and give him a short ride at least. But, as these things always happen, I was side tracked with responsibilities and said I’ll do that this weekend. Well, it’s 18 degrees out today and we’re looking at possible snow. I know it’s still February turning into March but darn. . . what a tease from mother nature.
On that note, time for another cup of hot green tea and get working! Wishing you a special day and enjoy your weekend too! Thanks for stopping by!!
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I wanted to wish everyone a special day! Enjoy time with loved ones, family and friends, and remember to take some time for you!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Hi everyone! I went into the hospital yesterday and had the surgery in the afternoon. Was released today and although I’m sore and very tired I’m glad it’s over with. And it’s so good to be home.
I’m looking forward to seeing what wonderful new designs come out of Nashville Market. Next week Heart’s Desire has their Market Party and Sharyn and her stitch group will come down to shop, visit, and lunch! Looking forward to seeing them.
I don’t have much else to share right now. Just looking forward to being comfortable again so I can get back to my stitching.
Thanks for stopping by and checking up on me!
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