EH 1875 Wk 11 & 12

I am not sure how I managed but somehow I did some major stitching on this piece, even with all the shopping, wrapping, baking, cooking, laundry.  Not sure how I managed it, but hey every page gets me closer to the end.

These are pages 25-30.

Maybe my next post, I will have completed 31-35, will be able to post a picture of the entire sampler and already talking about me next project!

I must have been a good girl!!!!!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hannuka, Feliz Navidad, and a Wonderful Joyous New 2015 to all!!

The shopping is done, the meal was wonderful, and we have leftovers that are delicious.  I could live off of turkey sandwiches.  It's not all that often that I can have my children all together, so I savor those times.

My husband and my children were very good to me this year, and bought me my all time most favorite things to have.  Cross stitch supplies.  My sister, even pitched in, with all the DVD's of Antique Sampler magazines.   I will have a fun time looking through those!!!!!

Every stitcher I know is always trying to be more organized regarding their supplies, and I am no different.  I use the bag system for my threads, and have been happy with that.  Somehow, the little cardboard spools have never peaked my interest.  And what exactly do you do with that piece of thread that is still long enough to use somewhere.  Using the baggie system, I could just shove it back in the back, problem solved.  But, even though I keep my threads in numerical order for DMC, and alphabetical order for hand-dyed, I could never find a box large enough to hold the binders/rings. My thread always looked like a "hot mess!"

But my problem is now resolved, because I got this for Christmas!

I purchased blank 3"X 5" recipe cards, and have been inserting them in each of the bags, to give the baggies some additional stability.  This cabinet is actually for CD's, but it's perfect for my threads.  So happy with this addition!

My children and my hubby also bought me charts, fabric and threads.  I am a happy camper!

EH 1875 Weeks 9 & 10

I had to skip a week in posting.  Just way too much going on with Christmas!!! The tree is finally finished decorated.  It turned out beautifully!   But, then again I think that every year of every tree we have.

I think I have one more large package in transit to be wrapped, and then I will be really, really done.  Staying away from all further stores so that there will be no impulse purchases.  I think the kids will be pleased.  I even bought presents for the cat and the dogs.  No one's going to be left out.

We purchased our turkey a few weeks ago, and did a big grocery store shop, but there will be that last minute grocery store visit for fresh fruits and vegetables.  Christmas Eve, meal is planned, so I think I'm all set.  These next couple of days will fly right by and Christmas will be over, and the day after will consist of recycling boxes, and wrapping paper, eating leftovers and the worse part is not hearing a single Christmas song on the radio.

I try to get the kids to make up a Christmas list, so it's a bit easier to shop.  But., sometimes I have to make suggestions to the kids what they can buy for each other, and my mother is here, and I have to think of ideas for gifts from her, plus wrap her gifts to others, and wrap all the gifts from me and the hubbie to the kids.  Relatives get gift cards!  Worst part is wrapping a gift to me from my mother to me, that I also have to wrap.  I sort of like the surprise of Christmas!

With all the activity I haven't stitched as much as I would like, but to be honest, there is never enough time to stitch.  I completed 2 pages a week.  Currently working on page 25 of a 35 page chart.  These pictures are of pages 21-24.

I have so many completed cross stitch pieces, that I try to get one framed a month.  I just recently picked up the Rosewood Manor American Quilt Sampler.  Turned out quite well, and I already know where it's "home" on my walls will be.

EH 1875 Week 8

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to one and all.  I hope you all had a wonderful day, spent with family and friends.  I had a lovely day, with my three children, and the oldest son's girlfriend, plus my hubby and my mother.   The meal was terrific, and it will be the exact same menu for Christmas.

Somehow between all the meal preparation, I still managed to finish 3 pages.  Not quite sure how that even happened!  But I'll take it!  Anything that gets me closer to page 34!

Next week, I'll probably venture out to start the Christmas shopping.  I never shop Thanksgiving weekend.  Can't stand the craziness and crowds.  Actually the more shopping I can do via my laptop, the happier I will be.  But there are always those impulse purchases, that you can't do, without actually being in a store.  Plus, our local mall has become large enough, that it will take my mother and I several days to go from one end to the other.  Have to do things a lot slower since my lovely mother turned 93 in October and her legs, while always short (downside of being 4'11") she just isn't as spry!  Course for that matter neither am I.

EH 1875 Week 7

Another week has flown right by, and somehow I managed to get 3 pages completed this week.  I'm not really sure how that happened, and to be sure, that if I have more time to stitch, then housecleaning projects are not being done.

I celebrated my 60th birthday on the 22nd.  I had a lovely birthday.  Flowers from my oldest.  Late lunch, early dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, with a piece of White Chocolate, Caramel Macadamia Cheese cake to come home with me.   Hubby, and my two youngest were there.  Life couldn't be more perfect.  I am blessed and truly a lucky girl.

It's hard to believe it's Thanksgiving this week, with Christmas right around the corner.  Shopping, decorating, baking, cooking.  Whoosh, I'm already exhausted just thinking about it.

The first 3 pictures are pages 15, 16, and 17.  The last page is at least the top of the sampler as completed so far.

EH 1875 Week 6

Another two pages completed.  I am happy with that progress, only because I know I completed other things at home that were sorely needed to be taken care of.

Plus, Saturday the George Herbert Walker Bush returned from it's nine month deployment.  I, my youngest two kids, and my son's girlfriend where there to meet the ship and my oldest when it returned to it's home base in Norfolk, Va.  Both the ship and my son were a sight for sore eyes.  The weekend went by too quickly and it was too soon to say goodbye, to the youngest two so they could return to college, and I had to return to Manassas.  Thankfully, my daughter will be home from college tomorrow to begin Thanksgiving break, the youngest returns on Fri., and Jason and his girlfriend will be with us for Thanksgiving!

I also managed to work on my take along project while waiting for the kids to show up, and waiting for the ship.

EH 1875 - Week Five and .....

Only managed to stitch two pages on my EH 1875 this week.  I know from here on out it will be slow going!  I've got too many house projects that need to be done, plus the holidays are quickly coming up with decorating and shopping.

I managed to complete pages 11 & 12

I also managed to put a few stitches in my take along project, which is the Family Name Sampler.

 This week was a very difficult week for our family.  We lost a member of our family!  One of our family dog's Sandy,    We had her in our life for almost 15 years.  She was a lovely dog, friendly, happy.  My father told me that that their passing, will break your heart and it does!  The house will be a little quieter, a little lonelier, with out her here.

On an uplifting note, my oldest returns from his nine month deployment on the George Herbert Walker Bush.  I and the kids are going to meet the ship, and be there for his homecoming.  This last week, will crawl by at a snail's pace!