Tea

First of all, thank you for all of the dear comments about our beloved dog whom we lost this week. I appreciate your sentiments so much. He will be missed, and after 17 years it is just weird not to have him here! There is definitely an emptiness without him.

I love tea! I love to make myself a pot of tea in the afternoon, sit down and pick up my latest embroidery. I do not have a nice tea set, what I do have is a mish-mash of tea components that do not match! I have a silver tea tray(not real silver), a blue floral tea pot, a little glass creamer, a pink floral tea bag holder(which I usually use to set my spoon on) and a set of real china tea cups from Japan with a gorgeous rose pattern(which my mother-in-law brought from Japan when she came here and has now given to me). But I enjoy this little collection almost every day.I am saving up to buy this tea set:


I really like these:
I have ordered the pattern and intend to make these for myself. I love the Crab Apple Hill patterns-they are all so cute! Do you ever do this type of stitchery? I like it as a break from cross stitch once in a while. I goes very, very fast. It seems I always get the urge to do this type of stitchery in the summer.
And almost every August I get the urge to work on a quilt.I never finish any quilt though, maybe this will be the year! I have one started from last year, a Blackbird design. I should really drag it out and get started on it.
Well thanks for putting up with my meandering thoughts. :)

Sorry to have been so remiss...(long post!)

Wow! I have really let thew time get away from me!I have been very distracted lately. May was insane, and then all 3 of my younger kids had different last days of school this year. But they are finally all out and we have been trying to get into a summer groove, but it has been hard!

Last weekend we went to visit Loras college in DuBuque Iowa. Chelsea has decided she wants to teach theology, so that is one of the schools we are looking at. We loved it! Who knew DuBuque was such a charming city? It's right on the Mississippi river so it is very hilly and scenic.

After our college visit we went to Wisconsin Dells to frolic away the rest of the weekend. It was really fun, but I am still recovering! I am so tired this week! We haven't had any sunshine since we got back, and that doesn't help! L to R: Lucas, Chelsea, my hubby Gary,Isabel and Aidan
And of course if you go to the Dells you have to have a hardy lumberjack breakfast at Paul Bunyans! Here is a pic of the kids with their grandmother! She is amazing! 83 and still kickin!
I am still working on new releases! I have one finished and going to the framers tomorrow. It is called Colonial Gardener. Here is a sneak peek!

RIP Jippy! :(

We had to put our dog down yesterday after 17 years. He seemed to have a stroke, the right side of his body wasn't working anymore. He has been one of the family for so long, it is very sad to see him go. It is especially hard on my kids, as he has been around as long as they can remember. We love you and miss you Jippy!
Jippy

July 1992

June 2009

Rest in peace Sha-poopie!

The Graduates!

This is why I haven't posted in so long!! We have had a busy week with graduation, and getting everybody finished with school, planning the summer and every thing else!! Whew!BRAG ALERT!!!Here are Lucas and Brittany(his girlfriend-can't claim her as mine!) on graduation day! We are so proud of both of them! They both graduated with honors, were awarded with scholorships, and Brittany, she was standing there for like 20 minutes while they read off all of her accomplishments!
Gary and I were quite astonished when Lucas won the Greg True award! This is a great honor at his high school and is given for academic and athletic achievement, sportsmanship, grade point average, and leadership, among other things. The trophy is displayed at school and will have his named engraved on it. So exciting! This is a picture of Lucas with my brother.We are so proud of him! And on a stitchy note, this is as far as I have gotten on This is the Day, before I put it aside to do some model stitching. I am close to a finish on this one but, duty calls!

Free chart!

Quaker Primitive
Click on image to print!
Suggestions for stitching:
30ct. Colonial Pumpkin linen from R & R.
2 strands of Hickory Sticks from Crescent Colours.
1 strand of Hickory Sticks for the over 1 portions.

Thank you for reading my blog!!

Edited to add:
This design cannot be stitched on aida cloth. Due to the over 1 portions you need either linen or evenweave.

For a great explanation of stitching over 1 go here!

Happy Mother's Day!

I woke up this morning to a tray of beautiful flowers for my garden! My girls put this together for me and it is so sweet!!

Prom 2009

Sorry to bore you with pictures of my guy. This is his senior prom. He took the same girl last year when he was a junior. As a matter of fact, they just celebrated their 1 year anniversary last weekend! Aren't they cute!!!
I don't have a good full length shot because Lucas kept squinting, even though it was overcast? (?)
Lucas and Brittany

Senior Prom

2009