april 20 - a simple woman's daybook

for today...april 20
outside my window...the sun is trying to peek through
i am thinking...that it's high time i got my stitching mojo back
i am thankful...that we had a wonderfully relaxing week and got home safely
from the kitchen...leftover pasta, shrimp, mushrooms & sundried tomatoes
i am wearing...capris & paisley
i am reading...The Spellmans Strike Again
i am hearing...lots of background library noise
a few plans for the rest of the week...trying to get my office cleaned out
i am hoping...for a quiet evening
one of my favorite things...nutella on toast
a photo to share...one of my kitties, Jack, helping me stitch




to read more daybooks, please look here.

mahalo for visiting!

april 13 - a simple woman's daybook

for today...april 13

outside my window...there is an airplane waiting for us to board it
i am hearing....lots of announcements
i am wearing...comfy traveling clothes
i am thankful...that we got through security painlessly
i am missing...our doggies already
i am thinking about...yesterday's fun at Safeco Field
i am reading...The Tale of Appleback Orchard
i am hoping...for an uneventful flight
a few plans for the rest of the week...lots of warm sunshine, beaches & relaxation
i am grateful...for my hubby, sleeping next to me on a chair, who was smart enough to know we needed a real vacation

Please read more daybooks here.

Thanks for visiting!

april 7 - a request if you're interested....

And maybe a surprise!

I tried to do this quite some time ago when I first started blogging,but I didn't get any response. Now I've seen something similar on two other blogs that I love so I'm going to try again.

There have been many times when I have come across a pattern from someone's wish list or a little trinket or stitchy surprise and I've thought that it would be fun for a certain someone...only problem is that I never seem to have any addresses. I do have some from groups or exchanges, but not often for blogging friends.

So, if you feel comfortable sharing your address with me, please send it in an email (lyndamarie.a@gmail.com) with "friend" in the subject.I promise not to share your information with anyone, unless I check with you first. If you could also include your blog address or email, and maybe a link to your wish list or something that you might especially like.

Now that I'm reading this it sounds like I'm asking for an awful lot...I don't mean to! I completely understand if you don't want to do this, but I just thought I'd throw it out there for fun. I can't promise to send something to everyone who responds...but you never know...and surprises...even little ones...are always fun!

Thanks for visiting!

april 7 - a few free moments

This does not happen very often lately, so I am taking advantage! I got home a bit early from a meeting and decided to use those extra found minutes to catch up a bit here. The sun looks like it is trying to peek through but it is having a hard time!

I am finally starting to feel better. I was sick in bed all last week with strep throat. Ick! I haven't felt that bad in a long long time. Somewhere along the way I dropped my glasses on the floor and stepped on them and broke them...so on Saturday morning I finally had to get out of bed to go get new glasses. Probably a good thing since I hadn't been to the eye doctor since 2007! Anyway, on Sunday we had a lovely dinner out for Easter and on Monday I went back to work. Still not feeling 100% but definitely getting there. And next week we are on vacation...yeah!

So I haven't done any stitching for nearly 2 weeks but I do have a few things to share. I stitched two exchanges which have been received, and appreciated, which makes me very happy!
The first was stitched for a pin pillow exchange that Becky hosted on her blog. I stitched the March Quaker freebie from The Workbasket, on a bone evenweave using Crescent Colours floss in "Spinach".


The second piece is also a pillow. I mentioned in a previous post that I had totally forgotten to send a PIF out on time and I was very embarrassed by that. So this is what I stitched...it it a pattern from The Sampler Girl, It's a Wonderful Life, stitched on a neutral linen using the called for DMC threads.


These were my first two pillow type finishes and I was really pleased with the way they turned out. I'd like to get my sewing machine working...I think that would make the finishing go much faster!

I also was the recipient of some wonderful stitchy mail treats. About a year or so ago, one of my stitching friends, Tami, stitched Tea and Stitches from Victoria Sampler. I love this design so much and asked her if I could have the pattern when she was finished with it. Well, not only did she send me the pattern, but she also sent me the beautiful piece that she stitched! as well as another lovely piece. Tami and her family have so much going on right now and it just touches my heart that she thought of me at this time. Thanks again Tami...you know how much this means to me.



And lastly, today when I got home from work this beautiful surprise was waiting in my mailbox! I was the lucky giveaway winner on Barbara's blog. She made this adorable easel finish with stitching and a needle magnet on one side, and a beautiful lace scissor pocket on the other. It is already propped up on my stitching table! Thanks so much Barbara!




So I guess my found time is up and I must take the doggies out for a walk!

Thanks for visiting!

april 6 - a simple woman's daybook

for today....april 6

outside my window....it is dark
i am thankful....for the start of baseball season
i am reading....some Sookie Stackhouse stories
i am looking forward to....seeing my grandson this weekend
i am grateful....that i am finally starting to feel better after more than a week of being sick
from the kitchen....yummy chicken
i am creating....controlled chaos
a bit of spring to share...



please read some other wonderful daybooks here

thanks for visiting!

march 26 - better late than never!

I have been very forgetful lately and have neglected to post a few things.
First, I am more than a week late with my TUSAL update! I have decided to use a smaller glass container for a bit. Everything just looks prettier in there! There are some threads from some recent little bits that have yet to be finished.

Next...some very belated thank you's to two friends for passing along awards to me.

Babs was so sweet to pass along this sunshine award


And Cyndi passed along this award

This one actually has some conditions, and in addition to thanking Cyndi I am supposed to post ten things about myself that people might not know. Well, there is not an awful lot about me to know...I lead a pretty normal and simple life, but I'll give it a try!

1. I lived in New York my whole life (44 years) except for a 6 month stint in Massachusetts where my second daughter was born) until moving to Oregon 16 years ago, yet as soon as I got here I felt like I was finally home
2. I was a school librarian (elementary through high school) for ten years before moving into public libraries
3. When it comes to sports, I watch but don't play...and I live for baseball, and have since the earliest years of the NY Mets. Now I am a huge Mariners fan but still like watching the Mets and the Red Sox
4. I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium
5. I met my husband when he was still in high school...I'm six years older than he is
6. I have zero coordination when it comes top using two hands...can't knit and can't drive a stick shift
7. Music has always been a huge part of my life & I can still sing along (although badly) to most of the songs that are the soundtrack of my life
8. I love to dance, even when I am alone
9. I've been stitching for almost 40 years (with some breaks) but only started stitching things for myself ten years ago.
10. I have many guilty pleasures when it come to television...like "That 70's Show", "Supernanny" and old sitcoms (I can watch the same episodes over and over)

So thank you again, and now I am going to not follow the rules which say to pass these awards along to a finite number of bloggers. Some bloggers don't like to post awards. And to be honest there are just too many blogs that I love to visit...I couldn't pick just 8 or 10 or 12. Please check the blogs in my sidebar and then check their sidebars and on and on. You will find so many wonderful blogs and wonderful bloggers, to visit. Enjoy the process!

Thanks for visiting!

march 25 - what a day...so far

This is day 3 of the annual PLA conference. It is being held here in Portland, so I get to go all week. The sessions have been good so far...lots of good ideas.

So Tuesday night I finally figured out how to download ebooks to my Sony Reader from our library website. I've been trying to do this for weeks and just couldn't get it to work. Of course it was because I was overlooking one extremely important part of the process. Now it's easy peasy. So I loaded a book and read yesterday on the train. So cool.

Today I get on the train with my little reader all set for more great reading, and the book won't load. Turns out it took me so long to figure out the process that it has expired already! So now I have to check it out all over again...but in the meantime I have nothing to read for the ride home. OI may have to buy something here....

Then I am sitting in my first session this morning minding my own business and when I get up the strap on my shoe breaks! Of course I still have to walk all over the convention center. So when the lunch break came I rushed to the train and went to the nearby shopping center where I luckily found a nice comfortable pair of shoes that didn't cost a fortune (as well as a Thomas the Tank Engine blankie and another little train for Asher...well...what's a grandma supposed to do?)

Hopefully the afternoon will be less eventful and I'll get home in one piece!

I've added a couple of giveaways in my sidebar. Bloggers are so generous...check these out.

Better go to the ladies room and get a coffee for the next session!

Thanks for visiting!

march 23 - a simple woman's daybook

for today...march 23

outside my window...it is still light out even though it is 7:30 pm

i am thinking...that I should have been able to figure out this ebooks thing more quickly

i am thankful...for my family

i am wearing... a sleeveless blouse...it was that warm today

i am hoping...for a good night's sleep

plans for the week...attending the PLA conference

one of my favorite things...a bouquet of fruit

and here's a photo...

Read lots of other daybooks here.

Thanks for visiting!

march 22 - it's finally spring!

I'm so glad that it looks like spring is finally here!This weekend was beautiful - weather-wise, and it looks like it's here to stay.

Hubby was so sick that he was in bed all weekend. Turns out he has strep throat...ick! But I did manage to get some stitching done. Nothing I can show pictures of yet because both are for others. I finished the stitching for a pin pillow exchange and still have to do the finishing on that one. It's my first of this type of finish so I hope it turns out ok.

I also stitched a piece for another exchange. This one is a PIF, a late one at that. I was mortified when catching up on blogs this weekend. I realized that the inconsiderate sloth who had neglected to send on a PIF to a fellow blogger was me! I really feel awful about it and there are really no good excuses. I always try to be so careful to send things on time. I know I had placed a reminder on my blog, but when I changed things up I neglected to carry over all my sidebar stuff. And out of sight, out of mind! I checked through all my old notebooks and places where I write things down and there it was for February. I am so embarrassed for being so feeble-minded and forgetful. Anyway, I've emailed my partner and I hope she understands. I finished the stitching for the piece this weekend and am going to try and get the finishing part done this week. I will be at a conference every day through Saturday, so if I don't get to it this week I'll be able to get it out next week for sure. I hope she'll like it even though it is a month late!

Here is one photo I can share. It is the Quaker round robin that our group is working on this time. It is "The Hunt" by Homespun Samplar. I stitched my part on a piece of linen from Silkweaver...either 28 or 32 ct. in a color called "sudden storm". It is stitched with GAST floss - Brethren Blue. It is a fairly easy to stitch piece, even though I had to frog quite a few bits on mine. I just wasn't concentrating I guess.


Thanks for visiting!

march 16 - a simple woman's daybook

for today: March 16, 2010

outside my window...it feels like spring
i am thinking...how much I'd rather be outside in the sun than inside in this windowless room
i am thankful for...my husband, who is always there for me
i am wearing...purple
i am creating...a pin pillow
i am going...through a very stressful time at work
i am reading..."The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag"
i am hoping...for a decisive City Commission tomorrow night
i am hearing...books dropping into the outside bookdrop
one of my favorite things...the smell of Perlier's honey body cream
a few plans for the rest of the week...more stitching!
a photo to share...


Please join everyone here.

Thanks for visiting!

march 9 - a simple woman's daybook

for today...march 9

outside my window...it is still dark and very cold
i am thinking...about all the clutter on my desk
i am thankful for...my little space heater
i am wearing...comfy clothes
i am reading..."The Postmistress"
i am hoping...that my daughter decides to move back to Portland
i am hearing...silence
around the house...all the furbabies are sound asleep (i think!)
one of my favorite things...my Pendleton Rose Festival blanket
plans for the rest of the week...finish my round robin
a photo to share...Boonie & Eros


please share everyone else's daybooks here.

thanks for visiting!

march 4 - great mail day!

After a very long day, I came home to a mailbox full of goodies...a beautiful piece of pale blue fabric from Silkweavers, an ornament and a special surprise from my sister!

Edgar had my name for the ornament exchange this round and he stitched this wonderful ornament for me. It is a design from Mary Garry, stitched on 30 ct antique cotton with DMC threads. It is really pretty and I know it will look beautiful on our tree next year.




Tracy was my partner, and since she has received her ornie I can show it to you now. I stitched this freebie design from primitivebettys for her. I have stitched this three times before and I never get tired of it! This time I added a little extra button.



My sister loves to take photos and when she and my niece were here a few weeks ago she always had her camera ready. Today I received a wonderful photo album from her filled with lots of photos from their visit. She also sent the photo CD so I can make more copies if I want. There are lots of pics of Asher, or course. What a wonderful surprise!

Time to walk the doggies!

Thanks for visiting!

march 2 - a simple woman's daybook

for today...march 2

outside my window...the sun is shining
i am thinking...about the start of the baseball season
i am thankful...that my children are safe and happy
i am wearing...a black turtleneck
i am creating...a big mess in my office
i am going...to lunch soon
i am reading..."Saving CeeCee Honeycutt"
i am hoping...our City Commission buys us a library building
i am hearing...the voices of little children
a photo to share...one of my favorite tea mugs


Join in the fun here.

Thanks for visiting!

march 1 - beginnings and endings

Another month has flown by...we had beautiful spring-like weather this weekend and even though it was colder today I don't think the cold will hang on...at least I hope not. So hopefully this is the beginning of spring!

I was sad to see the Olympics end last night...I must admit to being a bit of a winter games addict...other than curling, there's not much I didn't watch. I thought these games were really exciting, and the athlete's stories always grab me. This time around there was lots of sadness, but also so much real joy. Great games all around I thought.

I think I finally realized what has been contributing to my stitching funk. This is tax season, and one of my least favorite things to do ever is our taxes. Even though I know that it is all numbers and there is nothing I can really do about the outcome, I always feel guilty when we have to pay up (and we almost always do) because I am the one doing the paperwork. I know it makes no sense to feel that way, but I do anyway. So I put the task off. Usually I try to get them done by Super Bowl Sunday, but this year I just couldn't get into it. And I think that subconsciously I was thinking that until I had that chore done I couldn't really relax and enjoy my stitching. Guilt? Hormones? Lunacy? All of the above?

So now the dastardly deed is done and I can get back to what is really important...putting needle and thread to fabric and creating something pretty.

I brought my round robin piece to work and actually stitched at lunch today. It is going pretty quickly. I have to get my bit done and in the mail by the 15th and I think I will be able to meet that deadline with time to spare. I don't have a picture, but I'll try to get one to post tomorrow.

So off to the kitchen to get dinner going...actually it's almost done... Jeff cooked up a batch of chicken cacciatore last night and it smelled so yummy. So all I have to do is get the linguine going and we will have a feast!

And then...an evening with my needle and thread. Yippee!

Thanks for visiting!

february 25 - another crazy week

This seems to be the story of my life...one crazy busy week after another. Last week, my sister and niece came to visit from New Jersey for a long weekend. February is not the best month of the year to come to Oregon, but the weather was absolutely perfect the entire time they were here! We drove over to the Coast one day, and up to Mount Hood another day. They got to spend lots of time with Asher too...which was the real reason they were here! We had a great time.

This week we are interviewing for a new City Manager, and I was volunteered to drive one of the candidates around, so that is what I have been doing for the past two days. I don't live in the city in which I work, so I was very proud of myself that I didn't get him lost! Of course I also got to hear all five candidates' speeches numerous times...I think I could probably give one or two of them myself by now! Hopefully, the Commission will make a decision soon and we will have a new manager before the old one leaves at the end of the month.

And today is my baby's birthday...though I guess she's not a baby anymore...she's 28 with a baby of her own! Happy birthday sweetie!

Even though I have been really tired....I stitched this week! Yea for me! The last time I picked up a needle was Super Bowl Sunday...even my hubby was shocked! I had an ornament to stitch for an exchange that was to be mailed on March 1 so I had a real incentive. I'll get it in the mail today, and will share a picture once the recipient receives it. I also started a new round robin for our Quaker Round Robin group. This time we are stitching "Hunt Sampler" by Homespun Samplar. I only made a tiny start so I didn't take a picture but I will this weekend. It just feels so good to be stitching again!

I also received two wonderful exchanges this past week. The first is from Gabi in Germany. We are in a pin pillow exchange that Becky organized and Gabi stitched me this beautiful biscornu.



The second piece I received was from Jill. I was chosen to be a recipient of a PIF from Jill and she sent me this gorgeous pin pillow...it is the Heart and Home Sampler from Little House Needleworks and the little basket of fruit on the lower corner is all done in beads.



Thank you again to Gabi and Jill for sharing your beautiful stitching with me!

And thanks for visiting!

february 23 - a simple woman's daybook

for today....february 23

outside my window....it is raining
from my kitchen....meatball parm sandwiches...yum
i am thinking....that I need a hot bath
i am wearing....teal
i am reading...."why my third husband will be a dog"
i am looking forward to....the weekend
i am hoping....for a good night's sleep
i am hearing...the sounds of the Olympics

a photo to share....the majesty of Multnomah Falls


Please share your thoughts here.

Thanks for visiting.

february 17 -long time gone

I have not been keeping up with this blog like I should...it is all going along with the stitching funk I have been in...I don't know what's wrong but I just can't seem to get myself going. Anyway, I do have a few things to share...

We (well, actually my DH) decided it was time to get rid of our old carpet. This had to do with two things...the carpet is getting pretty ugly...it's light colored, and with 4 furbabies running around, plus 2 humans...well you get the idea...also, my sister and niece are coming to visit for a few day..tonight actually. My sister has never seen our house (she lives 3000 miles away) and DH loves to make a good impression! So...we had wood floors put in. I must say that I really do love them and I'm glad we did it...I just don't know about the timing!

Before:


and after:


I have also received some fun goodies in the mail over the past few weeks:

this adorable stitched block from Petra...this was for the block SAL with the Stitcher's Timeout group...the colors are so much brighter in person


this wonderful ornament stitched by Carol...


my Valentine's Day sock exchange from Rita....


and this adorable kitty pin cushion from Pauline....

Thanks again to all of you!

So the last time I stitched was on Super Bowl Sunday...I didn't get much done because I was too busy watching the game and cheering on the Saints. But here is my small start on Tea with Jane Austen from The Sampler Girl.


And finally, my very late TUSAL update. Not much added this month...again! I think maybe I'll look for a new container to inspire me!


And finally finally...even thought I only have one sister...and we haven't seen each other in almost 2 years...here is the real reason they are making the trip...my little Thomas the Tank Engine fan..."toot toot"!


Thanks for visiting!

february 16 - a simple woman's daybook

for today...february 16

outside my window...the sun is shining and it is warm
i am thinking...about all the Olympians in Vancouver
i am thankful for...my warm & cozy bed
i am wearing...birkenstocks
i am going...to the state of the city luncheon
i am reading..."the cinderella deal"
i am looking forward to...a visit from my sister and niece this week
one of my favorite things...my towel warmer
a photo to share...the beautiful hanging flower sculpture at the Chinese fair this weekend


Please consider joining us to share your thoughts here.

Thanks for visiting!

feb 9 - simple woman's daybook

for today...february 9

outside my window....there is very dense fog
i am thinking....about our "food for thought" program tomorrow evening
i am thankful for....my husband
i am wearing....red
i am reading...."The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie"
I am hoping....for a quiet and peaceful day
I am hearing....the hum of my little space heater
from the kitchen...a hot cup of peppermint tea
around the house...i am loving our new wood floors
a thought for today...."I drink tea and forget the world's noises"...a Chinese proverb
one of my favorite things...fun socks
a photo to share....


Don't forget to visit and share here.

Thanks for visiting.

february 4 - playing catch-up

January has come and gone and February has arrived and I've barely had time to notice! These past weeks have been crazy busy. Last week our library celebrated its 100th anniversary! The first reading rooms are actually older than that, but it was 100 years ago that the City began supporting a real library with money from the City fund. So we decided to celebrate! We had a birthday party of sorts on Monday and various events throughout the week...music, children's programs, a poetry event. And we gave out some gifts as well...along with a $5 birthday card that patrons can use for fines or rentals we had these goodies:

a pad and pen to remind people of the most important stop on their shopping list...

a magnet sheet filled with lots of words associated with our library and libraries in general...


a 2-sided bookmark listing all of the library's librarians from 1909 to the present (if you look closely you can find my name! This was our yummy cake:


This week has been just one meeting after another. Not my favorite thing to do! And at night we've been busy clearing stuff out of the cabinets in preparation for having new floors put in today. The guys coming will move the furniture but not what's inside...and lord knows I have tons of little "things" everywhere! So I have been pretty pooped all week!

I think it was almost two weeks ago since I actually sat down and stitched anything! I started "The Gilded Cage" from Carriage House Samplings. This is how it looks right now....not much done, but it's a start!




I have high hopes for a stitchy weekend...and since I will be practically glued to my chair once the Olympics start, hopefully there will be more stitches stitched in February than there were in January!

Thanks for visiting!