Saturday, December 28, 2013

Oh My...We Need an Update!

First, I would like to thank all of you for sending thoughts and prayers for my husband's family after his father's passing. Rob is doing as well as possible and has done the normal male denial thing...thrown himself into his work! This is the second weekend in a row that he is working. His only time off was Christmas Day. Sigh...if it works - whatever.

It seems time is passing quicker than I realized and the new year is around the corner. Which has had me thinking about next years stitching plans, our trip to BC Canada, our 25th anniversary, this blog, and everything I haven't shared. So, go get a cup of something yummy and sit down to hear what's been going on around here. btw - this post will be somewhat picture heavy!

So, should we begin with the grade school Christmas program Garin was in?

Garin is standing beside the little guy in the red shirt playing with his tie. 
Oh my, it's been years since I have been to a school program. Some things haven't changed (too close seating - my knees were smashed into the seat in front of me) and yet I found myself seeing Courtney and Logan on the stage. Garin did well after Alivia yelled at him to wave to her. Until then, he was waving aimlessly trying to find us. :)

I'm still watching Alivia on Monday's to give Keri a bit of a break. She was over and we made cookies.


She insists on sitting on the bar to watch me. The cookies we were making needed to be rolled in powered sugar before baking. She decided to play in the sugar (and eat some too). What a ham! Look at that smile.

You can see a bit of the Christmas tree in the background - that's all you get. I was not a fan of this tree. Next year though -- I've got plans!

My Mathews' family get together had a weather related issue. Ice and snow! Some of the more northern relatives weren't able to make it and other's from town - well, we had a time related problem. Seems I never gave Karen a time to be here. Oops!

Front row - Carol-Sue, Alivia, and Mom
Back row - Me, Courtney, Keri, and Bryce
We ate well and had a crock pot hot chocolate. Only three of us managed to go shopping in Roscoe Village, but the weather had turned rainy by this time so off we went. I didn't buy anything but I was able to send Rob back for Christmas gifts! lol

We had family over on Christmas Eve and had a wonderful time.

Marcia, Me, Lonnie
 I realized I didn't have any pictures of me with my aunt and uncle in ages. Problem solved! Lonnie is my uncle that I mentioned is battling cancer. He has finished his round of chemo and is awaiting the results from an upcoming CAT scan to tell us what his next step will be. We are hoping for a much cleaner scan than before!

Here are a few pictures from Christmas ~

Playing with the camera
Andrew and Rob showing off their stocking Reds. 
Christmas 2013 family picture
Logan and Courtney
Rob and I
A little explanation about the picture with the Reds. Our Christmas stockings tend to run amok some years. This year was the year for Red's Apple Ale for Andrew and Rob. I didn't want to forget them in the basement and so, I stuck them outside. Bad move...didn't know alcohol would freeze. What I didn't think about was the volume of alcohol per drink...lesson learned.

Now to the stitching. Wonder how many of you have made it this far? Like I said before I've been thinking about my 2014 stitching. I think this up coming year will be the year of Santa. I have several L*K Santas to go, there are several more Leisure Arts Santas I have the patterns for (read, a whole friggin' book of them), a set of 4 from JCS magazine last year, and another pattern for an all red collage of Santas. That should more than cover one year! But, I have 2 more patterns of the perpetual calendar to go and I want to do the Gettysburg Address. Maybe a should call it the year of Santa Almost. :)

Here are my latest finishes -



September had many changes and then the October pattern had only color changes. Go figure! November is another set that I have redesigned but December will have very little changes. I can't believe I am down to 8 more tags to go. Woohoo!

Time to go get my shower and get moving today. Many things to do to get the house ready for the new year. I follow the silly notion that how your house looks on New Year's is how it looks all year. I can NOT have it looking like this for the entire year.

Hope you have a safe and happy New Year! And happy belated Merry Christmas!
Denise

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Remembering Jim

We just got word an hour ago that my 
father-in-law has passed. 

Jim Brosius and daughters
1941 - 2013
Please send a prayer for his family and my 
husband in particular. 
He's having a hard time with 
loosing his best friend. 


Monday, November 25, 2013

Happy Birthday Bryce!

May I introduce my newest nephew?!

Bryce James
He arrived this afternoon - He weighs 5 lbs 10 oz and is 18.5" long. 

Just love me some baby toes!

Mom, Dad, and big brother
Found a picture of Alivia the day she was born. Yep, they are from the same mold!
 
Alivia - August 2010, 2 lb 9 oz and 15" long
 
On a complete different note - Courtney and I took our picture Saturday night before going out to dinner. Must say I was looking rather young. So, of course, I MUST share that picture!
 

 

I now understand why so many people tell us that we look alike. I finally see it.

Time for bed soon - it's been a big day.
Night Night.
Denise

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Still Stitching ~

Still stitching and still running around. I thought things would calm down after the wedding, but it seems, I was wrong. My sister is having her third baby on Monday. She is high risk and needs to go in to the doctor twice a week. If I'm not taking her to those appointments I am probably watching the youngest. And nothing gets done on those days.

Plus, there is an empty room in the house since the son has moved his things to the basement (or to Kent) and I took over his bedroom for stitching.

Here is my new stitching room (I believe I've shown one picture of it)

South Wall

North East Corner

West Wall

As you can see I still need to paint the closet door and get it installed. Otherwise, this room is complete.

Now my old stitching room is being turned into our genealogy room. The plans are to put tons of pictures on the walls and wait patiently for the chairs to arrive (sometime before Christmas).

No pictures of it today - after Christmas though be prepared!

As the title suggests - I am still stitching on the calendar.

SamSarah Fun Every Day August
I changed the colors a bit on these, but for the most part they are pretty much as designed. My sun is more of an autumn sun than bright summer sun. Feeling the weather change I guess.

Nine and September

My Version of September's Patterns
The number 9 is as charted with a color change. The other three patterns on this chart have been totally re-designed. The left chart is my version of  'Happy Anniversary.' It was charted as another large heart. I was bored with it. The September chart had a large apple for the teacher. My kids are out of school and I chose to celebrate the first day of Fall. I used the leaves from Bent Creek's November Twirls pattern. And the pattern shown on the right - well, SamSarah had a school bus for the first day of school. I just couldn't celebrate that and I noticed there wasn't a pattern for St. Patrick's Day.  So, I took the shamrock from L*K's March Flip-It and proceeded to flip it and rotate it for my St. Patrick's Day piece.

I'm excited to see how these turn out. I'm hoping for success like on my June piece. :)

Have been re-doing my photo albums and printing a ton of them too. All caught up to the wedding and ran out of ink again. Crossing my fingers that tomorrow will find that project completed.

Having Thanksgiving here next Saturday. Glad to have the extra days to clean and prep the house. We're having all the traditional dishes this year. No excitement in the menu, but sometimes comfort is needed. This year we will have a new baby to be thankful for and an uncle who seems to be having success in his battle with cancer. My FIL is still here and battling the big C too. He's choosing to not take chemo at the moment. His choice and I understand his reasons. The rest of us are healthy, clothed, and have roofs over our heads - all blessings.

Watch here Monday or Tuesday for pictures of Brice James! Can't wait to be an aunt again! Just counted - he's my 17th niece or nephew. And that's not counting two great nephews. :0)

Keep Smiling ~
Denise


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Guess I am Still Running Behind!

If anyone can explain how I am more busy now than when I worked - I would love to hear it. I swear every week there is something new to do or someplace to go or someone to see. Don't misunderstand that this is complaining. Far far from it. I love this new life I have. Would have thought I would have more time sitting at home - HA!

Well, November 1st has come and gone and yet did you see a post showing my finished Fat Guy/Snow Belle collage? No. Didn't think so.

 
 

And the Stitch A Long is finished. Hope you've enjoyed seeing this project grow.

Still trying to get my calendar finished. Sunny Day seems to be taking forever. Might have something to do with the fact that my arse hasn't seen my stitching chair in days.

On the upside, I have been taking my sister to some of her ob appointments and the doctor seems to think we may have a baby before Thanksgiving. As long as the baby doesn't come on the 14th (Garin's birthday) all is well. Garin has informed us all that he doesn't want to share his birthday with anyone. He seems to see Alivia and Grandma sharing a birthday as wrong. Gotta love the way a 7yr old sees things.

Well, off to start my Christmas shopping.
Denise

Sunday, October 27, 2013

And We're Back!

 
May I present Mr. and Mrs. Mills ~


And now my family is a family of 5. Things went well Friday night. No one fell, no one got sick, the preacher showed up, and no one objected! ;)
 
Here are a few shots from the wedding ~
 
Performing Arts Center - KSU Tusc Campus
 
Courtney's flowers
Courtney and I
Dad  trying not to cry as he walks Courtney to her new husband.

Andrew and Courtney's first dance
Kilee, Jess, Sandra, Courtney, Andrew, David, Steve, and Zach
 
Rob and I
 
 
Telia, Angie, me, Rana, Ellie, and Rachelle
My sister picture minus my real sister.
 Still not sure how to describe the wedding. My words have left me. How can you be so happy for your little girl and so sad to see her all grown up at the same time? Bittersweet?

Today, after all the bridal things are sent to the new couple's house and my house returns to normal - let the stitching begin!

Don't think I haven't been stitching - I have and there are a few new finishes to show. Plus a road trip to plan...yep, next spring I'm taking my mom with me and we are headed to Minneapolis, Fargo, and then St Louis, back through Illinois and home. Seems there are some stitching shops I want to visit and I'm saving stash money already!

See you soon ~
Denise

Sunday, October 13, 2013

In Tears...


Having not been on the internet for days - I come here this afternoon to learn of Cathey's passing.

Words can not express my sympathy for Cathey's family. God bless you all.

One of Cathey's photos.
My condolences - Denise

Friday, September 27, 2013

Pumpkins for Cathey!


Happy blogversary Cathey! Hope you enjoy the pumpkins (thoughts, prayers, and good wishes) that are being sent to you today. All of us in bloggerville hold you in our hearts and hope for a speedy recovery.

Denise

Thursday, September 26, 2013

More Tags Finished

 

Think I may have been feeling a bit autumnal when I did Thursday and the Seventh. Here's what the designer thought the tags should look like ~


No major changes. Think my color choices were a bit bolder that those charted. Must say their purple in July looks better than mine.

And here's what the whole collection looks like together ~


I'm working on the Eighth today. It reminds me of Charlie Brown's sweater. That little zig zag he has. Really love these August charts. Nothing being changed on them either. Now September...there will be changes! :)

Off to wash kitchen cabinets, clean the fridge out, and wash the silverware tray. Fun fun. Got to find a needle and floss after doing the kitchen - I'll deserve it!

Have a great day - the weekend starts in about 14 hours!
Denise

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

My Youngest Nieces ~

Ran into my SIL this morning at an auction. My sister showed up and I realized my youngest nieces were all in attendance! 
 

Sitting (in black t-shirt) - Alivia who just turned 3, Anna (in gray t-shirt) who will be 4 in December, and Ariah who will be 6 months on the 22nd.

The girls made fast friends and all I can think - the boys are gonna be in trouble in a few more years!

Denise

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Just Sit Right Back and You'll Hear a Tale, a Tale of a Fateful Month!

 I sit here and all I can think is, "Phew, that's done...now just to survive the wedding!" Yep, the shower is over and my life is back on track...for this week.


Just before the Party
Here's a picture of Courtney unwrapping her gift from Rob and I.



I made her a copy of my recipe book and added a letter to her. She's beginning to read it here - she didn't make it and I read it aloud to all in attendance. hehe - made Courtney and a few others cry. She had a wonderful time and received several amazing gifts. The party was a resounding success in my book.
 
Kilee, Courtney, and Sheila
 This is her bouquet for the rehearsal. After this picture I guess Courtney turned to Sheila and started crying - it finally really hit her that she is getting married.
 
Me and Angie

 You've heard me talk of going places with Angie - well, this would be the one of which I am speaking! We've been friends since I started work at UPS back in 1987. She's the best! Would you believe this is the first picture of us together ever? We both hate having our pictures taken and if she sees this - she'll kill me!

I completely missed the 1st and my update of the Fat Guys/Snow Belles.

Snow House
Finished Snow House for my September piece and the went on to do All Dressed Up for my October one.

And here's the overall progress. One more to go and this SAL is fini! The only problem I can foresee - where in the world am I going to hang this monster piece??
 

 

I have been stitching on the calendar. Still. Ever so slowly. But, I did manage to finish another set of 4.


You've seen Saturday and June before. The sixth isn't too different, but Dad's Day...well, you can see what I did for yourself! :) Currently, I am working on Thursday and am about half done. Crossing fingers that tomorrow will see progress.

See - I have to go to Cuyahoga Falls in the morning and I'll be driving in rush hour. Then sitting in a car dealership for a few hours. Seems my newest acquisition has a couple of dings on it and the dealership is fixing them. What did I get??


Yep, that's a Nissan Juke and I got it in that color. This thing is sporty and fun. And it still has less that 800 miles on it! Hubby decided that he wasn't going to have me driving back and forth to Kent State regularly (and Cleveland to the LNS) in my old car. You know sometimes you just have to give the guy a high five for his thinking!

I did go to Crafty Ewe a couple of weeks ago.  Here's part of my new patterns.
(once again blogger rotates the pic)


Also found  the latest L*K Santa - Santa '13. For some reason I fell for a couple of 4th of July patterns and some Christmas ones. These pillows just made me smile and the fob reminded my of the fob I stitched with Teresa a few years ago. Got a piece of fabric for the latest Marie Barber pattern in JCS. Can't find a picture of it on the web - it's the one with white pumpkins and hydrangeas.

Think I am heading to the stitching chair - it's blazing hot outside and I want to cozy into my chair and see what it feels like once again.

Hope today finds you smiling and happy! Tomorrow is hump day and as that camel on the commercial says, "Whoop - whoop!"
Denise