january 26 - the simple woman's daybook

For Today...January 26th, 2010

Outside my window...it's cold, but the sun is shining brightly
I am thinking...that that delicious chai latte I had this morning didn't settle very well
I am thankful for...good friends
From the kitchen...linguine with shrimp, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes & garlic for supper
I am wearing...beige and brown
I am creating...Christmas ornaments
I am reading..."Crescent" by Diana Abu-Jaber
I am hoping...to get some rest tonight
I am hearing...a squeaky door
A few plans for the rest of the week ...more library birthday celebrations
One of my favorite things...fresh flowers
A photo to share...


You can read more thoughts and join in here.
Thanks for visiting.

jan 20 - a robin returns to its nest

Yesterday was a wonderful mail day. My Quaker Friendship Round Robin has returned home! Thank you so much to Clare, Deb, Jinger, Sharyn & Marti who all stitched on this for me. It was such fun to see everyone's different color choices for this. Mine was stitched on a pewter jobelan using Carrie's Threads in Black Cherry. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. Thanks again ladies...I am looking forward to our next project!


Thanks for visiting!

jan 19 - the simple woman's daybook

I saw a reference to this on a blog that I read and think it is such a good idea. So often, I don't make time in my day to just sit and reflect...there is always so much going on around me and in my head and I often just feel overwhelmed. Hopefully, this will give me pause at least once a week to stop all the chaos and just be aware of the simple things in my life.

For Today....January 19th, 2010

Outside my window....the sun is trying to peek through and the winds are very gusty
I am thinking...that I forgot to bring my lunch and my tummy is feeling empty
I am thankful for...the little heater that is keeping me toasty warm
On my mind...are all the people of Haiti and the suffering that is going on there
I am wearing...a comfy sweater
I am creating...beautiful stitched pictures in my mind
I am reading...the latest coffeehouse mystery by Cleo Coyle, "Holiday Grind"
I am hearing...the giggles and laughter of the children at storytime
Around the house...my furbabies are sleeping
I am hoping...that our library finds a new home quickly
I am remembering...my dad a lot lately
A few plans for the rest of the week...lots of meetings for sure, lots of stitching time I hope
One of my favorite things...my grandson's smile
A photo to share...


More information about the simple woman's daybook can be found here. Please check it out!

Thanks for visiting!

jan 19 - little by little

It was so nice to have an extra day off this weekend. Time flew by though, as it usually does!

Happily, I was able to get a little stitching done yesterday and finally have my first finish of the year...a small block for the block exchange with the Stitcher's Timeout group. This month's theme is "green", so I stitched this freebie design that I had in my stash. Unfortunately I can't remember where it is from...I know it was from one of the French blogs, but can't remember which one. Maybe someone can help me out? It is stitched on a piece of green evenwweave with Belle Soie silks in "Collard Greens".



My sister called last night and she and my niece are planning a trip out here next month. They will only be here for a long weekend but it will be good to see them both. They live in New Jersey, and we haven't seen each other since my nephew's wedding almost two years ago. Of course, the real reason they are coming is to see the little guy, but who can blame them?



Thanks for visiting!

jan 15 - Totally Useless

The New moon is upon us again, and that means another Totally Useless SAL update. The first for 2010, and frankly, mine is pitiful!


I started out so well on New Year's Day with my stitching, but ever since then I have been in such a slump. The first week I was so tired every day after work that I fell asleep in the chair every night. And this week hasn't been much better.
I have started my block for the STO block exchange. This month's theme is "green"...but I haven't made too much progress. I hope I can finish it in time.
There is lots going on here at the library but I don't want to go into it all right now. Suffice it to say that it is keeping my mind busy and scattering my concentration.
I have been reading though...so that is some bit of escape! And I know that my stitching mojo will return...just hope it is sooner rather than later!
I hope you are all having a wonderful day.
Thanks for visiting!

jan 4 - how to get the 3 columns & more giveaways

To anyone wanting to get the three column template, please visit Kristi's blog and go to the January 3 post. She was kind enough to answer my query...and if I could follow the instructions, anyone can!

While you are there, check out her giveaway...and then you can check out these too:

First up is Julie's:



Next is Karen's:



Have fun!
Thanks for visiting!

jan 3 - thanks and a giveaway

Thanks so much to Kristi for walking me through the process of changing my blog to three columns! I've wanted to do this for so long...


Kristi is also having a wonderful giveaway on her blog, so please stop by and check it out.

No stitching today...I've been playing around on the computer all day...haven't done that in a while! Back to work tomorrow...after 2 short weeks what is it going to be like to actually work a full week again?
Thanks for visiting!

jan 1 - 2009 wrap-up & a new start

When checking through things, I realized that I actually got quite a bit accomplished in 2009...stitching-wise.

There were 2 round robin groups that I participated in...in one groups we all did the same design...Quaker Friendship Sampler...it was such fun seeing how different everyone's looked depending on our color and fabric choices. I haven't received mine back yet, but I will post a picture when I do. The same group will be working on another Quaker design this year. The second group is one that I have stitched with for many robins...there are six of us in the group and we all choose our own designs and go from there. This year I asked everyone to stitch one of the Charles Dicken's mittens from Cross-Eyed Cricket. I am anxious to see those.

I also stitched 2 blocks for exchanges with the Stitcher's Timeout group; four exchanges with the Year-Long Prairie Schooler exchange group and six sets of squares with Fair & Square. There were three ornaments exchanged with the Christmas Ornament Exchange group; tow other ornament exchanges and three I stitched for myself. There was also a bookmark exchange, a floss-tag exchange, a Quaker exchange (I stitched a needlebook for this one) and a "stitcher's room" exchange where we stitched something for our partner to keep in their stitching are...I did a small Shepherd's Bush pillow for this one.

My largest finish for the year was the Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler, but I also completed "Alla Turca" (Pelin Tezer), "Lo How A Rose" (Bright Needle), "Mildred's Garden" (Blackbird Designs), "Ladybug Ladybug" (LHN),"Daisy Sampler" (CCN) and Bent Creek's "I Do" (twice...for two separate wedding gifts),"Peacock Heart" and the little freebie sampler from Blackbird Designs.

On the reading front, I finished at least 43 books...either reading or listening. I've started keeping track on "goodreads" so I can have a more accurate list of what I'm reading in the new year.

I received my last ornament exchange for 2009 from Jennie. I don't know who the designer is but he is a really cute Santa and was a nice addition to my ornie tree.

I also heard that Carol received her ornie for the current round at the Christmas Ornament Exchange group. It is a Workbasket design from one of the JCS ornie issues.

We had a quiet New Year's Eve. We went out for Mexican food and came home and watched some tv. Thursdays are UFO night at Friendly Stitchers so I actually decided to pull one out and stitch. This is Midnight Stitching's "Quaker Winter Slumber". I think I started it in May but put it down for some reason. Anyway, here is what it looked like when I started

and here is how it looked when I fell asleep stitching a couple hours later.


We're such party animals in this house...we were in bed way before midnight!

And finally, at Stitchers Timeout, we have a Jan.1 project SAL. Last year, my project was Beatrix Potter and I managed to finish it before the end of the year (yeah!). This year I started "Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow" in between taking down our Christmas tree and decorations and watching the Oregon Ducks lose the Rose Bowl game. Here is my progress so far:

Sorry for being so wordy...if you made it this far...thanks!

And thanks for visiting!