tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62379743914853891932024-03-17T20:03:51.615-07:00A Positive OutlookJanice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.comBlogger1124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-69315546584304161952024-02-25T07:26:00.000-08:002024-02-25T16:47:17.681-08:00Fire Engine Quilt<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHNCq7PjyRzcnX101Ww1DzffzKwa72jdKIU3ZEMFsP2kderUx1YxjYrw9kFPqGtsIVTJy2NgMCIVLasHnlAKTTwR15Lq-QrcCBIK3u9hMFrXRswzCDdCtQ8pwcncio29KUCR1oNIk874n_Tnbkg-gp3tPvYAJyxCrDlMSajhQ2VVO5NIDbaSCrx9I4E01/s4032/IMG_2924.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHNCq7PjyRzcnX101Ww1DzffzKwa72jdKIU3ZEMFsP2kderUx1YxjYrw9kFPqGtsIVTJy2NgMCIVLasHnlAKTTwR15Lq-QrcCBIK3u9hMFrXRswzCDdCtQ8pwcncio29KUCR1oNIk874n_Tnbkg-gp3tPvYAJyxCrDlMSajhQ2VVO5NIDbaSCrx9I4E01/w300-h400/IMG_2924.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /> Good Sunday Morning! This is just a quick post to show you my latest quilt finish which I will be donating at a guild meeting on Tuesday. The center panel was purchased on a shop hop quite a few years ago. The yardage I purchased had four small fire engine sections. I had used one of the small panels in a piece which I donated last year. <p></p><p>I’ve been busy kitting up a few cross stitch pieces. Since Christmas I have been focusing on just two projects but have decided that I would like a bit more variety in my daily stitching. </p><p>The weather continues to hint of spring. This February will go down as one of the warmest on record, but we all know that March and even April may have some stormy surprises.</p><p>So, that’s all, short and sweet. This afternoon I’ll be with family celebrating my cousin twelfth birthday. </p><p>Hope you all have a lovely, creative, wonderful week. :-)</p>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-11621847429449806552024-02-18T20:38:00.000-08:002024-02-19T05:56:22.018-08:00“Snow Magical” and “Winter Cardinal Etching” - Two Cross Stitch Finishes<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29tDsOFRpkowH-6DYTkJ0hPPvI3YP7sRd7P9Sbg0mpnT669gGLYddacul7AT-aLk9r4eazV9elVqBdR-Euk4vt0MekjFoE0asLVWCRWNvIDo0BIJzI_FXv4qJF0f3nmv2BLKJRK0yWILtvfmBIIymMYhemGAGuLbKmrc4aktinDhs6M3oZcwyOjCEy4Up/s3378/IMG_2917.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3378" data-original-width="2757" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29tDsOFRpkowH-6DYTkJ0hPPvI3YP7sRd7P9Sbg0mpnT669gGLYddacul7AT-aLk9r4eazV9elVqBdR-Euk4vt0MekjFoE0asLVWCRWNvIDo0BIJzI_FXv4qJF0f3nmv2BLKJRK0yWILtvfmBIIymMYhemGAGuLbKmrc4aktinDhs6M3oZcwyOjCEy4Up/w326-h400/IMG_2917.jpeg" width="326" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>This piece is “Snow Magical” by designer Brenda Gervais. If you follow any flosstube channels on Youtube, you will know that this has been a very popular piece to stitch. The cute sweater and snow took a l-o-n-g time to stitch. Since Christmas, I have been working on this and one other larger piece, and I am glad to have finally finished this snowman. I chose a frame from Hobby Lobby to fully finish this piece.</p><p>Speaking of snow . . . in my previous post I wrote of an approaching snowstorm. Schools, meetings, events, etc. were cancelled the day before, but then the forecast kept changing. The big snowstorm was a no show in my area although on parts of Cape Cod they received heavy snow. My friend Laurel sent this along which speaks to the difficulties of being a meteorologist in our area. If you don’t like our weather, just wait a minute.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKfXizmQvXYPm3Fc84iACv2TSGQXhqVJ9b2ijJnzxjyDOJoEFW5Y_A32nMEVfafOKWsOGo6rBQdSZg4N0xTBg2Cu33twY-trMRWLmYiwvTsYpebz4w7LmLrvFuE-9sTrqgnaVg8s_F4xXedpz1KP3xUlyxSc5vS6YTKi6XKwDe0EvIUNRdSkKpjWL5OFx/s899/image0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKfXizmQvXYPm3Fc84iACv2TSGQXhqVJ9b2ijJnzxjyDOJoEFW5Y_A32nMEVfafOKWsOGo6rBQdSZg4N0xTBg2Cu33twY-trMRWLmYiwvTsYpebz4w7LmLrvFuE-9sTrqgnaVg8s_F4xXedpz1KP3xUlyxSc5vS6YTKi6XKwDe0EvIUNRdSkKpjWL5OFx/s320/image0.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>Laurel also sent along a few photos that she had taken at the start of the lighthouse restoration project which I wrote about in a previous post.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1KOcF8xLBP1OUkqXAWEg0E83xZESUEo27xzEMyvmGzhRzus6nba7zM9TJIOufbbp5eihhqMbvqe9BovoWObmeZDl09YK2wTr3YivDzrxa2fYiJrIkde-NFSh3pcd53pdVhdnSi35MRWzDRIF7fl6-q6yWAZW27fWcJDppVVCLS-0wehrrLj5Y-L39QK1/s898/IMG_1646.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1KOcF8xLBP1OUkqXAWEg0E83xZESUEo27xzEMyvmGzhRzus6nba7zM9TJIOufbbp5eihhqMbvqe9BovoWObmeZDl09YK2wTr3YivDzrxa2fYiJrIkde-NFSh3pcd53pdVhdnSi35MRWzDRIF7fl6-q6yWAZW27fWcJDppVVCLS-0wehrrLj5Y-L39QK1/s320/IMG_1646.jpeg" width="267" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUV80w4AFTFEiWHfD0MFEV6aKa6RzmKc8JWyE2ih_zxBJ0oYSFqWz1QbcaJh00aVP3emPymVWxbKu55qMWRTrxDF1DOI1TpYv1OyV9z4xsk9W2W649Ta_Jo6c8ngFCTT8wPchzoQapEBsg-BuqQsYgXDQTBxQW_t2JakUuxWlpdyuKHkOkBs5CC3fMrXi/s2048/IMG_6456.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUV80w4AFTFEiWHfD0MFEV6aKa6RzmKc8JWyE2ih_zxBJ0oYSFqWz1QbcaJh00aVP3emPymVWxbKu55qMWRTrxDF1DOI1TpYv1OyV9z4xsk9W2W649Ta_Jo6c8ngFCTT8wPchzoQapEBsg-BuqQsYgXDQTBxQW_t2JakUuxWlpdyuKHkOkBs5CC3fMrXi/s320/IMG_6456.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXw2PjYCiKgZo00nFjox2-Y2_ckHctf3nU-Dulixjq6GclYRUh8wMVl-843y1yYpcrMwn_B6uFmwIeXosqlX4nw5vkRWGEeMvUJNaldrhlXxvkquLmYUD49c_rP5IXhsurigDZ-i1c3_aMoTmw_rxlrTcxUFvmoZd6uleb-xWbyaJn7UtBGWVnT3Eogb69/s2048/IMG_6455.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXw2PjYCiKgZo00nFjox2-Y2_ckHctf3nU-Dulixjq6GclYRUh8wMVl-843y1yYpcrMwn_B6uFmwIeXosqlX4nw5vkRWGEeMvUJNaldrhlXxvkquLmYUD49c_rP5IXhsurigDZ-i1c3_aMoTmw_rxlrTcxUFvmoZd6uleb-xWbyaJn7UtBGWVnT3Eogb69/s320/IMG_6455.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Boy! I wish I had been there that day. :-)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaKMv7neil_laq2AKaz0E8A7pfBnFgtGy-6QnKfSHcVoQZy-fG-EU9sgKiNSMqjwMp55usI-FetJdxzkU8GgRqzyPKx0okXLj3GA0nPh02kLtTbEOznoTFGjnmvetf0rHi6Yiy9McPKsMedpwmbrpnVfu6rmF1UCheyBUg1OoVGK1GvdqHMBhU-y7231S/s3659/IMG_2921.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2627" data-original-width="3659" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaKMv7neil_laq2AKaz0E8A7pfBnFgtGy-6QnKfSHcVoQZy-fG-EU9sgKiNSMqjwMp55usI-FetJdxzkU8GgRqzyPKx0okXLj3GA0nPh02kLtTbEOznoTFGjnmvetf0rHi6Yiy9McPKsMedpwmbrpnVfu6rmF1UCheyBUg1OoVGK1GvdqHMBhU-y7231S/s320/IMG_2921.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div>I stitched this small piece, “Winter Cardinal Etching” by Cecelia Turner, this past week. The chart came from the 2020 Christmas/Winter issue of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine. I stitched it for a gift when it first came out and always planned to stitch it again for myself. It took a few years to get around to it. I did change the floss used for the cardinal to DMC321 rather than the called for floss on the pattern. Cardinals in my area are bright red and the called for floss was a bit too dark.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALxo03GgvDclJWEaRq74xYHFx8q6Ty0a4oSMVbEmX0iWoWbEMi-otTxWDkgQNOFxO49pzHtqYK4BUg4QCZF2GLiV4yUIWgn6rNxzyp8ZMvLZ7YBnJr2tGiF4a4mulo2YgdKrW8OTlWhKFM51WmyBg0RFW61MSjbcfjZYUAwpIN6_8rqH92qxgrGoigmRU/s4032/IMG_2920.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALxo03GgvDclJWEaRq74xYHFx8q6Ty0a4oSMVbEmX0iWoWbEMi-otTxWDkgQNOFxO49pzHtqYK4BUg4QCZF2GLiV4yUIWgn6rNxzyp8ZMvLZ7YBnJr2tGiF4a4mulo2YgdKrW8OTlWhKFM51WmyBg0RFW61MSjbcfjZYUAwpIN6_8rqH92qxgrGoigmRU/s320/IMG_2920.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>On Wednesday, I received this sweet Valentine’s Day surprise from my godchild’s family. I can already see it displayed next year with the back filled with tiny Valentine cross stitch pillows. :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>That’s it for now. Have a good week.</div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-46677974326351877992024-02-12T17:44:00.000-08:002024-02-12T17:51:31.338-08:00The Lincoln Letter and Snow Is Coming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYst_3C9ucjyWY3dos49u3-rTiYl0zyGp8YdmfPAGUKqknddB3rIjV28-jaihplB7Vm42RLtAcE7putQHiM5rbkl455IwMD9UGpMeQ7O29mV9a38PHJBPqkvC8FjTcNPrShvaln5kh3orVqHGmPIRyuWsDKQJ7hSaAgH9ciX5Y3tr_uKwjtomj0OoxQl5X/s3484/IMG_2918.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3484" data-original-width="2340" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYst_3C9ucjyWY3dos49u3-rTiYl0zyGp8YdmfPAGUKqknddB3rIjV28-jaihplB7Vm42RLtAcE7putQHiM5rbkl455IwMD9UGpMeQ7O29mV9a38PHJBPqkvC8FjTcNPrShvaln5kh3orVqHGmPIRyuWsDKQJ7hSaAgH9ciX5Y3tr_uKwjtomj0OoxQl5X/w269-h400/IMG_2918.jpeg" width="269" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p> Today we honor and remember our 16th president who was born on February 12, 1809. It’s appropriate that I have just finished reading <b>The Lincoln Letter, A Petter Fallon Novel </b>by <a href="http://williammartinbooks.com" target="_blank">William Martin</a>. It is one of the best books that I have read in the last few years. Martin is a brilliant story teller, and though I have read many books about this bloody period in our history, I came away with a deeper understanding of what life was like for the people who lived in our nation’s capitol during those turbulent times. </p><p>When I reflect on it, I believe my interest in this period stems from knowing about my dad’s paternal grandfather who was an Irish emigrant. He was a gardener who enlisted at the age of forty. The Massachusetts Volunteer Militia was made up of Irishmen and men of Irish descent who answered Lincoln’s call. I have a copy passed down of the <b>History of the Ninth Massachusetts Militia</b> which documents the forming and service of this group. In the back of the book, a few lines are written about each man in each company. If you were to see this book and examine Company E, you would find a a small slip of faded pink paper on which in school girl handwriting, I once wrote “My Great Grandfather” and his name to mark the page. When I was older, before sites like Ancestry came along, I sent away for and received his military records. They contained his enlistment papers, service records, and even the pension request forms from his widow. His first wife had died while he was in service, and after the war was over, he met and married a much younger woman, my great grandmother and then raised a second family.</p><p>Why am I telling you this? His last assignment before being released from duty and mustered out was due to serious health issues incurred from long hours of sentry duty along the Potomac. In this novel, the crowded hospitals for soldiers and the city of Washington are a backdrop for the story. </p><p>If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly, highly recommend this suspense filled novel. </p><p><b>SNOW IS COMING!!!</b></p><p>For the last three or four days, we have been experiencing near spring-like weather. It even hit sixty degrees on Saturday. Glorious! BUT. . . we, New Englanders, are not easily fooled. I knew that touch of spring was a set up, all part of Mother Nature’s plan. So while I enjoyed taking Emma for walks each day, I waited for the other shoe to drop, and it has as we have a snowstorm moving in over night. Our guild meeting scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled as have all schools in the area. Along with the snow, we can expect high winds, just a typical nor’easter. It’s supposed to be a quick moving storm, so we will just have to see how much snow Mother Nature brings us.</p><p>Bundle up and keep your shovel handy. :-)</p>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-35069758096097348902024-02-06T14:36:00.000-08:002024-03-04T10:34:36.697-08:00Photographic Outing Failure<p> On Saturday, my friend Laurel texted me a photo of seals basking on rocks near the bridge on 3A in Scituate. She said she had never seen so many gathered there. Of course, my interest was piqued. Unfortunately, Sunday was already going to be busy. After church, I had gone with my friend Marilyn to the cinema in Randolph where they had a special 60th anniversary showing of <b><i>My Fair Lady</i></b>. </p><p>There is something totally wonderful about viewing these classics on the big screen. You may remember that last year I saw <b><i>Casablanca</i></b> in that same theater. Though I had seen it maybe twenty times on tv, seeing it on the big screen was beyond amazing.</p><p>The next classic coming that I want to see is <b><i>Gone with the Wind</i></b> in April. As the date gets closer, I’ll be sure to let you know. Incidentally, this 60th anniversary showing of <b><i>My Fair Lady</i></b> was available in many other cinemas at the same time on both Sunday and Monday. </p><p>Well, I still wanted to go photograph the seals so when Monday dawned with a bright blue sky (a rarity lately) and it was a balmy 38 degrees, I grabbed my ‘real’ camera and long lens and headed down to Scituate. There was not one seal to be spotted anywhere. :-(</p><p>Undaunted, I decided to go to Kennedy’s Garden Center just down the street from the bridge and perhaps there photograph some of their beautiful flowering plants . . . It was Monday; Kennedy’s was closed. ;-(</p><p>Undaunted, I headed for the Scituate Lighthouse which is usually a perfectly lovely photographic subject. This is what I captured. :-(</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwFueOZYr-S1iEp3niNkJkIyW-B8MUrdynW5T0xYSBoDwDu20m-wRvnsyZe7gsRCdARVeY8JjXeS_UES5ML9msg_FP4xm1yEILpeskUKgOwgeWyq40RywXAyIWEm7LBu1fxvbALoQj0_y7GR_YOqlaGGFDnNSDI_lNhvMtfFdYqEdz22v_E1riRocsoP3/s4032/IMG_2915.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwFueOZYr-S1iEp3niNkJkIyW-B8MUrdynW5T0xYSBoDwDu20m-wRvnsyZe7gsRCdARVeY8JjXeS_UES5ML9msg_FP4xm1yEILpeskUKgOwgeWyq40RywXAyIWEm7LBu1fxvbALoQj0_y7GR_YOqlaGGFDnNSDI_lNhvMtfFdYqEdz22v_E1riRocsoP3/w300-h400/IMG_2915.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br />For those not from the area, please know that this is truly a sweet little lighthouse with historical significance. When I returned home, I read on the <a href="http://scituatehistoricalsociety.org" target="_blank">Scituate Historical Societ</a>y website about the restoration project.</p><p>So, did I capture <i>any </i>images at all? Yes, I did find one at the Scituate Harbor pier, and may I be the first to wish you a very Happy Valentine’s Day. ;-)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu1auCnKpW6Re1W40RkFL4cHg58AjIH3lioGgUIu35Pq59bDMXy7tkVHTqeEpDvBgewnxUh5jizq3TEAgh4pfhc2jIYN6NoR-TnoHgiKsfb2nP6mVqMVOHgrjSo-CY79y_OLSxivS9oz3hmWkVYSxXlT0FlwVckfhDkfARsXof9W23VUUghBLYXDVL3It/s3502/IMG_2912.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3502" data-original-width="2901" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu1auCnKpW6Re1W40RkFL4cHg58AjIH3lioGgUIu35Pq59bDMXy7tkVHTqeEpDvBgewnxUh5jizq3TEAgh4pfhc2jIYN6NoR-TnoHgiKsfb2nP6mVqMVOHgrjSo-CY79y_OLSxivS9oz3hmWkVYSxXlT0FlwVckfhDkfARsXof9W23VUUghBLYXDVL3It/w331-h400/IMG_2912.jpeg" width="331" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Better luck next time ;-).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-20292938728629964112024-02-02T15:11:00.000-08:002024-02-02T15:11:26.798-08:00Books in Bloom 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyBczteJZCLOYt_2Q3E6CYk9Wt6pu6XoHMFy1d-IGyVZCYODBi5VKnDODvEBeKBEG5PPGceGmM4Su_yQgpMFlF8St0dBj8BJkMBAwXLYIPz0tLAYdPWJmyvVaLySnb9Fefd1Uwc1ghNb2dCBZIbgHuOhJpvXU17L0f1vQ0IIp9j6yfEweRREfrJLXayLF/s4032/IMG_2911.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2673" data-original-width="4032" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyBczteJZCLOYt_2Q3E6CYk9Wt6pu6XoHMFy1d-IGyVZCYODBi5VKnDODvEBeKBEG5PPGceGmM4Su_yQgpMFlF8St0dBj8BJkMBAwXLYIPz0tLAYdPWJmyvVaLySnb9Fefd1Uwc1ghNb2dCBZIbgHuOhJpvXU17L0f1vQ0IIp9j6yfEweRREfrJLXayLF/w400-h265/IMG_2911.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>We have just concluded the fourth wettest January on record. One bright spot in this gray and dismal stretch has been “Books in Bloom” at the Tufts Library in Weymouth. The displays by members of the <a href="http://www.weymouthgardenclub.com" target="_blank">Weymouth Garden Club</a> and others may be viewed until tomorrow afternoon. (2/3) In case you were unable to attend, I thought that I would show you a few pieces. (As always, simply click on the photos for larger images to facilitate reading the info accompanying each display.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR8rzRKDBJpz7OHQuX5kBYbMf3arRpsxGcOZGZDUolvFuvNwzBIIEzCvjuj_8PAbpaNzPLL4N3tMDi64Yxd_xkTbunCj95wdgoK1OvJbk-L6Yu99B3Ri6rSfFr60CgFb190de-ar2GsCABPOcValdKwqgWR6zgqkwgzFQxYBZK_7SIqMa1NzoxwgZzbU5/s3467/IMG_2901.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2600" data-original-width="3467" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR8rzRKDBJpz7OHQuX5kBYbMf3arRpsxGcOZGZDUolvFuvNwzBIIEzCvjuj_8PAbpaNzPLL4N3tMDi64Yxd_xkTbunCj95wdgoK1OvJbk-L6Yu99B3Ri6rSfFr60CgFb190de-ar2GsCABPOcValdKwqgWR6zgqkwgzFQxYBZK_7SIqMa1NzoxwgZzbU5/w400-h300/IMG_2901.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5VjxJhucfw1-OKKM0qyAvatZGzNvTHmpKEFOReza31S6uIIz8wYx7mA7RU42Ueh4IMRIpakRu-ZClppQt3ssHfsqScSzznQNmymdfddu_eeYVGCO-NMozLvQjSENwjyuR14wRc4lJyRzGjcmT3ML3k0wQtqtpMoTyKly0m5mEk_qqc9ebbOr6O5FzcKH/s3510/IMG_2902.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3510" data-original-width="3021" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5VjxJhucfw1-OKKM0qyAvatZGzNvTHmpKEFOReza31S6uIIz8wYx7mA7RU42Ueh4IMRIpakRu-ZClppQt3ssHfsqScSzznQNmymdfddu_eeYVGCO-NMozLvQjSENwjyuR14wRc4lJyRzGjcmT3ML3k0wQtqtpMoTyKly0m5mEk_qqc9ebbOr6O5FzcKH/w344-h400/IMG_2902.jpeg" width="344" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVKlFeQiBsFO_Szww8R0s3oRr15yL0CM_dfYPlUl9LMeYQGaZpExyRIZ7mpTxLgMkv7JK0p5PH4w7taxubXhbJcMHyyN2UW55boY-nB52icKVUQx524WL0HAzjyfiUKpKwlmlg_g3mXcNHGIg7rM0Lug0pY8qE4BYpn-qQ4sLELxX96RzXyRnTOAFkeNV/s3707/IMG_2908.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2798" data-original-width="3707" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVKlFeQiBsFO_Szww8R0s3oRr15yL0CM_dfYPlUl9LMeYQGaZpExyRIZ7mpTxLgMkv7JK0p5PH4w7taxubXhbJcMHyyN2UW55boY-nB52icKVUQx524WL0HAzjyfiUKpKwlmlg_g3mXcNHGIg7rM0Lug0pY8qE4BYpn-qQ4sLELxX96RzXyRnTOAFkeNV/w400-h303/IMG_2908.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_1LF-4sl4MG6Sr532uJ-xZgd_-vvMmS6VgUrtYpPUfp4i-KxhOYCHBxA8_mQxLhOakTbqpwXfeDg-e9nvDrVAyIifDXj_NJjuS5L-eIem3eTeB894njx0FflyvzLFU5FHmmXRY7uuU52tHLzhr7oE4PsvFFdDrG8iI7293ROPl69H38iAst77q4eSJb_/s4032/IMG_2904.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_1LF-4sl4MG6Sr532uJ-xZgd_-vvMmS6VgUrtYpPUfp4i-KxhOYCHBxA8_mQxLhOakTbqpwXfeDg-e9nvDrVAyIifDXj_NJjuS5L-eIem3eTeB894njx0FflyvzLFU5FHmmXRY7uuU52tHLzhr7oE4PsvFFdDrG8iI7293ROPl69H38iAst77q4eSJb_/w300-h400/IMG_2904.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVCMZA42_4fZ7APImOsKZpgZA9ruBWZ4wXgcn0n0AJEF4tyWfzEHBRt0GEIIuWiiHSLHJIyon5U8EoCozgjqgnBwfUtGmjlfLeX_P2LR2-Cn5IdJoFesK9IO96pNT9L93O2tIITCGD-_93QT1JzbpjcNJgylIzntx3xPUMaSoNkFZqt1RxOSR4_OFLX2f/s3822/IMG_2906.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2810" data-original-width="3822" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVCMZA42_4fZ7APImOsKZpgZA9ruBWZ4wXgcn0n0AJEF4tyWfzEHBRt0GEIIuWiiHSLHJIyon5U8EoCozgjqgnBwfUtGmjlfLeX_P2LR2-Cn5IdJoFesK9IO96pNT9L93O2tIITCGD-_93QT1JzbpjcNJgylIzntx3xPUMaSoNkFZqt1RxOSR4_OFLX2f/w400-h294/IMG_2906.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqvfIewaww8hsqA5cAAnyYHHFAFsKa6wpK62ZvL_EzeM5u0VdmNFmMCWv9G_ej4ZIeSLU9NfDymg-GiaIqW_CKPlrBVEe3yDgbIWsSRQul0CZtCSS750V4WrxNuOUEyozWO_jlpI7Bao09hKn6WZJOEO8CedtfhmNAkx8sUcBzSVe-lBFALBTozdSm5oZ/s4032/IMG_2910.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqvfIewaww8hsqA5cAAnyYHHFAFsKa6wpK62ZvL_EzeM5u0VdmNFmMCWv9G_ej4ZIeSLU9NfDymg-GiaIqW_CKPlrBVEe3yDgbIWsSRQul0CZtCSS750V4WrxNuOUEyozWO_jlpI7Bao09hKn6WZJOEO8CedtfhmNAkx8sUcBzSVe-lBFALBTozdSm5oZ/w400-h300/IMG_2910.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>The displays in the children’s section were equally fun and creative.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>These floral displays remind us that spring will indeed come again; we just have to get through February and March. :-)Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-21388805821989940872024-01-30T15:27:00.000-08:002024-01-31T19:48:28.817-08:00Snowman for Hire and Kitchen Front<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFae5_dB9EUV8U1y4dycK1HhWTxx9fVUAI702NQucSI9snjPduibTtZdCfaKdJ2uNYcean8yQCsKPdPCb-Hilyw2wsqx1ExVuyE1MJQLCKR43c_pk1X4-ptQtYVHEG0BXsMfWqMqc3DBGYQFoA-GuNG15v06JxAuvNpQg0io0WOJT9ENsGVaorNNEdsgzO/s3695/IMG_2899.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3695" data-original-width="2680" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFae5_dB9EUV8U1y4dycK1HhWTxx9fVUAI702NQucSI9snjPduibTtZdCfaKdJ2uNYcean8yQCsKPdPCb-Hilyw2wsqx1ExVuyE1MJQLCKR43c_pk1X4-ptQtYVHEG0BXsMfWqMqc3DBGYQFoA-GuNG15v06JxAuvNpQg0io0WOJT9ENsGVaorNNEdsgzO/w290-h400/IMG_2899.jpeg" width="290" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">“Snowman for Hire” is my first completed wool applique piece for 2024. When I saw this pattern by Primitive Gatherings, I knew that I would have to stitch it. The pattern was meant to be a table runner with the snowman scene on each end, but I chose to make a wallhanging instead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbHfkIUUDU2onWEi8Q7QZr77z-H_c7cqG20tFSfqcPNxn2FyqwMsSh-acDcM_FNcMs-WIkMAUnm1jDIBxvJMOI7AQj1Z3WVxWe2_XuMgle6Z2EW57VbOfrSDqOgQLFADSNmqAVltEsj5zZY7OTIMusb2bmR1JE9Tz8X-uO66G3uAHTV1Y3XSHvnIY_OeP/s4032/IMG_2900.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbHfkIUUDU2onWEi8Q7QZr77z-H_c7cqG20tFSfqcPNxn2FyqwMsSh-acDcM_FNcMs-WIkMAUnm1jDIBxvJMOI7AQj1Z3WVxWe2_XuMgle6Z2EW57VbOfrSDqOgQLFADSNmqAVltEsj5zZY7OTIMusb2bmR1JE9Tz8X-uO66G3uAHTV1Y3XSHvnIY_OeP/s320/IMG_2900.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> All of the wool came from my stash. The snowman is two layers thick to avoid shadowing from the black background underneath. It also made for a ‘puffier’ snowman. <div><br /></div><div>The embellishments used enhance the piece. The pattern called for making wool cardinals, but I found these cardinal buttons on Etsy. It turns out that there are lots of folks making/selling cardinal buttons, but these from PiecefulDesigns were just what I was looking for.</div><div><br /><div>The pattern also called for a zillion colonial knots to create a snow effect. Well, I don’t mind stitching french knots and colonial knots, but I decided again to search Etsy for snowflakes. Though I already had some snowflake buttons on hand, the scale wasn’t right. Luckily, I found just the perfect teenie snowflakes at BritchesNBowsShop on Etsy. If you click on the photo, you will see just how perfect these snowflakes are. I used a dab of fabric glue to adhere each one.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKR0IWxdqn_-Ov3o0f1JPIhLcvgUV5Xk27cod6FbEAxecRVbG4Yn79mLnqI7qfBHTl_hH3JOC-ErOMkSQT49qdOquoXCGh6pMiGT83ngXyyE5PlBIEGLH8kS_efK0N6q8D-Vm51eez1Gfy7rO6qxXvT0aDoly08DCBl78fZgULDylFo70KVepNAKjJLmj/s4032/IMG_2894.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKR0IWxdqn_-Ov3o0f1JPIhLcvgUV5Xk27cod6FbEAxecRVbG4Yn79mLnqI7qfBHTl_hH3JOC-ErOMkSQT49qdOquoXCGh6pMiGT83ngXyyE5PlBIEGLH8kS_efK0N6q8D-Vm51eez1Gfy7rO6qxXvT0aDoly08DCBl78fZgULDylFo70KVepNAKjJLmj/s320/IMG_2894.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Are you a fan of cooking contest on TV? If so, you might enjoy <u>The Cooking Front</u> by Jennifer Ryan. This novel is set in England during WWII, and the premise is that a radio program on the BBC is holding a cooking contest to inspire housewives dealing with the hardships of food rationing. The winner of the contest would become the program’s first female co-host. The recipes created by each of the contestants are included at the end of each chapter though I’m pretty sure they are not recipes you will be serving to your family and friends . . . especially the one with whale meat as the main ingredient. (Yes, you read that right. At the height of the food shortages, desperate housewives were encouraged to use many things which we might find appalling.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Halfway through the book, I wasn’t sure that I would be recommending this novel, but it built gradually and I ultimately found it a pleasant, informative read. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To learn about rationing in our country, go to nps.gov and search for “Food Rationing on the Homefront.” While rationing in our country ended by 1945, rationing in Great Britain didn’t end until 1954.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That’s all for now. Keep warm.</div><p></p></div></div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-4276624448842510272024-01-24T06:45:00.000-08:002024-01-24T06:45:58.334-08:00Tear Open to Find Joy!<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrI-1xZC2Jfh8osCZ-Ppe4x8CDgmFJ20BixO6e5quGg8qKszJ_A5dp_x3tUL8ZJID4EGWiuc-IM6vAh2MAT0HLzJm5WB0iWH7G9e8FM0xbx36esokjOla3Qbj2KYoOaMFHfPBAmkYpjAIeyYUGqMemx3Qng1-doG_ij2z8NEKwV3Di5_71jDtP3XpWitv/s4028/IMG_2891.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2440" data-original-width="4028" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrI-1xZC2Jfh8osCZ-Ppe4x8CDgmFJ20BixO6e5quGg8qKszJ_A5dp_x3tUL8ZJID4EGWiuc-IM6vAh2MAT0HLzJm5WB0iWH7G9e8FM0xbx36esokjOla3Qbj2KYoOaMFHfPBAmkYpjAIeyYUGqMemx3Qng1-doG_ij2z8NEKwV3Di5_71jDtP3XpWitv/s320/IMG_2891.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>This tempting proclamation appeared on top of an item purchased at the grocery store yesterday. What was the item? Did I tear it open in search of joy? You betcha’! Did I find joy? You’ll have to keep reading to find out. ;-)<div><br /></div><div> Clearly, I have not kept up with my intention to post twice a week. So, how has 2024 been going for you so far? I was grounded with a foot issue for two weeks . . . offloading. . . That means that for two long weeks I wasn’t supposed to put any weight on my foot. Fortunately, I had quilting, wool applique, cross stitching, and reading to keep me busy.<p>I was able to resume normal activities last Thursday. Yeah!!! Everything was good. . . but . . . not so fast. I happened to glance up at the upstairs ceiling in the hallway and spotted a crack and water stain! No!!!!!! A new roof is in my future when we have a warm, dry stretch. For now, I have a bucket in the attic. We are expecting rain a few times this week; wish me luck. (By the way, this roof is only twenty years old; usually a roof lasts twenty-five to thirty years, but the leak in mine is around a vent pipe. I’d say 2024 can only get better, but I sure don’t want to tempt fate.)</p><p>I don’t have any finishes to show, but I have been busy. A child’s quilt just needs an outer border and then to be quilted. My cross stitch focus has been alternating between two pieces, and I have a wool applique piece about 95% done. I also prepped a wool applique piece on which I plan to work while on an upcoming quilt guild retreat. </p><p>At yesterday’s meeting of the <a href="http://crosstownquilters.org" target="_blank">Crosstown Quilt Guild</a>, our guest speaker was Pat Delaney of <a href="http://crabtreelane.com" target="_blank">Crabtree Lane Studio</a>. Her talk was very informative and the quilts that she showed were stunning. If you are not familiar with this award winning quilter, check out her site to see her quilts, the lectures that she offers, and learn about her upcoming retreats.</p><p>So, back to the title of this post . . . did I find joy? I didn’t, but Emma did and I got the idea for this post. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzHeFymhjY2Qvoa0H1anu2DclYI0zbUi_UoGeA2y4GID5NWOpsTtYvc_osdBOzjxnEn9h81W9VVnbKilYQsUhosnK-7vx-l4RFJzyCf2LpEsaLjpvaBYFQqYN3OMCItPHAzpiAF-s3bnhDNxbTWONybBCt_syPTtci6x-FGfLGvC1wywUiqcNlLd2GCeR/s4032/IMG_2893.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2470" data-original-width="4032" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzHeFymhjY2Qvoa0H1anu2DclYI0zbUi_UoGeA2y4GID5NWOpsTtYvc_osdBOzjxnEn9h81W9VVnbKilYQsUhosnK-7vx-l4RFJzyCf2LpEsaLjpvaBYFQqYN3OMCItPHAzpiAF-s3bnhDNxbTWONybBCt_syPTtci6x-FGfLGvC1wywUiqcNlLd2GCeR/s320/IMG_2893.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Isn’t that something! Hope it made you smile.</p><p>Stay safe and may you find moments of joy each day. :-)</p></div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-86369244983146103832024-01-16T17:11:00.000-08:002024-01-16T17:11:14.599-08:00Getting Ready for Christmas 2024!!!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcwc8xR_03owqBcjPdQdLV6AZJbwcWZZDLgXXKTy_btaDFLNCMhLPMPHNFzlZwc25OrqoSR2g4P5_4mg-p9Mxd3_QgB1d8w5XazSa86qyLcUHnAJZuXSCPqMmv6aSbdiEU-79vH8iPHAUF2wRAPaL13LyFdR4vabns_5TUAckeJwCUbuhzta9iUscZAca/s3761/IMG_2890.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2806" data-original-width="3761" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcwc8xR_03owqBcjPdQdLV6AZJbwcWZZDLgXXKTy_btaDFLNCMhLPMPHNFzlZwc25OrqoSR2g4P5_4mg-p9Mxd3_QgB1d8w5XazSa86qyLcUHnAJZuXSCPqMmv6aSbdiEU-79vH8iPHAUF2wRAPaL13LyFdR4vabns_5TUAckeJwCUbuhzta9iUscZAca/w400-h299/IMG_2890.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>How cute is this little pillow, “Struttin’ “ from designer <a href="https://teresakogut.com" target="_blank">Teresa Kogut</a>. (I was going to label this post, “Struttin’ My Stuff,” but I feared I just might attract the wrong kind of audience. ;-) Anyway, I purchased this chart a few years back and finally pulled it out to stitch it a few weeks ago. Santa’s coat took a l-o-n-g time to stitch, but it was worth it to stitch this sweet, little reindeer. I FFO’d it this afternoon. Teresa Kogut’s charts are always delightful, and she has a wonderful flosstube where she shows her artwork and cross stitch designs on Youtube.</p><p>I’m planning to stitch one Christmas item each month to prepare for Christmas 2024. </p><p>Youtube Tip: I watched a documentary last week, “Leslie Caron: The Reluctant Star.” If you have an hour, check this one out. It explores her childhood in Paris, her first role in “An American in Paris, her role in Gigi, and her long acting career. It was a visually lovely documentary.</p><p>I’m keeping this post short. Have a good week and keep warm; it’s cold outside. :-)</p>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-82981627472684835662024-01-01T17:29:00.000-08:002024-01-03T18:32:41.423-08:00My Crafty Year in Review 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_DlXAvYxRVWektZmEgZowPBHLEBR2RcXLWoz684Kwyox19r5abMga6nlS5SGwNNaAB6OF884RikKHIlm2HwwHXL-2fNYHI4FRLX7Lq3UcdKze1eNezer0eLD5y-Wt-iWTKF1U2XqlXA9kHcqkuAu16LjA0R_Sf4ryhFkFCdsOJWRsiPr0g6RKcQr2Tje/s3643/IMG_2863.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2967" data-original-width="3643" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_DlXAvYxRVWektZmEgZowPBHLEBR2RcXLWoz684Kwyox19r5abMga6nlS5SGwNNaAB6OF884RikKHIlm2HwwHXL-2fNYHI4FRLX7Lq3UcdKze1eNezer0eLD5y-Wt-iWTKF1U2XqlXA9kHcqkuAu16LjA0R_Sf4ryhFkFCdsOJWRsiPr0g6RKcQr2Tje/s320/IMG_2863.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Is it really time to start <i>dedecking</i> the halls??? Say it isn’t so!!! I’m going to take my time even though I have been enjoying all of my decor since Thanksgiving weekend. This morning I removed the window candle lights and took care of the outdoor items which among other things meant removing the spotlight, taking down the ornaments from the front railings and from the shepherd’s hooks in the backyard, and finally lugging the old sled back into the garage. Mission accomplished. This afternoon I packed up the festive kitchen decor, but I’ll drag my heels packing away the ornaments. :-) Couldn’t I just leave the tree up in the corner of the living room as a decorative accent all year long?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGainIWmAWxklF3FVD1_FwgY-vCHEMjxnpQj4EBntXhSgYHiGKx7evKfNUFhX9wFFBGHEgu_KaYcL6djk-Q635Qep8v2ghUE71URcvnNKJmFzQX1z0O4XIIh0Hl7jfL7XoHRct0_vjfQ4oDcBVVFWdEoQbl-xhyphenhypheni3kOe9nTrQKzy9scxnT4rOyRcFZOeH/s3829/IMG_2865.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3829" data-original-width="2950" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGainIWmAWxklF3FVD1_FwgY-vCHEMjxnpQj4EBntXhSgYHiGKx7evKfNUFhX9wFFBGHEgu_KaYcL6djk-Q635Qep8v2ghUE71URcvnNKJmFzQX1z0O4XIIh0Hl7jfL7XoHRct0_vjfQ4oDcBVVFWdEoQbl-xhyphenhypheni3kOe9nTrQKzy9scxnT4rOyRcFZOeH/s320/IMG_2865.jpeg" width="247" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, let’s get back to a review of what I have accomplished this year in my crafty life. :-) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <u>Cross Stitch</u> - I fully finished twenty-four pieces. My favorite was Mary Poppins.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Omu_FfZlxQc425K2aL74OrOMsEp3lqR3zUHaxflzP8EkQYDR_7PgmvFbGSD8OQbINOFMAYbAS5eBiwicnwyy-mqcLrcSmNgsa6iLyP2UjuNujRYWWBkkDsNUOGkXgwGQsLAJsoSHcDIBus04TJs9nNzsaa2_D_4zDlG56LAxKfDkPX0xQZvCl7cSrMYG/s3322/IMG_2244.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3322" data-original-width="2846" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Omu_FfZlxQc425K2aL74OrOMsEp3lqR3zUHaxflzP8EkQYDR_7PgmvFbGSD8OQbINOFMAYbAS5eBiwicnwyy-mqcLrcSmNgsa6iLyP2UjuNujRYWWBkkDsNUOGkXgwGQsLAJsoSHcDIBus04TJs9nNzsaa2_D_4zDlG56LAxKfDkPX0xQZvCl7cSrMYG/s320/IMG_2244.jpeg" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Quilting</u> . . . not so much - While I have worked on pillowcases, isolette covers for a Boston hospital, a wheelchair quilt for a veteran, comfort pillows, and a few other things that our Crosstown Quilt Quild donates to worthy organizations, I only made one quilt, and that had been started years ago. Therefore, it was my favorite completed quilt in 2023.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry1R7IVtc6JpeOV8Orafb2tzV6CzomWYc_6YY8yEZu9FUGAC_Aup7kY3JX5vZTWG8oJvNOeHoCRKS5garnpVq6j9CHiZrdxY1bzfNwCv8rurqHXZvwCY_yjj6DsujRqeutYGCo5ay2E3VlsB4mdKnotIW7YbnrLMQKRmsSCMjYpGUyDxRl1F_xSoQjkxS/s4032/IMG_2755.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry1R7IVtc6JpeOV8Orafb2tzV6CzomWYc_6YY8yEZu9FUGAC_Aup7kY3JX5vZTWG8oJvNOeHoCRKS5garnpVq6j9CHiZrdxY1bzfNwCv8rurqHXZvwCY_yjj6DsujRqeutYGCo5ay2E3VlsB4mdKnotIW7YbnrLMQKRmsSCMjYpGUyDxRl1F_xSoQjkxS/s320/IMG_2755.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Wool Applique</u> - I completed a few pieces, and this large Americana table runner was my favorite.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgqN8jUBVdNO99rSsAqh1xaXlYYo9P7CwqR6aft_4W9diNW4ePQ-nRLBDlWWsCqQDr7K4whqkeLnFJ9U4kb_JNtL3ELiAKzz4Ft8uQAhcQFgTuCyjl2vL0uObmjoEa5DbIvZbqeOubogPy0oPwR95mF0RrjtvK87TTJL1do7EF1SDfsKUOsTW622OIZpM/s3886/IMG_2809.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1937" data-original-width="3886" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgqN8jUBVdNO99rSsAqh1xaXlYYo9P7CwqR6aft_4W9diNW4ePQ-nRLBDlWWsCqQDr7K4whqkeLnFJ9U4kb_JNtL3ELiAKzz4Ft8uQAhcQFgTuCyjl2vL0uObmjoEa5DbIvZbqeOubogPy0oPwR95mF0RrjtvK87TTJL1do7EF1SDfsKUOsTW622OIZpM/s320/IMG_2809.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, I managed to complete a few things last year, and I’ve already picked out a number of projects to begin working on this week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74HfzhN9SVEbfV_hj-zHtypNOzpZWbLAmd6w1wxe33d0PBlOK6u8WpkhwQ6ehuSxgr2Z3BZof72SMDp2w9sFt35tEdbzaU-DXkpDcdrRE4YMdyStTG8lcTHABiM0LUSFG0tR9uTTgldPKGWUqV7D4CZVwmJXgCFhAtfFN3ZoMXV7fokoVCYgcXMca341f/s3631/IMG_2856.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2904" data-original-width="3631" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74HfzhN9SVEbfV_hj-zHtypNOzpZWbLAmd6w1wxe33d0PBlOK6u8WpkhwQ6ehuSxgr2Z3BZof72SMDp2w9sFt35tEdbzaU-DXkpDcdrRE4YMdyStTG8lcTHABiM0LUSFG0tR9uTTgldPKGWUqV7D4CZVwmJXgCFhAtfFN3ZoMXV7fokoVCYgcXMca341f/s320/IMG_2856.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Today’s </b></i><i style="font-weight: bold;">Youtube Tip:</i><span> </span> End the season on a high note with “ Run, Run, Rudolph,” with Brad Paisley and Steven Tyler 3:18 minutes of pure rockin’ fun. Promise me you will check this one out. Even if you only put “Brad Paisley” in the search, it will comes up. I hope these two collaborate on something else. :-)</div><div><p>Resolutions: once again . . . Lose ten pounds, read more, pick up my flute which I stopped playing during the pandemic, quilt more, have fun, travel . . . </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9w780cEB4yn4lkpccbvEw4mplb55n0C5gEzNkQmQEhozC6SveUr_qgQfgvv6Km9XxI2bImj_L178pul9GhCjWVmhZP0JUmW9ClxCTGr_7ZgxwayCUf8Ad08MbQLztWA6Jea2GDBGDhbtlQQHNJ5wEb-X92-Rmf2wXs_N6nTn_ffaP397RqyDLyzz5fut/s1969/IMG_2874.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1315" data-original-width="1969" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9w780cEB4yn4lkpccbvEw4mplb55n0C5gEzNkQmQEhozC6SveUr_qgQfgvv6Km9XxI2bImj_L178pul9GhCjWVmhZP0JUmW9ClxCTGr_7ZgxwayCUf8Ad08MbQLztWA6Jea2GDBGDhbtlQQHNJ5wEb-X92-Rmf2wXs_N6nTn_ffaP397RqyDLyzz5fut/s320/IMG_2874.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I heard someone on tv this morning point out that 2024 is a leap year. Let’s all plan something really special for February 29th. </p><p>Finally, my friend Laurel sent this along, and both Emma and I think it is adorable.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGKq4VnGp2ZLN9BuX7s7gCXqM6wH9gLqu3USHpuBPHMP_njnpzedXlUDzBZqf9MVqlkBySlXSGzroix2REJnPS8YHMZW1hRsCQdU0i3r2vFQMsHWJLO1H5FhsOpjnJsDHOrvw8f8Fxd-fXMTdYVRhEcHQU882uJckAg50bhqosTXdFTFJbmK6Gu4nStgb/s355/IMG_4806.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGKq4VnGp2ZLN9BuX7s7gCXqM6wH9gLqu3USHpuBPHMP_njnpzedXlUDzBZqf9MVqlkBySlXSGzroix2REJnPS8YHMZW1hRsCQdU0i3r2vFQMsHWJLO1H5FhsOpjnJsDHOrvw8f8Fxd-fXMTdYVRhEcHQU882uJckAg50bhqosTXdFTFJbmK6Gu4nStgb/s320/IMG_4806.jpeg" width="242" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-75462137899356784752023-12-30T17:39:00.000-08:002023-12-30T17:39:52.118-08:00Whale Hello There and Youtube Recommendations <p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjVTzpLDOIpR9Ik91KMdejJ_XQnwEK3rY87VZwqsU9B0ZEl_pWTcSPm2BcX1zLH_sYOG7jU0Uc8D8o0G9IpRWkwwv2sl5misuEsDGQ85aBebxaoLGhoYg22RLQhH65cCF7ynQTX-FCkS7gtVcoaJt1NXWpviptLQz1VObnrikgoURV4_9ZWWlu4SFbImW/s3413/IMG_2853.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3413" data-original-width="2656" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjVTzpLDOIpR9Ik91KMdejJ_XQnwEK3rY87VZwqsU9B0ZEl_pWTcSPm2BcX1zLH_sYOG7jU0Uc8D8o0G9IpRWkwwv2sl5misuEsDGQ85aBebxaoLGhoYg22RLQhH65cCF7ynQTX-FCkS7gtVcoaJt1NXWpviptLQz1VObnrikgoURV4_9ZWWlu4SFbImW/w311-h400/IMG_2853.jpeg" width="311" /></a></i></div><i><br />Whale Hello There </i> . . . Yes, that’s the clever, punny name of this cross stitch piece by designer Cathy Habermann of <a href="http://handsondesign.biz" target="_blank">Hands on Design</a>. It’s from her Polar Plunge series as was the <i>Polar Bear Peek </i>featured in my previous post. Each piece is finished on a board from <a href="http://chantelles141designcompany.com" target="_blank">Chantelle’s 141 Design Company</a> On the Hands on Design site you will find finishing tutorials, and you will also find tutorials on the 141 Design Company flosstube.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH7VZXWijP3k0f8OZLJpTF54SBgpwUU9EFSdDnrfrBRC1G9pzdkg0dCsGDd5cug2o0BK0iT55AxU5ZehDcU9DUi0sleleFMqmV8qvX1QLgtpuRIiZ8jEGRvue9kw3FehzmZGZFBOmf8Bj7rjYxBEi-ZslqWFDUUx1W4C-qE89mHUBMvU5yqqZhysuD5t8/s4032/IMG_2854.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH7VZXWijP3k0f8OZLJpTF54SBgpwUU9EFSdDnrfrBRC1G9pzdkg0dCsGDd5cug2o0BK0iT55AxU5ZehDcU9DUi0sleleFMqmV8qvX1QLgtpuRIiZ8jEGRvue9kw3FehzmZGZFBOmf8Bj7rjYxBEi-ZslqWFDUUx1W4C-qE89mHUBMvU5yqqZhysuD5t8/w300-h400/IMG_2854.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">A Note to Quilters: </i><span style="text-align: left;">I came across a channel on Youtube yesterday morning that caught my attention. Who wouldn’t be interested as it read, “The Easiest Scrap Quilt Ever!! - the Duckworth Quilt.” It’s something I will put on my list as I hope to ramp up the amount of quilting that I do this year. In my next post, I intend to do a summary of what I actually managed to accomplish this year in quilting, wool applique, and cross stitch. Where I really slipped was in the number of blog posts that I penned this past year as compared to</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">previous years. I’ll try to do better in ‘24! (That reminds me I better go predate the year on about ten checks in my checkbook . . . 2024 . . . It will take some getting used to.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5q3uewkYz6cem6EJZ20x_10EoqX8hbeyS4xj30VI5q940rLWZFncoTE3IfWbZ73ks5B4Jr-3VncIwKKDgnZFNojvTlp3qAT4yQTb_djYHQ_s-5JLKGAj6ZHKNcKM15OqfhDR55AZB20Gf9RTSzDpRCul4ZVknFqqkBLW1wL0BSCSZohyphenhyphenmRviJ6JYDNGPh/s3753/IMG_2855.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3753" data-original-width="2579" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5q3uewkYz6cem6EJZ20x_10EoqX8hbeyS4xj30VI5q940rLWZFncoTE3IfWbZ73ks5B4Jr-3VncIwKKDgnZFNojvTlp3qAT4yQTb_djYHQ_s-5JLKGAj6ZHKNcKM15OqfhDR55AZB20Gf9RTSzDpRCul4ZVknFqqkBLW1wL0BSCSZohyphenhyphenmRviJ6JYDNGPh/w275-h400/IMG_2855.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><i style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Youtube Recommendation: </i><span style="text-align: left;">As I have mentioned previously, I do watch quite a bit of Youtube, and so I thought I would add a new feature where I recommend things on Youtube worth sharing with you.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> First up is </span><b style="text-align: left;">Garden Answer</b><span style="text-align: left;">. Today’s short video featured “Potting Up Houseplants and A Fresh Flower Arrangement.” The first segment set to music shows a selection of English Roses being fashioned into a lovely arrangement which is just the ticket on these rainy, gloomy days we have been having. Her videos are always fun and interesting. I particularly like when the hostess and often her mom and sister go visiting antique shops. Give it a try; you’ll enjoy this channel.</span></div><p>Did you watch the Kennedy Center Honors program the other night? This is one program that I look forward to each year. You may watch previous years simply by googling The Kennedy Center Honors (plus) a year. For example, search for Kennedy Center Honors 2006 and you may watch the program honoring: Steven Spielberg, Zubin Mehta, Smokey Robinson, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and everyone’s favorite, Dolly Parton. Another way is to search Kennedy Center Honors (plus) say, Paul McCartney, and you will see his segment.</p><p>The first Kennedy Center Honorees in 1978 were: Fred Astaire, Marian Anderson, Richard Rodgers, Arthur Rubinstein, and George Balanchine. Youtube provides a time capsule for viewing these ceremonies honoring the best in the world of entertainment. </p><p>Let me leave this here with the wish that 2024 is a hopeful, peaceful, blessed one for us all.</p>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-41209951410390078972023-12-23T16:55:00.000-08:002023-12-28T20:38:57.815-08:00Two More Cross Stitch Ornaments<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmTvP_Ex6t8HVZTER62jvP4MS6QpeNpgkeE7Nb1cCGtcdrXhqzcZEU9VoXsZH8yI8crEOOFDmq4DId2kadodKvZ3jZd01oBAdCxz90UURy1cRe8O8vOLuY-H-92g1r7OU0OC0K4UMnjxqgSGvpX2A_x2Pfhm1-huVUupCeBTNuJuNl1XNgXlE1MW9Neja/s4032/IMG_2850.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmTvP_Ex6t8HVZTER62jvP4MS6QpeNpgkeE7Nb1cCGtcdrXhqzcZEU9VoXsZH8yI8crEOOFDmq4DId2kadodKvZ3jZd01oBAdCxz90UURy1cRe8O8vOLuY-H-92g1r7OU0OC0K4UMnjxqgSGvpX2A_x2Pfhm1-huVUupCeBTNuJuNl1XNgXlE1MW9Neja/s320/IMG_2850.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />On this the eve of Christmas Eve, I thought that I would show you two more ornaments fully finished today and added to my cross stitch tree. This sweetie is “Skate with Mrs. Claus” from Stitching with the Housewives - Round About Series. Priscilla Blain’s designs are always fun to stitch. (Priscilla and her daughter Chelsea have a shop on Etsy where you may see all of their designs, and they are, of course, available at your local needlework shop if you are lucky enough to have one.) <p></p><p>Another favorite designer is Cathy Habermann of <a href="http://handsondesign.biz" target="_blank">Hands on Design</a>. This chart is part of her Polar Plunge series and is called <i>Polar Bear Peek. </i>I’m currently stitching another design in the series. This piece is finished on an ornament backing board from 141Design Company. Both “Hands on Design” and “Stitching with the Housewives” have very fun, entertaining flosstubes on Youtube.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrsNMJBIyEr-GTN52-BO4-VEsK29gBVz-g1JClyRZkCzQ8Mj5e32WjeDhtBS9pYYYdbpovZECBtsWxJL0rY1tGrtGP-j5Uwcg6mBZc4ZlucZcnRUvdPiOK9kI8s20kbsuv8MInTfkXBvbzasczddfBpuXbM9DCAwww-7vXNCrz8G0_khAM6NNWeUvsG1o/s3814/IMG_2849.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3814" data-original-width="2860" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrsNMJBIyEr-GTN52-BO4-VEsK29gBVz-g1JClyRZkCzQ8Mj5e32WjeDhtBS9pYYYdbpovZECBtsWxJL0rY1tGrtGP-j5Uwcg6mBZc4ZlucZcnRUvdPiOK9kI8s20kbsuv8MInTfkXBvbzasczddfBpuXbM9DCAwww-7vXNCrz8G0_khAM6NNWeUvsG1o/w300-h400/IMG_2849.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>At this point, I would have liked to show you a third ornament which was stitched about this same time last year. The finishing of that piece would have been a bit more challenging, so I put it away in a <i>safe</i> place until I had more time. Okay . . . I know . . . you are a step ahead of me . . . Yup, I have absolutely no idea where that <i>safe</i> place is with my unfinished piece. ;-( When and if it turns up, I’ll finish it and tuck it in my ornament box. That’s the trouble with <i>safe </i>places; they always seem perfectly reasonable and safe when you first tuck items away. :-)</p><p>Moving on . . .</p><p> If you enjoy online projects, you may want to check out SAHRR 2024. You will find all the information “Announcing the SAHRR2024” at <a href="http://www.quiltinggail.com" target="_blank">Quilting Gail</a>. SAHRR stands for Stay at Home Round Robin. I participated last year and plan to do so again this year. This was my 2023 project which I made into a wheelchair quilt for a veteran.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAjJ05TGqylePFEKxzKrogXq3DcjP4a0cf5VeEva96Al_Ugvh-zIQew40dsRz24E-82JNBjTiM9JhUONtGMJ-yjsEDJXT_xpyEpRl5giT5w4fHy5BREEtSoeEdkRSTuVEGzkRNdTK3Mt8dZSn6kLfIVmL_drBr6uoY0DH2KTzS__i5LHB412-JI2VzidN/s4032/IMG_2308.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAjJ05TGqylePFEKxzKrogXq3DcjP4a0cf5VeEva96Al_Ugvh-zIQew40dsRz24E-82JNBjTiM9JhUONtGMJ-yjsEDJXT_xpyEpRl5giT5w4fHy5BREEtSoeEdkRSTuVEGzkRNdTK3Mt8dZSn6kLfIVmL_drBr6uoY0DH2KTzS__i5LHB412-JI2VzidN/s320/IMG_2308.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>You may make a project of any type or size and how you interpret the steps and what you do is all up to you . . . definitely my type of project. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcj7CqKWNT2HdS8WmEkTNDCAwPIGQqmshS7Q06Buc5CvpxL8xpIvccz3sdZy_tQjvj_hHgjDTq20EzOqGTLTFzuLBXwlHxjNkHahzGghgnQ76-O21jn4dVSAUAXP3br-tGYBKVWYe_c7KTUtGgbov0zKUvRl4Sj6iAOCD-u8WnmVNrvDCmovezj69qGGwz/s3777/IMG_2828.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3777" data-original-width="2695" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcj7CqKWNT2HdS8WmEkTNDCAwPIGQqmshS7Q06Buc5CvpxL8xpIvccz3sdZy_tQjvj_hHgjDTq20EzOqGTLTFzuLBXwlHxjNkHahzGghgnQ76-O21jn4dVSAUAXP3br-tGYBKVWYe_c7KTUtGgbov0zKUvRl4Sj6iAOCD-u8WnmVNrvDCmovezj69qGGwz/s320/IMG_2828.jpeg" width="228" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Earlier this month, I dropped off a box of items at a local thrift shop. Entering I kept repeating, <i>don’t look, don’t buy anything, don’t bring anything home. </i>It didn’t work as this charming Pfalsgraff little house is now sitting on my dining room table. So, from our house to your house, Emma and I wish you all the happiest of holidays.Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-79439846991702908642023-12-21T14:44:00.000-08:002023-12-21T16:16:25.513-08:00Holidaze and Christmas Stitching<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4gojhzbzbicRo-vTA6BZxdSKb4lJ_JvIWD8RxoxIAeEz8DXQczMY_DtORcd9bsUhki8ACnKTn9kELf5JO99YkVOUKo4Os9IUwN-98j5X7bCcSRXvdOb5gwKftej91m8ZX0qKlOPMp8CcWyRum7GWE3FSxV6vJC7tjKUy-n1qSQgf6xR4W19Hp4O9lTfk/s3176/IMG_2830.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3176" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4gojhzbzbicRo-vTA6BZxdSKb4lJ_JvIWD8RxoxIAeEz8DXQczMY_DtORcd9bsUhki8ACnKTn9kELf5JO99YkVOUKo4Os9IUwN-98j5X7bCcSRXvdOb5gwKftej91m8ZX0qKlOPMp8CcWyRum7GWE3FSxV6vJC7tjKUy-n1qSQgf6xR4W19Hp4O9lTfk/s320/IMG_2830.jpeg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Where has December gone? It’s flying by in a holi<i>daze! </i>My intention had been to post at least once or twice a week throughout the month, but you know what they say about good intentions. It has been a busy, fun month so far: two guild holiday parties, a lovely luncheon hosted by my friend Kathy, a wonderful Christmas concert where my cousin’s school choral group performed, and last Saturday her sister was in a play. So, all of that may explain my dearth of posting, but I do promise to try to do better going forward. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nIbBU4zrtB0VqjnUuhN9HaTF7nPJ9hhT_N5cw9a94DtBPYo_BnBLx7LKrKnc3jejkgFLVtTFxqdAPDfFP0x4SsN9pKqBThK0Ty4OBsmr9axSL9qHv2RSubPCkEYwGfrDgyz3NkfVBBUKe5YzthW5O43V1ACYLz6IDivZ4k4VY6ThAJgcb3JEoxOyuKlX/s4032/IMG_2829.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nIbBU4zrtB0VqjnUuhN9HaTF7nPJ9hhT_N5cw9a94DtBPYo_BnBLx7LKrKnc3jejkgFLVtTFxqdAPDfFP0x4SsN9pKqBThK0Ty4OBsmr9axSL9qHv2RSubPCkEYwGfrDgyz3NkfVBBUKe5YzthW5O43V1ACYLz6IDivZ4k4VY6ThAJgcb3JEoxOyuKlX/s320/IMG_2829.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Let me show you a bit of what I have been stitching. I’ve added these two little pillows to my small red tiered tray.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcBG-0aW_Bum_0vFszoUU-AsJoMDw6R0MW9rqbNbFq_H2vpVfD8GmKUToM-4pYW_O2D7l2ySuNfS89vnzjlV_7xWPiheD9rteJZwT3fzHEytvzVUMJzrJT7NhfLJj-m0M3nqj8XBFk7RLV2Sb-NtbhFB3d_vn2lchx0fYXQULaq6GXyeLAnToJVnMwiIM/s3884/IMG_2845.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2125" data-original-width="3884" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcBG-0aW_Bum_0vFszoUU-AsJoMDw6R0MW9rqbNbFq_H2vpVfD8GmKUToM-4pYW_O2D7l2ySuNfS89vnzjlV_7xWPiheD9rteJZwT3fzHEytvzVUMJzrJT7NhfLJj-m0M3nqj8XBFk7RLV2Sb-NtbhFB3d_vn2lchx0fYXQULaq6GXyeLAnToJVnMwiIM/s320/IMG_2845.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoU-z3NssFg6Yh4tvl62CmBHSxcYfNkGSpHSeC4wICHAG5ehAVpX7yhlpjWfWUv1ONWq4pWvHHmN7tH8eZ9uCAeZCQSfdhzSvCxxbADfVymvGIux56JsJEyG9F6hgav0Rhny5TNt8Uxg6gX64MaHgOQcFdNWZmtHcsLKCrM92CLIQox0i-fWApFojoJfv/s3875/IMG_2847.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3875" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoU-z3NssFg6Yh4tvl62CmBHSxcYfNkGSpHSeC4wICHAG5ehAVpX7yhlpjWfWUv1ONWq4pWvHHmN7tH8eZ9uCAeZCQSfdhzSvCxxbADfVymvGIux56JsJEyG9F6hgav0Rhny5TNt8Uxg6gX64MaHgOQcFdNWZmtHcsLKCrM92CLIQox0i-fWApFojoJfv/s320/IMG_2847.jpeg" width="250" /></a></div><div><br /></div>To fully finish them I started by first applying a piece of FS101 to the back of the stitched piece. Next I took the stitched piece and a piece of backing fabric and sewed them right sides together around all four sides. I make a slit in the backing, turn the piece right side out, stuff, and cover the slit with a piece of wool to which I add a button and a year charm. (The patterns for the tiny pillows are from the “Festive Countdown” in the Xmas 2020 issue of <u>Christmas Cross Stitch Favourites,</u> a British publication. )<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZOsnZVtLjN8TvVQH5O7_MgYW0Xk9z_48mHHI8QRyS90BUdNpCwIn4JYzz-Wr8ia42utIxV5l3YkIeNXbTqLYxj1_lD32AlAY8_C4WofuHOMou_JKxWuSbVi9SNLYOk5Oche4LtaB6zl6nUBOlgLcPyJL3MwJQZBXiVCJXaMs600J8IWSPKt9aKudgBmQ/s4032/IMG_2846.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2323" data-original-width="4032" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZOsnZVtLjN8TvVQH5O7_MgYW0Xk9z_48mHHI8QRyS90BUdNpCwIn4JYzz-Wr8ia42utIxV5l3YkIeNXbTqLYxj1_lD32AlAY8_C4WofuHOMou_JKxWuSbVi9SNLYOk5Oche4LtaB6zl6nUBOlgLcPyJL3MwJQZBXiVCJXaMs600J8IWSPKt9aKudgBmQ/s320/IMG_2846.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Each year the <u>Just Cross Stitching</u> magazine publishes a Christmas ornament issue. This ornament had caught my eye back in 2020, and I finally stitched it this year. It’s <i>Holly Jolly Buffalo </i>by designer Melody Gilmore of Open Road Abode Needleworks.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUUMMQbWFQTb2NWXlKHRxiJPhZh04VTQKJn5jR-sBNoW1OO4JWEBZ_R6wHDYyVO8LGK8dnRsixmtt6R244VrMZG1NSxEaomtPqGJDMpEzCHf3CGmKHm88aGhqcqVnnVYf0KEV1SH4SaPa7yl49Ly1tF4Qqc605kX8nWYhUo94bB8gvIz6WO2uozQEmYOI/s4032/IMG_2842.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUUMMQbWFQTb2NWXlKHRxiJPhZh04VTQKJn5jR-sBNoW1OO4JWEBZ_R6wHDYyVO8LGK8dnRsixmtt6R244VrMZG1NSxEaomtPqGJDMpEzCHf3CGmKHm88aGhqcqVnnVYf0KEV1SH4SaPa7yl49Ly1tF4Qqc605kX8nWYhUo94bB8gvIz6WO2uozQEmYOI/s320/IMG_2842.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>A buffalo??? Why??? Well, it reminds me of past trips to the Tetons and Yellowstone, and besides that I just liked it. :-) One more thing, do you know what baby bison are called? I do and in case you are ever asked during a trivia contest, the answer is “red dogs.” Now I know you are wondering, how the heck does she know that??? Well, I think that I have mentioned that I have rather eclectic tastes when it comes to Youtube. I really enjoy watching cross stitch flosstubes, gardening programs like “Garden Answers,” lots of all types of music, etc. Then I also watch “Inside the NBA” with Ernie Johnson, Shaq, Charles Barkley, and Kenny, the ‘Jet’ Smith. They are one funny, funny crew of basketball analysts. I discovered “Follow the Herd” about Fresian horses during the pandemic and still watch each new episode. That brings me back to how I know about “red dogs.” Well, I also follow Dusty and Marissa at Cross Timbers Bison, a young couple who explore the challenges of raising bison. ;-) That’s how I know the babies are a cinnamon color for their first few months. Indeed, youtube can be super educational ;-)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I’ll have a few more ornaments to show in my next post. But . . . just in case I don’t post before Christmas, wherever you travel on the big day, have fun and be safe. :-) [This mural is at the Derby Street stores in Hingham.]</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_XaBqOgYUTUJza46eFMzHVgi0T2kiTC5UgvpSaglJ_H5MiOBuxhM1L-nY1N-NMG_30eWMFkN2fovfS_Y-qSTc427SU6-0SxJL83YDpJYDTCZGf-x8MYpyHlWa5bU3LhZkNffK2H-Y7_ZiRZezLCj2EfO3kXFHS3TU6tSAfbXmWqVGUR1cbIljpMgcX3y/s4032/IMG_2841.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_XaBqOgYUTUJza46eFMzHVgi0T2kiTC5UgvpSaglJ_H5MiOBuxhM1L-nY1N-NMG_30eWMFkN2fovfS_Y-qSTc427SU6-0SxJL83YDpJYDTCZGf-x8MYpyHlWa5bU3LhZkNffK2H-Y7_ZiRZezLCj2EfO3kXFHS3TU6tSAfbXmWqVGUR1cbIljpMgcX3y/s320/IMG_2841.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-3231319894295284822023-12-08T19:11:00.000-08:002023-12-08T19:11:35.383-08:00Finally Featuring Fall Finishes<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsJuJwqCaLcmJLAO1FW4mxfyxgtdBVh06rglXrF4wyuZCYYb_mM9A8B0lYWI6-wTR_tHMTgtniZ1WknnLY7ViwkWT1bH9Zv5Iluj562ygl-PcCh86ZHqHyb8xu1m_DifHuu9FEJOGratLRd9md1udB1IwBHahBcsSv7qaEK2nJ_NVJzpDw6IdV_2UQyQF/s4032/IMG_2824.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsJuJwqCaLcmJLAO1FW4mxfyxgtdBVh06rglXrF4wyuZCYYb_mM9A8B0lYWI6-wTR_tHMTgtniZ1WknnLY7ViwkWT1bH9Zv5Iluj562ygl-PcCh86ZHqHyb8xu1m_DifHuu9FEJOGratLRd9md1udB1IwBHahBcsSv7qaEK2nJ_NVJzpDw6IdV_2UQyQF/w300-h400/IMG_2824.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>But first . . . Look at what we woke up to on Tuesday. It was the very nicest kind of snowstorm. The trees were gowned in white and because of the freezing temperatures, the trees stay coated all day long . . . simply magical. The lawns were also white, but by 10:00 am the streets were down to black pavement. It offered all the joys of a small snowstorm without any shoveling. :-)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4n45nvo4gkFwcCu5d-JyDGVNx9k_6dRtDKT8rnXDuG_FS0SfLpRcDSYpJvUU9wvb9EqrRjdulyoA_rtNg13woA2N6SjylSaHwcS4zsYTvKTBOJwIckogmGFUFjhY_x7rkn9vR2KcCLOdCqKcJAIm8rdMPbqY4AUcDIE1GLh0uiZV_VYtcS42AzseYR2m/s4032/IMG_2821.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4n45nvo4gkFwcCu5d-JyDGVNx9k_6dRtDKT8rnXDuG_FS0SfLpRcDSYpJvUU9wvb9EqrRjdulyoA_rtNg13woA2N6SjylSaHwcS4zsYTvKTBOJwIckogmGFUFjhY_x7rkn9vR2KcCLOdCqKcJAIm8rdMPbqY4AUcDIE1GLh0uiZV_VYtcS42AzseYR2m/s320/IMG_2821.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Along my fence I have four pairs of shepherd hooks from which I hang plants in summer and ornaments at Christmas. These ornaments originally decorated a fir tree in the back of my yard. The tree was a DPW eight inch sapling given away on one Arbor Day twenty plus years ago. I was able to hang ornaments on it until it reached about ten feet tall; it has since double in size.</p><p>Now on to two fall cross stitch finishes. A third piece is eighty-five percent done, but it stashed away until next year. </p><p>I love how <i>Fall Harvest</i> by It’s So Emma of the <a href="https://fatquartershop.com" target="_blank">Fat Quarter Shop</a> is displayed in this frame which had previously housed a clock. The piece was stitched on an Aida fabric upon which harvest themed words were lightly printed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb90rWFmEqzVVNUMFX_ToBhluaauTeAKlSghE6xBaTclNyg3qHGXCnpVPRUKaMAw7uWaJe1iVYxeZrIK7ZlFoLvg0xp4yAMkjPRYjD6pyYfzspV5NvYP2AXwKzrgacx17-PSTtVRgR4prsI_CQK32QEJBTgbw64cBBGwkfr73Uw09fSsC0SH06bv332H_/s3167/IMG_2803.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3167" data-original-width="2934" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb90rWFmEqzVVNUMFX_ToBhluaauTeAKlSghE6xBaTclNyg3qHGXCnpVPRUKaMAw7uWaJe1iVYxeZrIK7ZlFoLvg0xp4yAMkjPRYjD6pyYfzspV5NvYP2AXwKzrgacx17-PSTtVRgR4prsI_CQK32QEJBTgbw64cBBGwkfr73Uw09fSsC0SH06bv332H_/s320/IMG_2803.jpeg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Now here is where I fully intended to insert a photo of the second cross stitch piece. It has been stitched for a few weeks, but I decided that I was not completely pleased with how I had finished it so I’m redoing it and will post it next time.</p><p>Did you see the announcement of the Kona 2024 color of the year? It is going to be a soft minty green, <i>julep</i>. And speaking of color, isn’t this amaryllis gorgeous!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzALm402C9p0NqlbP9lfjzf6kY5bvfjQ-SQ8h4fBIkW2FuPdj5SJ7Z8GPGH4_bWf5HI_E6witYQK7EiXQjUHdaaKR2-UdKtCttGDDB9H9861PhEPu1xbC7snuuahwjBvc2YX3Iw0YFtsQ5UKVYpQRxmu4GIsEf1R9GtgSrelEdQtZsU_15Kw2oZbPzcOTk/s4032/IMG_2818.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzALm402C9p0NqlbP9lfjzf6kY5bvfjQ-SQ8h4fBIkW2FuPdj5SJ7Z8GPGH4_bWf5HI_E6witYQK7EiXQjUHdaaKR2-UdKtCttGDDB9H9861PhEPu1xbC7snuuahwjBvc2YX3Iw0YFtsQ5UKVYpQRxmu4GIsEf1R9GtgSrelEdQtZsU_15Kw2oZbPzcOTk/w300-h400/IMG_2818.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Finally for Emma fans . . . She was groomed on Wednesday, and the groomer later sent along this photo. They always take a photo in December against a festive background. I love this one!!! It is hard to believe that Miss Emma will turn twelve at the end of this month. Thankfully, she is still full of energy. Obviously, our daily walks are keeping at least one of us in great shape.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRoRDzat16kLa6lScIc0bI6HNNWf7GWiYnyNg5btZ6VvgKigdVl0IMuoO7jN7QCvZJvr5AGgc33JkKtNcE7M6jd5abKimuxP57lyQmD_Yz_YwN_YWv9IWheDF93Ypl5A1Nq8Y4u6mGBGlHiqz0yAM3iIHSy4wJlTmJtg1-94d9FDve-7M0jZSSnrZTZJ_/s2016/123_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1344" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRoRDzat16kLa6lScIc0bI6HNNWf7GWiYnyNg5btZ6VvgKigdVl0IMuoO7jN7QCvZJvr5AGgc33JkKtNcE7M6jd5abKimuxP57lyQmD_Yz_YwN_YWv9IWheDF93Ypl5A1Nq8Y4u6mGBGlHiqz0yAM3iIHSy4wJlTmJtg1-94d9FDve-7M0jZSSnrZTZJ_/w266-h400/123_2.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>That’s all for now. Have a wonderful weekend.</p>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-16912268408802684442023-12-01T18:39:00.000-08:002023-12-03T05:42:52.191-08:00Wool Applique Americana Tablerunner Finish<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cT5DXdHdUf_UKBkdrpC98n3u0Gx2w4-aaG9rnrRGUIVUkQdmRLQSM6X0UH57AWOR7j_OBUn-XxCmmkua2jLX04-3NWJK3SAOsNfbhzHdetm6iSu9B42TsviKifDGi5NNh0xD2mg6X3vpm4W5iXyLSJpUgGbZ4flYPWKSk2pc5fRWs2_bi1QoF8e-F3AL/s3886/IMG_2809.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1937" data-original-width="3886" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cT5DXdHdUf_UKBkdrpC98n3u0Gx2w4-aaG9rnrRGUIVUkQdmRLQSM6X0UH57AWOR7j_OBUn-XxCmmkua2jLX04-3NWJK3SAOsNfbhzHdetm6iSu9B42TsviKifDGi5NNh0xD2mg6X3vpm4W5iXyLSJpUgGbZ4flYPWKSk2pc5fRWs2_bi1QoF8e-F3AL/w400-h200/IMG_2809.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Place a gold star on my forehead; my wool applique “Americana” table runner is done!!! (I had purchased the kit from Shabby Fabrics.) There are 260+ pieces, and I love how it turned out. (You may click on the photo to see a larger image.) I also appreciate the fact that I was disciplined about stitching it. I stitched a minimum of thirty minutes each day from August until Monday afternoon when I finished the edges. Whew! After taking this photo, I rolled it up and tucked it away as friends were coming for dinner on Wednesday evening, and I wanted to put out a Christmas centerpiece. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had purchased this little boy and girl in the sled for my mom at a craft show many, many years ago. The vintage angel candlesticks originally belonged to my aunts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbhrcS1EDWDv0D_YNBqLtRCqijn6jxlp3lGwK8l7KiZRQp9FwuEDKojmVdgPlGlRv714TkyqO2BxIcdZir2aXpszMCeXNXTkehOvTPwirf_FmGTuNSSpHnuDBYksFw3Yoa1IKrVMzAm2Z8LQgTJJNbbHWV7D9vgsEQwLxujpNeYlxJU1hGKqY4wbL6CjX/s4032/IMG_2810.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbhrcS1EDWDv0D_YNBqLtRCqijn6jxlp3lGwK8l7KiZRQp9FwuEDKojmVdgPlGlRv714TkyqO2BxIcdZir2aXpszMCeXNXTkehOvTPwirf_FmGTuNSSpHnuDBYksFw3Yoa1IKrVMzAm2Z8LQgTJJNbbHWV7D9vgsEQwLxujpNeYlxJU1hGKqY4wbL6CjX/w400-h300/IMG_2810.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> My godchild and her family came on Sunday afternoon and lugged up from the cellar my boxes of Christmas decorations and trees. I then spent Monday and Tuesday decking my halls, no small task as I love to decorate ;-). I have a large tree with ornaments and a small tree with my cross stitch pieces. I am beyond happy that my decorating is done, and that I may now enjoy it for the coming month.<p></p><p>It was 55 degrees today, so I took advantage of the warm weather to get my outside decorating mostly done. I’ll finish it after all the leaves are taken care of. My mighty oak tree is slow to relinquish its leaves. (I’ve already had the leaves raked once, and the men who do it will come again early next week. I have a large backyard, and raking leaves is one job that I have gladly given up.)</p><p>On Tuesday, I attended a Crosstown Quilters Guild meeting. Our guest speaker was Christine Myers of the <a href="http://quiltcornerstudio.com" target="_blank">Quilt Corner Studio</a> in Sandwich, and her talk was on “The Trials and Joys of Owning a Quilt Shop.” She was an absolute delight. </p><p>On Wednesday, I met six friends (all former Weymouth teachers) for lunch at Mia Ragazza in Abington and then came home to bustle about finishing a few things before my quilting buddies arrived for dinner. ‘Quilting’ buddies is a bit of a misnomer. Though quite a few years ago, we actually did bring machines and sew, now we might bring a binding to stitch on or some knitting or cross stitch but mostly it is conversation, food, and show and tells. Here’s Maribeth with her recently completed chandelier quilt.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvSOx-f5WtiBcH-r8_HpOg6Ydruay6DOTUprWoZdqikRZSJOB6joOVz9J2uXcGkGIu-1hQVbg3RJdMEAgAgoQSZj4Atrj2VMpLQ7BG1WqCpscr1b1iHoXjrSCVKlEvwACgAFmsc18-gtdGnBL1EHN-QONd3aK6RININ3XJXQr9vtpsfvJJIB_dDWpUnk2/s4032/IMG_2811.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvSOx-f5WtiBcH-r8_HpOg6Ydruay6DOTUprWoZdqikRZSJOB6joOVz9J2uXcGkGIu-1hQVbg3RJdMEAgAgoQSZj4Atrj2VMpLQ7BG1WqCpscr1b1iHoXjrSCVKlEvwACgAFmsc18-gtdGnBL1EHN-QONd3aK6RININ3XJXQr9vtpsfvJJIB_dDWpUnk2/w300-h400/IMG_2811.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p>So, lunch with one group of friends and dinner with another . . . yes, indeed, life is good!!!</p>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-91989052391224554972023-11-23T07:18:00.000-08:002023-11-23T21:10:40.583-08:00Happy Thanksgiving Day 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfE1zID5508xvNEGvo3BYm8nIuIH6EOA5B2MKceSIz3VzAij9O9Ok6uJ3quaYwzTr4vrqsqiPkY1QprrlI66ydq4xkpydjlkE4K1h_NNLfWt0caRResnAFvO1EPgCKSRT_9Abw2KgoN8EfB6_DmdV5vdlgsCKoNOXsxX6KjwsBh50yTR_wwWWPhwmTYzlu/s4032/IMG_2791.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfE1zID5508xvNEGvo3BYm8nIuIH6EOA5B2MKceSIz3VzAij9O9Ok6uJ3quaYwzTr4vrqsqiPkY1QprrlI66ydq4xkpydjlkE4K1h_NNLfWt0caRResnAFvO1EPgCKSRT_9Abw2KgoN8EfB6_DmdV5vdlgsCKoNOXsxX6KjwsBh50yTR_wwWWPhwmTYzlu/w320-h240/IMG_2791.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> The Tom Turkey float just rolled down the street signaling the start of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Soon I’ll be heading over the river and through the woods to my cousin Brian’s home for dinner, but before I go, I wanted to wish you all a very happy day.<p></p><p>And remember . . . </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XowdgxZr-6DvB6U1DDIy_7MKvFo9PMkBGBCV4penOxw2ywqpdrxIWTDegK0HEFrzKmST1nj5CfxxVP5KBFiOZVqn5WHHk2Mlfx3BtAwGveyvJP1naYL-blx_yx9Nr_EuC1YYv3DKPNClTc2_vqjtBuJ174L7KwPBC6GPgAYGHh0YMrh8KuZiiXo3Pf4B/s1620/IMG_0391.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="1620" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XowdgxZr-6DvB6U1DDIy_7MKvFo9PMkBGBCV4penOxw2ywqpdrxIWTDegK0HEFrzKmST1nj5CfxxVP5KBFiOZVqn5WHHk2Mlfx3BtAwGveyvJP1naYL-blx_yx9Nr_EuC1YYv3DKPNClTc2_vqjtBuJ174L7KwPBC6GPgAYGHh0YMrh8KuZiiXo3Pf4B/w320-h257/IMG_0391.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-9363099119943054302023-11-13T17:16:00.000-08:002023-11-13T18:58:54.239-08:00A Visit to the New England Quilt Museum<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHXOxEDFqgAhhEwoTLE8QO7LXrh3tRUA79E7bdlb3QXPvugzF3rvUuBuv5WE0OTpAMmCLY0Kk0H5i5YkQ39VgSm11lw_0V-We4x_22taac_llMva4feX1gfBFYpEXlRp9vtR0Ca8XIlRbe-i49xM2S-lViUCbdE96TnS8SriHsMxKzANftPvMQ_7Ju_1M/s4032/IMG_2766.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHXOxEDFqgAhhEwoTLE8QO7LXrh3tRUA79E7bdlb3QXPvugzF3rvUuBuv5WE0OTpAMmCLY0Kk0H5i5YkQ39VgSm11lw_0V-We4x_22taac_llMva4feX1gfBFYpEXlRp9vtR0Ca8XIlRbe-i49xM2S-lViUCbdE96TnS8SriHsMxKzANftPvMQ_7Ju_1M/w300-h400/IMG_2766.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This has not been one of our best foliage years, but yesterday morning after church I happened to drive by Legion Field and did a double take. The entire parking lot is ringed with these gorgeous red maples. I’m afraid they have been planted a bit too close together, but it creates quite an impact. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCR2T4kI0Ks078kwjRhvphpl_YUgYjhCDG3FQ93b92z0ZJMtiVXJ4aNPtElrfMXCa2CygCDoeLuRM19UzpmDXWRJ0OFPPEVThRm9u5-iSSJ1mUGZaJ37jKMedEm5V75HigaMkE7uBGY8I3RyNRAhMBnvynCWR9WbIaQzh3976Cpg89x2Y6k4LE1cCFjEW/s4032/IMG_2765.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCR2T4kI0Ks078kwjRhvphpl_YUgYjhCDG3FQ93b92z0ZJMtiVXJ4aNPtElrfMXCa2CygCDoeLuRM19UzpmDXWRJ0OFPPEVThRm9u5-iSSJ1mUGZaJ37jKMedEm5V75HigaMkE7uBGY8I3RyNRAhMBnvynCWR9WbIaQzh3976Cpg89x2Y6k4LE1cCFjEW/w400-h300/IMG_2765.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Today, my friend Edith and I attended a “Meet the Teachers” event at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts. We collected brochures and cards from each teacher and learned about lectures and programs that each offered to guilds. <div><br /></div><div>I asked the museum director if I might share a few photos of quilts that caught my eye. She readily agreed and also asked me to encourage my readers to do come visit the museum in person. :-)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZQ8oGeKo7BKtuhFRElZtcB2-xk8Ap6qwbQGeRBcsLSCuq2JI81-50LdlnI2Z7j9QdehKaT60pkpWQiQXFUdupr0H7kPHeCpFaCSevnFwnV0ZfQKrGX3o1mi_SAFTU3AL6vJAO2VpqlYgT12nqh9tPnCGu4q0gR1hOKmBuoYPlVQBhwjpxnfexXXmzIUy/s3542/IMG_2772.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3542" data-original-width="2872" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZQ8oGeKo7BKtuhFRElZtcB2-xk8Ap6qwbQGeRBcsLSCuq2JI81-50LdlnI2Z7j9QdehKaT60pkpWQiQXFUdupr0H7kPHeCpFaCSevnFwnV0ZfQKrGX3o1mi_SAFTU3AL6vJAO2VpqlYgT12nqh9tPnCGu4q0gR1hOKmBuoYPlVQBhwjpxnfexXXmzIUy/w324-h400/IMG_2772.jpeg" width="324" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFipueFJxh9SNU6M1CItLPrZMKN7h-uLu6MkdKBUPfyujtZxVawYRxQCZ7tzBpADfH-Icx1tyS0nzJ8FPz9sE1g4QY-EMKdm24QdDekPwRR_cJCOoZH1MqWbI4PtAQwXslNRmGCEl-cy0v28vcliNB4Y_Za0wUcNlSlALnBYTLIx9uC_T-p8v6oHL3olH/s4032/IMG_2773.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFipueFJxh9SNU6M1CItLPrZMKN7h-uLu6MkdKBUPfyujtZxVawYRxQCZ7tzBpADfH-Icx1tyS0nzJ8FPz9sE1g4QY-EMKdm24QdDekPwRR_cJCOoZH1MqWbI4PtAQwXslNRmGCEl-cy0v28vcliNB4Y_Za0wUcNlSlALnBYTLIx9uC_T-p8v6oHL3olH/s320/IMG_2773.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsWjftB45icJElekQb2YL3YnZTwBeyaAAjGSZm18GDCXgaznXr9BgT_lJbXYRqDwv3PBire2ejgu4QNGJIRqzTZY02HHXAFUc4L9cZUVGinXQLRWC1mrviMxQ1nLGygV9bFD1BjHFRhR4m7r3qhKp8DXOJmiVyGSxTqnDZ4GPKX2bdcD4_x6qgUKeJSft/s4032/IMG_2780.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsWjftB45icJElekQb2YL3YnZTwBeyaAAjGSZm18GDCXgaznXr9BgT_lJbXYRqDwv3PBire2ejgu4QNGJIRqzTZY02HHXAFUc4L9cZUVGinXQLRWC1mrviMxQ1nLGygV9bFD1BjHFRhR4m7r3qhKp8DXOJmiVyGSxTqnDZ4GPKX2bdcD4_x6qgUKeJSft/w300-h400/IMG_2780.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd0Cg7bWsgVsL_zzh2KeIOVp7oJYwtDk4mjW5hEAtuCZuh-OsCmiBOBzIs-8fQnbgB-OmcxPsqieM7WwzjGbVV2bGpm0wtmfo5KXsujHiiTJ8GAEBt2-3YewXd5P5YP3jJ0tQaBihXWnIlHEZ8_qhyphenhyphenBWxeRwn43TiCu7OoLMDhe2uWPhxMLkJT5Xr1W1E/s3780/IMG_2781.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="3780" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd0Cg7bWsgVsL_zzh2KeIOVp7oJYwtDk4mjW5hEAtuCZuh-OsCmiBOBzIs-8fQnbgB-OmcxPsqieM7WwzjGbVV2bGpm0wtmfo5KXsujHiiTJ8GAEBt2-3YewXd5P5YP3jJ0tQaBihXWnIlHEZ8_qhyphenhyphenBWxeRwn43TiCu7OoLMDhe2uWPhxMLkJT5Xr1W1E/s320/IMG_2781.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEx3P0EM_WI_eOBgSnQVWxy0IsMCTbqCFCd9EZ1O0BP-3Lo4R93d-7NP6SkfOlWFvmsf-I6YI4dPw2f1fWmPdYOF1Ajw2Wx15KO-dR9zA2c4ISxdT9AxIwDLMfLJItfS8FyGVUiVhKSy7OazEIfHz8WaFJ0palYbY6JeSdIMUTSzJP7eZI9YXqDgGySEW/s4032/IMG_2774.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEx3P0EM_WI_eOBgSnQVWxy0IsMCTbqCFCd9EZ1O0BP-3Lo4R93d-7NP6SkfOlWFvmsf-I6YI4dPw2f1fWmPdYOF1Ajw2Wx15KO-dR9zA2c4ISxdT9AxIwDLMfLJItfS8FyGVUiVhKSy7OazEIfHz8WaFJ0palYbY6JeSdIMUTSzJP7eZI9YXqDgGySEW/w300-h400/IMG_2774.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigon7v9xHC_O3jy7iesb5B8ecd_IUZfZoUuuyHdhqLkxtnqAEnF5aMhpZyjTwz_QTYGTjWh-lZmu0D6GNVBIEf1rChWaB0ZMk4kG_90QP-CIIWXbYlQ1_-_sJmTrU7zDmez5Fiprg2mR3vRGu6vdFKt4YziJDt01GLE5dr5CLshLHpCT7_Jnr2tMXN2pst/s2815/IMG_2775.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1955" data-original-width="2815" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigon7v9xHC_O3jy7iesb5B8ecd_IUZfZoUuuyHdhqLkxtnqAEnF5aMhpZyjTwz_QTYGTjWh-lZmu0D6GNVBIEf1rChWaB0ZMk4kG_90QP-CIIWXbYlQ1_-_sJmTrU7zDmez5Fiprg2mR3vRGu6vdFKt4YziJDt01GLE5dr5CLshLHpCT7_Jnr2tMXN2pst/s320/IMG_2775.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8Ux3-Bua9zQ_6SaU2WWCFffDTdUsBrbPpYS5FI6XTZx3XxZV472pSulLhwcLRtI5CBVo-BTnHwMeGOVcN6YGvveGtJuwrxi4Op1aKVy6LZWygXnV4uIpKGuMCAGnOO0sye4kjGP5OHE7voqN8znEX_9PLq-cRzTcNBE_lhPxfbldVExT-8SAay8KYKEN/s3459/IMG_2776.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2845" data-original-width="3459" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8Ux3-Bua9zQ_6SaU2WWCFffDTdUsBrbPpYS5FI6XTZx3XxZV472pSulLhwcLRtI5CBVo-BTnHwMeGOVcN6YGvveGtJuwrxi4Op1aKVy6LZWygXnV4uIpKGuMCAGnOO0sye4kjGP5OHE7voqN8znEX_9PLq-cRzTcNBE_lhPxfbldVExT-8SAay8KYKEN/w400-h329/IMG_2776.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSuM9k0qyxy-r9rlwgL0dTUauv9drr7kwvY1XOwL05lVT6d7KikiEOyFENVg4o2az711BJryo5krFXXC8p5acCmoZ_H69IYxaIaSUVlsF2Zrgdn9TE2TsJyPS8aIMLmz0rEnUSJcUxdPwhmUrGVtZcAnFSKHPcEsXXRlqIoaRVZBtAgaJjqjtSANC3DZQ/s3446/IMG_2777.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2275" data-original-width="3446" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSuM9k0qyxy-r9rlwgL0dTUauv9drr7kwvY1XOwL05lVT6d7KikiEOyFENVg4o2az711BJryo5krFXXC8p5acCmoZ_H69IYxaIaSUVlsF2Zrgdn9TE2TsJyPS8aIMLmz0rEnUSJcUxdPwhmUrGVtZcAnFSKHPcEsXXRlqIoaRVZBtAgaJjqjtSANC3DZQ/s320/IMG_2777.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aren’t they wonderful!!!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>My wool applique piece is nearly done as I only have to sew on the backing layer. I will share the completed piece in my next post.<br /> </div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-41007000704826147842023-11-10T12:03:00.001-08:002023-11-10T12:03:30.521-08:00My Oldest Quilt Project FINISHED!!!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qjc8FX05LFJd2LyQw-3ZHFa9P23u4aipvaa5NljP7-IUdJY75Ynmyo4QZtbbBn2Leedbp5bgoODUAqSRxz4SWWhq1a9-tB0eVylFSaFnZnW1rYAHk4Ht7XcPtDJ4kStSnj2mke_NE6UeM8Ve8bH2IwLijRQZUwj2azUnbVYZJxEh2faStDH1LwKWfIQ1/s3864/IMG_2754.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="2989" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qjc8FX05LFJd2LyQw-3ZHFa9P23u4aipvaa5NljP7-IUdJY75Ynmyo4QZtbbBn2Leedbp5bgoODUAqSRxz4SWWhq1a9-tB0eVylFSaFnZnW1rYAHk4Ht7XcPtDJ4kStSnj2mke_NE6UeM8Ve8bH2IwLijRQZUwj2azUnbVYZJxEh2faStDH1LwKWfIQ1/w310-h400/IMG_2754.jpeg" width="310" /></a></div><br /> Well, it is finally done!!! I had received a gift of fat quarters used in this quilt from friends way back in 2007!!! They had gone on a quilt shop hop, but I was not able to accompany them as at that time I was undergoing chemo treatments during my first adventure with breast cancer. Perhaps I had associated the fabric with that challenging period, but in any event, I never did anything with the fat quarter bundle. Maybe seven or eight years ago, I start making these blocks. There was no pattern. I simply had fun slashing and inserting strips. When the blocks were completed, they again sat there for a few more years. Finally, I decided to put them together, and I am glad that I did. Sixteen years . . . it makes me wonder, dear readers . . . what is your oldest work in progress???<p></p><p>The sad thing is I have a number of quilts that need to be completed. I’d like to say that I will finish one every month, but even I don’t believe that will happen. I do know that no fabric, cross stitch, or wool will enter this house until I make a significant dent in what I already have. True confession: I recently ordered two wool applique patterns and more than a few cross stitch patterns, but honestly, that’s it!!! Really and truly. . . </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOveI_D39k0dDcNehyplZpRmGIXY7gR0hfZIuDzB6rncj1sJUL-cGEZ5iZvBbYNk8snpN4najo311i_Df43cyx4NbrIfPk9VYb5wxsaw_1Vx2HVUqvlyoMmZFsYC-Nryxdx5YWOWh79mLwX3SeiG-mSN7AYy-QSveuhyphenhyphenHJNTRFzIHxiU9S6aPUQ9hxwdr/s3856/IMG_2760.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2994" data-original-width="3856" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOveI_D39k0dDcNehyplZpRmGIXY7gR0hfZIuDzB6rncj1sJUL-cGEZ5iZvBbYNk8snpN4najo311i_Df43cyx4NbrIfPk9VYb5wxsaw_1Vx2HVUqvlyoMmZFsYC-Nryxdx5YWOWh79mLwX3SeiG-mSN7AYy-QSveuhyphenhyphenHJNTRFzIHxiU9S6aPUQ9hxwdr/w320-h248/IMG_2760.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>You are looking at the last two sections of my wool applique table runner project. I’m not sure why, but the chicken wagon and barn each seemed to take a long time to stitch. This weekend I will work on adding the backing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg618scfIAnCkT7z1JLOUm0GbjG3XEST436HnqfDGXfqOo3RakDq2m0jjjPJj1HyVTFvzn8p73wFXn-Vp0uwSIAjbzEIdBtACS4qid8dv2KIffAgS8D60Hdr-tWWNzyxUy0tTg8Tfd4nEZiIegrWnY5-sPnkgzed9hTdT9CNORkYDfBYNHk7V0CSqoBRThr/s3799/IMG_2742.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2211" data-original-width="3799" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg618scfIAnCkT7z1JLOUm0GbjG3XEST436HnqfDGXfqOo3RakDq2m0jjjPJj1HyVTFvzn8p73wFXn-Vp0uwSIAjbzEIdBtACS4qid8dv2KIffAgS8D60Hdr-tWWNzyxUy0tTg8Tfd4nEZiIegrWnY5-sPnkgzed9hTdT9CNORkYDfBYNHk7V0CSqoBRThr/w400-h233/IMG_2742.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Since my last post, I did attend an Amy Grant concert at Plymouth Memorial Hall, and she was absolute lovely. The only down spot came near the end of the concert when the woman in front of me decided to stand up. Mind you, she had had a perfectly clear view of the stage, but once she popped up, my view was completely blocked. Now, if you know me, you know I am a pretty mild person, but I found myself getting more and more aggravated. I wanted to ask her politely to please sit down, but I could not bring myself to do so as she appeared to be in seventh heaven, having the time of her life. Concert etiquette seems to be getting worse and worse. With the price of tickets these days, you would at least like to be able to see the performer. How would you have handled this situation?</p><p>Well, that’s all for now as I will be heading out shortly to attend a play at my youngest cousin’s school. It is his first time acting. Gee, I sure hope nobody blocks my view tonight!</p>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-78213126324045261132023-10-24T17:09:00.001-07:002023-10-24T17:09:57.691-07:00An FFO - Raven by Nora Corbett<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGHe7P7eJZinrtKzvEEI1J8nM5J500_kJ0AQKhPmPjEulrySvqy2m_AS3i1JQtA6F0Q12VABs2Rj29CPblng4rMaI669pglyi01fuHGbTvZ_R8a3n1SLexUkaeg9uwR7kOIt6oN9bN0ymhUC4f13xwIA6yLNK2qaikflxR4uF6i0QuXVM98Wj5_tfezcG/s3530/IMG_2721.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3530" data-original-width="2823" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGHe7P7eJZinrtKzvEEI1J8nM5J500_kJ0AQKhPmPjEulrySvqy2m_AS3i1JQtA6F0Q12VABs2Rj29CPblng4rMaI669pglyi01fuHGbTvZ_R8a3n1SLexUkaeg9uwR7kOIt6oN9bN0ymhUC4f13xwIA6yLNK2qaikflxR4uF6i0QuXVM98Wj5_tfezcG/w512-h640/IMG_2721.jpeg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Here she is . . . my first completed Nora Corbett design. . . <i>Raven. </i>Try as I might, I wasn’t able to take a photo which truly captures her beauty. Because of the beading, I chose to have it framed under glass which is causing reflections and streaks in this photo. In person, you are able to see the three colors of beads: red, purple, and bronze in the flowing necklace. The skirt is embellished with swirls of bright red beads. The various shades of deep, rich purples are truly lovely.<div><br /></div><div>This was a somewhat more challenging piece for me to stitch, but I have already picked out another Nora Corbett design. Some of her designs are quite large, but for now I’ll stick with the smaller ones. This one measures 10”x12.” It took about two months to stitch, and I am very pleased with how it turned out. :-)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">It’s hard to believe that we have not had a killing frost yet; indeed, this week we will have temperatures in the seventies! Remarkable! This tree form hibiscus may spend the winter in my sewing room. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcpiOpj0x1FwfuGW-GXUevHdMpJ4KoXvbKyiTmT1mnbtJcaSzgxNnCHmgdJG4E6OuM0eSgWzeUR7ybPyFeQoeBHuhM29Y8JbNxzQYrSPBPREkzZMvGD2SqAxjh2lqGLp_P9fO8QwVomLYs7NWpwhlDuZ12fdKk4UVRwlNYIz9ZDD5eGWSwMtpRA_Y7EN7/s4032/IMG_2732.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcpiOpj0x1FwfuGW-GXUevHdMpJ4KoXvbKyiTmT1mnbtJcaSzgxNnCHmgdJG4E6OuM0eSgWzeUR7ybPyFeQoeBHuhM29Y8JbNxzQYrSPBPREkzZMvGD2SqAxjh2lqGLp_P9fO8QwVomLYs7NWpwhlDuZ12fdKk4UVRwlNYIz9ZDD5eGWSwMtpRA_Y7EN7/s320/IMG_2732.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another surprise this morning was this blossom on the tiny rose of sharon which sprouted at the base of my sunporch. There is only about an inch or two of dirt between the porch and a row of bricks. Pretty cool!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtv5bF-H_cU2xbHFie8m7Qb8a6G4-1Qoa54-pyGkwXeYF2sdFeMW_52hu3E09eMuBP9nyLZdY3w3gV-8JBOJAenzc51PbAOpFJB9HV8BK6ZjKa2aFgf5d35tQrfO9mwEHq8d-Mw6jBXyyWQ2SRr2D2ZOh6ptB5IQ6JAPR3lRrq5_4jCCsjxYsxzRfoLIV/s3942/IMG_2728.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3942" data-original-width="2628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtv5bF-H_cU2xbHFie8m7Qb8a6G4-1Qoa54-pyGkwXeYF2sdFeMW_52hu3E09eMuBP9nyLZdY3w3gV-8JBOJAenzc51PbAOpFJB9HV8BK6ZjKa2aFgf5d35tQrfO9mwEHq8d-Mw6jBXyyWQ2SRr2D2ZOh6ptB5IQ6JAPR3lRrq5_4jCCsjxYsxzRfoLIV/s320/IMG_2728.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Enjoy these awesome autumn days. :-)Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-11292508074424174632023-10-21T08:22:00.003-07:002023-10-22T17:13:35.262-07:00Moovin’ Right Along!!!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIEue5qKlj8I4ueDd0me0oxAwkbN1Vsd6sYZldv1mhknExxroh7pdJ2htXzDmuH3xxXqMEzKZXOkLzpupcj7LUOmHjYmfRUscpiB4CyAgyFBJo5ZvDi_-6EvM6hhwGxtbNszFsU2uApoxylgzCc1Xu4rppLkte7O6oh8ratl8KCigIU7k3_S17j4ZkpqB/s4032/IMG_2717.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIEue5qKlj8I4ueDd0me0oxAwkbN1Vsd6sYZldv1mhknExxroh7pdJ2htXzDmuH3xxXqMEzKZXOkLzpupcj7LUOmHjYmfRUscpiB4CyAgyFBJo5ZvDi_-6EvM6hhwGxtbNszFsU2uApoxylgzCc1Xu4rppLkte7O6oh8ratl8KCigIU7k3_S17j4ZkpqB/w400-h300/IMG_2717.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Yes, I’m <i>moo</i>vin’ right along on my large wool applique piece. There are only three more sections to go!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4RAm3pe2GCDjATk1Jt6CqoUeumINRZq_HK8sDU6m5fcszin54vxGvO2ptfC1l4VebEzfnIIqIPoHGK7Zbcxs9kjtmxIOZcyJU7wyt-PA-_okZIz07mwETffCbtLR6Jv88ufT_Qf4rcDUfsTYppl29pgwWDElW7X0S03zKEB0aPd7HjRwdmMNp0n4ksOD/s3969/IMG_2716.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2653" data-original-width="3969" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4RAm3pe2GCDjATk1Jt6CqoUeumINRZq_HK8sDU6m5fcszin54vxGvO2ptfC1l4VebEzfnIIqIPoHGK7Zbcxs9kjtmxIOZcyJU7wyt-PA-_okZIz07mwETffCbtLR6Jv88ufT_Qf4rcDUfsTYppl29pgwWDElW7X0S03zKEB0aPd7HjRwdmMNp0n4ksOD/s320/IMG_2716.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGd6_XPlIYk2ui97o9iEldYjmJVHTwFvctRjyxc2eG8ZhLRzgZga5Jw9yVgYg5Xm4i4gfu2dXxGXke6loZs_KHp5iVSjvblnWZAlfz2d66zKC-1RLPbpawelL-RCrMyiARVrpolw4TlaQDXvhqtlgL5fJ9EhtUsNrm9-mH3XSs7s3wirhjKaI_4POZ9Lw/s3788/IMG_2718.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2978" data-original-width="3788" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGd6_XPlIYk2ui97o9iEldYjmJVHTwFvctRjyxc2eG8ZhLRzgZga5Jw9yVgYg5Xm4i4gfu2dXxGXke6loZs_KHp5iVSjvblnWZAlfz2d66zKC-1RLPbpawelL-RCrMyiARVrpolw4TlaQDXvhqtlgL5fJ9EhtUsNrm9-mH3XSs7s3wirhjKaI_4POZ9Lw/s320/IMG_2718.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtt6FKQM28QOGbRp4SIAutzEpCh2S4_cSkMwHxlFF08xghnWtjibqaxUo9Qn0edeaXHrhV60D7yt0KM_zxiVsX2JFzw_9RNwL6tvP422TNEgVcRN9UQEtv9MhBndLvNLd1qkdqWqQnTLfb0-FqUDeTOd-88jRifmjjPOnzXcAOpcIhq2yzW2ueu4t3zN_/s4032/IMG_2719.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtt6FKQM28QOGbRp4SIAutzEpCh2S4_cSkMwHxlFF08xghnWtjibqaxUo9Qn0edeaXHrhV60D7yt0KM_zxiVsX2JFzw_9RNwL6tvP422TNEgVcRN9UQEtv9MhBndLvNLd1qkdqWqQnTLfb0-FqUDeTOd-88jRifmjjPOnzXcAOpcIhq2yzW2ueu4t3zN_/s320/IMG_2719.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>As you can see in the corner of the watering can segment, I have the barn pinned in place waiting to be stitched. Some people glue all the pieces in place, but I prefer to just use pins though with such a large piece there has been a whole lot of stabbing going on. :-) Pinning wouldn’t be an issue with a more manageable size, but I needed to pin all 250+ pieces in place before stitching to space all the elements out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkNR8YQdbseqTytCsASvhGPs5HiGCR71QsuJrOxKHSneem6HwT6usvujMLboX-8AmgvIJS5hexY7_S947stujYSu5aBfPDMAKNlV_NdbsmrD0ot-g9nifIwMZ0truXyC8uehxSY8gjq4KScXgBLzXOGKALUJtsEcLS7rhFxheYziT-gTyqAI3DOUBdPzl/s1399/IMG_0321.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1399" data-original-width="1399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkNR8YQdbseqTytCsASvhGPs5HiGCR71QsuJrOxKHSneem6HwT6usvujMLboX-8AmgvIJS5hexY7_S947stujYSu5aBfPDMAKNlV_NdbsmrD0ot-g9nifIwMZ0truXyC8uehxSY8gjq4KScXgBLzXOGKALUJtsEcLS7rhFxheYziT-gTyqAI3DOUBdPzl/s320/IMG_0321.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">This has not been a good foliage season. The colors are muted and frankly disappointing. These three brightly colored leaves are the exceptions; most of my yard is covered with brown, dry leaves. There are, however, still spots of color in my yard; I’ll wait for frost warning before dumping out my hanging plants and pots.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZd32Q4Ys4Gn8Pzc6Qs7jM75oFcj0svXmH8fbeIZJL2ILJC5m-huSYffp55FEijlEIDEwojQoH1oz8S1iv3YrKwRG3msYRULvweHnoPn62WBd56-y5jGJUIXY89oU_JgJUrKi38EAHhIetI0E3TsaADB9kvEtm7_Ego9Jm2rMzx32isIkfjx-x5S-FDMw/s3517/IMG_2694.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3517" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZd32Q4Ys4Gn8Pzc6Qs7jM75oFcj0svXmH8fbeIZJL2ILJC5m-huSYffp55FEijlEIDEwojQoH1oz8S1iv3YrKwRG3msYRULvweHnoPn62WBd56-y5jGJUIXY89oU_JgJUrKi38EAHhIetI0E3TsaADB9kvEtm7_Ego9Jm2rMzx32isIkfjx-x5S-FDMw/s320/IMG_2694.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroDvR9K2U4esvm6wp4pdyG8nHNKRWwZryz0n1Hx0exxu_OHwN1zaKFBd-j6K8VUuFwrSwYkoF7-yfgd4S0EfEDov1VPPckYenqmbar7RKid3dy7fzTBeJbqn512icr5NLATWoBXS2Ks2N-q3nJ8-K0O6mOAEQD-Ih5n4kBK1OEt_4Ogf7voBw0e02Bu-n/s4032/IMG_2700.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroDvR9K2U4esvm6wp4pdyG8nHNKRWwZryz0n1Hx0exxu_OHwN1zaKFBd-j6K8VUuFwrSwYkoF7-yfgd4S0EfEDov1VPPckYenqmbar7RKid3dy7fzTBeJbqn512icr5NLATWoBXS2Ks2N-q3nJ8-K0O6mOAEQD-Ih5n4kBK1OEt_4Ogf7voBw0e02Bu-n/s320/IMG_2700.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We are anticipating quite a bit of rain this afternoon though right now it is calm and dry. I intend to spend this afternoon in my sewing room in hopes of getting a few things accomplished. . . Fingers crossed. . .</p><p>Finally, for Emma fans. . . She went to the groomer on Wednesday and when I picked her up, she was sporting this festive bow tie.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hzodis0NOJsCtShl3d4ByJNknAAQPujfbAaQmJmx7Lnisz0TCmaLNm51RPfc72eDuA_bbGWFYcTIsEzd9aF98QHAf2ZTL8s5L-p6AUawNW6Ad9uTA_YMgvtI_1B2ivXR64Mb9bftpYbQcttt0cT96Afn6SPJVQS7dBv8c_xm1ogqCjnFoLmgjihNRyjS/s1399/IMG_0327.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1399" data-original-width="1399" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hzodis0NOJsCtShl3d4ByJNknAAQPujfbAaQmJmx7Lnisz0TCmaLNm51RPfc72eDuA_bbGWFYcTIsEzd9aF98QHAf2ZTL8s5L-p6AUawNW6Ad9uTA_YMgvtI_1B2ivXR64Mb9bftpYbQcttt0cT96Afn6SPJVQS7dBv8c_xm1ogqCjnFoLmgjihNRyjS/w400-h400/IMG_0327.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Have a wonderful, creative, fun week and stay safe.</p>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-27920051710075147162023-10-05T13:32:00.000-07:002023-10-05T13:32:57.623-07:00Lunch with Abigail and Happy October<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURRq5pLESMJYBwSKnBxu92iOBy75UDpsO-XfJ3Nc1E0un2FjKinGacI9DITRG5vB8wD5JqQJnOK72Y_5457H013pzKrjqHXgEdn9ME2EBsfGjega-Eyda9BL939sjhy8SQUBnImVpY7gfeuCF_ppYRHNLsaSUoMQJVYPoMjJIeSJd6QkSKa8Fjx_WlLxq/s3608/IMG_2654.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2300" data-original-width="3608" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURRq5pLESMJYBwSKnBxu92iOBy75UDpsO-XfJ3Nc1E0un2FjKinGacI9DITRG5vB8wD5JqQJnOK72Y_5457H013pzKrjqHXgEdn9ME2EBsfGjega-Eyda9BL939sjhy8SQUBnImVpY7gfeuCF_ppYRHNLsaSUoMQJVYPoMjJIeSJd6QkSKa8Fjx_WlLxq/s320/IMG_2654.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>On Saturday, I attended a luncheon program put on by the First Church of Weymouth. This church was established in 1623 and to celebrate its 400th year they have been having a number of events. Saturday’s Lunch with Abigail was a one woman historical play written and performed by Laura Rocklyn. Abigail Adam’s father, the Rev. William Smith had been minister at the First Church for forty-nine years and Abigail Adam’s birthplace is within walking distance of the church. I think everyone in attendance was pleasantly surprised when we were served a delicious meal before the performance. </p><p>Wool applique progress . . . two more sections stitched . . . seven to go . . .</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31bmi1aXO9W-iifgfl_4Tg8gk5n6x8Hp1-_uH5JzNzAS_748gRoGOqpbwf-iT2HYbsnA-P-kQoLEUSIPzmutpP9sqOa9UYcr26LFeC9-m_fhBJ9__iHDF7x2T4gD3eQnXMm3LmI4u2aU3BQBjYV6mLCaJoEFhCjFOweNSRdXDOvN08ZCMSJn6H-4hn4Vg/s3735/IMG_2658.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3735" data-original-width="2801" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31bmi1aXO9W-iifgfl_4Tg8gk5n6x8Hp1-_uH5JzNzAS_748gRoGOqpbwf-iT2HYbsnA-P-kQoLEUSIPzmutpP9sqOa9UYcr26LFeC9-m_fhBJ9__iHDF7x2T4gD3eQnXMm3LmI4u2aU3BQBjYV6mLCaJoEFhCjFOweNSRdXDOvN08ZCMSJn6H-4hn4Vg/s320/IMG_2658.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSHwKpV-RTbuxgMPaYEgjtHa62ii-bzvlhdpL19dRyiKWbv4-iWWwysIAXyv6F3sYxHWYoG48JdEmnUQFG1so0CqLVFUAUSE5NWpB7Wq8j7egak6fQ0rV5PRQkx8IjWEkMWLBqbcqtvFFujnY3yw4W_HOIsN_I0UEzALvYepTAovfIW2r2FBOrhjdY__X/s3752/IMG_2659.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2814" data-original-width="3752" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSHwKpV-RTbuxgMPaYEgjtHa62ii-bzvlhdpL19dRyiKWbv4-iWWwysIAXyv6F3sYxHWYoG48JdEmnUQFG1so0CqLVFUAUSE5NWpB7Wq8j7egak6fQ0rV5PRQkx8IjWEkMWLBqbcqtvFFujnY3yw4W_HOIsN_I0UEzALvYepTAovfIW2r2FBOrhjdY__X/s320/IMG_2659.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>If you think this little sheep and butterfly are cute, wait until you see the cow and chickens. :-)<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdOts2IAjTckzvhkMExpw9DUP6qPQuAeVGBdleOgLYFu-tnHH3zliudOuC-4mwSm9mcMrHlmX6dWEKqSl9K9z_qqHUO9L3rQtxOCgwwIqoKxE2_OXooh-5tPjXP42kWJ41SB1-JCdM3a-tfFAvTRvOKL2hRCtKS6KHqkgGYoBApyzOEU0JGrIjpmO1d9r/s3910/IMG_2660.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2994" data-original-width="3910" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdOts2IAjTckzvhkMExpw9DUP6qPQuAeVGBdleOgLYFu-tnHH3zliudOuC-4mwSm9mcMrHlmX6dWEKqSl9K9z_qqHUO9L3rQtxOCgwwIqoKxE2_OXooh-5tPjXP42kWJ41SB1-JCdM3a-tfFAvTRvOKL2hRCtKS6KHqkgGYoBApyzOEU0JGrIjpmO1d9r/s320/IMG_2660.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>A hint of the color to come . . . This photo snapped in the back of the CVS parking lot while I was waiting for a tow truck shows some of the leaves are beginning to change. Tow truck? Yes, I had spent Monday running errands and noticed my car didn’t quite seem to have its usual zip. My last stop was CVS where the engine light suddenly came on. <i>Horrors!!! </i> One day and three hundred and forty dollars later the air flow problem was solved. I had been thinking of heading up to Vermont to do some photography. Just what would I have done if the engine light had come on while I was on some lonely, scenic backroad? Cell phone use may be spotty at best in some areas. I may have to give this some more thought.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqU9SEI1KIuyW76x3Hmr4rhjdaN5G_FMLN0UdWSu5-FFwRYTvnzBD71rgG5IjJ552qKcfGuvgpyYiwWGpnCrKwufIf9EBJo7Ikwk8TD91EvVwQf9JsypxpmbLUh03uDYLIdOaqYBWOSfhWyzFnVbxkc3ng1lVZVQBzf_SrT3FhiMe99EtFahRMMDI4a-t/s4032/IMG_2656.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqU9SEI1KIuyW76x3Hmr4rhjdaN5G_FMLN0UdWSu5-FFwRYTvnzBD71rgG5IjJ552qKcfGuvgpyYiwWGpnCrKwufIf9EBJo7Ikwk8TD91EvVwQf9JsypxpmbLUh03uDYLIdOaqYBWOSfhWyzFnVbxkc3ng1lVZVQBzf_SrT3FhiMe99EtFahRMMDI4a-t/s320/IMG_2656.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>On my daily walks with Emma . . . I took this shot of a pretty pokeberry weed the other day. It’s pretty but never touch any part of this plant as it can be as bad as poison ivy. And as tempting as the fruit looks, never ever put any in your mouth unless you are a bird.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIySDTXYlfpuGBA3VmcRXPByEoRoZdPsxWWa5gjgjG1wmuB_H6W1nZCEvy2a-CRu1PSG9nnVKeJnq8AWyRZHtB4n22fyeBt783FdBja5q9HvTQmyMv4GvrPhyphenhyphenOU6ikBBaN5PIk0eOxNjZctgVkzTNDTvXR8uteu1CLGodq73UMMCmx_eNv3p_HoXs6KFui/s4032/IMG_2650.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIySDTXYlfpuGBA3VmcRXPByEoRoZdPsxWWa5gjgjG1wmuB_H6W1nZCEvy2a-CRu1PSG9nnVKeJnq8AWyRZHtB4n22fyeBt783FdBja5q9HvTQmyMv4GvrPhyphenhyphenOU6ikBBaN5PIk0eOxNjZctgVkzTNDTvXR8uteu1CLGodq73UMMCmx_eNv3p_HoXs6KFui/w300-h400/IMG_2650.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Just look at this gorgeous hydrangea display in a neighbor’s front yard down the street. Emma loves everyone she sees on her daily walks and in particular the couple who live in this house. :-)<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKa7CThY_kTfVdsdSH5fBlSqx_dG_A9uh06uTaXHqNf6e6ofdH-dDfzz-q7QhtkGU-tQIwfHdoN-TMThnRtYZrDc71z6z1PqiJhbK2A_-voihbnquivXLjKU8hmy34A4N5XONzi7HXByFUQxj4M2WOQ-0_SJLmxewh7_GpLg7KEr6Ti4-6R_7_bjSqj90/s4032/IMG_2651.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKa7CThY_kTfVdsdSH5fBlSqx_dG_A9uh06uTaXHqNf6e6ofdH-dDfzz-q7QhtkGU-tQIwfHdoN-TMThnRtYZrDc71z6z1PqiJhbK2A_-voihbnquivXLjKU8hmy34A4N5XONzi7HXByFUQxj4M2WOQ-0_SJLmxewh7_GpLg7KEr6Ti4-6R_7_bjSqj90/w300-h400/IMG_2651.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In other stitching news, I have completed the cross stitching on the piece on which I have been solely working for well over a month. I’m presently adding some beads to complete the piece, and I have decided that I will have it professionally framed. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZE1xWEjKYcFzIZfwLI19qZUWbuvNsPMAJl6fJ46meMh7AEgMaGASnmZnOaqTPmWpswehyphenhyphen3iaLXpsKAOr-4A_sVZAmB9S6mOcy7xx1DLRkTQOIvZjW5abrt8lqx9Lc-zIOxnVPjC3QFuUb7o-vOGDZvQUmaHwx_5ro0edjd_6O5HMXIfezP9blUWvLDKK5/s1399/IMG_0316.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1399" data-original-width="1399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZE1xWEjKYcFzIZfwLI19qZUWbuvNsPMAJl6fJ46meMh7AEgMaGASnmZnOaqTPmWpswehyphenhyphen3iaLXpsKAOr-4A_sVZAmB9S6mOcy7xx1DLRkTQOIvZjW5abrt8lqx9Lc-zIOxnVPjC3QFuUb7o-vOGDZvQUmaHwx_5ro0edjd_6O5HMXIfezP9blUWvLDKK5/s320/IMG_0316.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>In case you don’t know about this beading aid, I thought that I would share it with you. Tacky Bill looks like a cd case. Inside there is a tacky surface where you can sprinkle some of the beads you are using. Can you imagine what it would be like to have all these micro beads rolling all over your table or onto your carpet? Tacky Bill thankfully prevents that. This product used to be called Tacky Bob; I guess Bob must have retired. :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>One last important item . . . it is now October and time for me to climb up on my soapbox once again to remind the ladies reading this to have their yearly mammograms. I know things get busy and sometimes things slip by us, but this is too important to let slide. As a two time breast cancer surviver (2007, 2018), I can attest that early detection does indeed save lives. For the people you love and for yourself, please get checked.</div><div><br /></div><div>Covid numbers in our area are on the rise, so be creative and be safe. </div></div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-69134599763956614752023-09-26T18:52:00.008-07:002023-10-02T19:34:52.486-07:00Here Comes the Sun<p> Yes, indeed, this afternoon while walking with Emma, I saw the sun shyly peeking out of the clouds. Awesome!!! We have had a miserable stretch of cool, rainy, drizzly weather, but the meteorologists promise at least a few days of sunny weather this week. :-)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5izOJ7ZA8Pq-g0KimqfvajoLgw8-sQpquXyLRH5TLn9vFcUWismZcvwNzVT9WdGb0yZY97xEJ6ruYfuReZdaq2nzKn2TXevzB6IzuGwRHcVubqHMuAmaVgyp-LmZL9Y6QCFfIf_GpMtYOjWC6Uck_K9vT0FAQcVBvZVP-cwZwI2qVL6HA7_iJTvLgaGpz/s3417/IMG_2638.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3417" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5izOJ7ZA8Pq-g0KimqfvajoLgw8-sQpquXyLRH5TLn9vFcUWismZcvwNzVT9WdGb0yZY97xEJ6ruYfuReZdaq2nzKn2TXevzB6IzuGwRHcVubqHMuAmaVgyp-LmZL9Y6QCFfIf_GpMtYOjWC6Uck_K9vT0FAQcVBvZVP-cwZwI2qVL6HA7_iJTvLgaGpz/w400-h354/IMG_2638.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">So, what have I been working on? I made this project bag for a friend’s birthday. I had bought this fabric at a quilt shop that was closing on the Cape. This photo doesn’t do justice to the vibrancy of the fabric. I love it, and fortunately, I have enough fabric to maybe make a few more project bags including one for me! Note the cute old fashioned sewing machine zipper pull that I purchased in the notions section at Hobby Lobby. (My original plan had been to make a summer pocketbook out of this fabric, and I still might put it away in my stash to do that next spring.)</span></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2MNMvOkSWUA1dvF9jAIX55exyxXMPIc7p19B5NcEDKbWmOUxJ8W8PROj1qS40PmoJUpeFgn3YDwPZ5W84f-2hG3p-wDuwNcGZElsaUiL37KEJbXvFuEXgVR7R8EP20aX_traviMT1cUo9TB_2cTgJb2Fbn8_XheZAUUe0700Hqq1V_iwfLNAgxOROZ-C/s3976/IMG_2644.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2436" data-original-width="3976" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2MNMvOkSWUA1dvF9jAIX55exyxXMPIc7p19B5NcEDKbWmOUxJ8W8PROj1qS40PmoJUpeFgn3YDwPZ5W84f-2hG3p-wDuwNcGZElsaUiL37KEJbXvFuEXgVR7R8EP20aX_traviMT1cUo9TB_2cTgJb2Fbn8_XheZAUUe0700Hqq1V_iwfLNAgxOROZ-C/s320/IMG_2644.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I’m making steady progress on my large wool applique piece. If I consider this table runner as twelve separate little scenes, I have seven more sections to stitch. I’ll post two more completed sections in my next post. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIyzGxXPv6snJ4HL0oinXhvNWvtifCikqZ1scLeR1hSVY832_oSOHvqWP_1lMyQ-DCv6hMNOsj1D8YmpOCAI27Qfg7Py1hzIHA7l3fXeseCaYiBawE37QuJB4LTPPH0_3zUof0gANH5_XTUgl0MsURypEuLbTXDhR_VoXrHfgM4Gamx9YqQoqwd2idY7S/s3876/IMG_2645.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2907" data-original-width="3876" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIyzGxXPv6snJ4HL0oinXhvNWvtifCikqZ1scLeR1hSVY832_oSOHvqWP_1lMyQ-DCv6hMNOsj1D8YmpOCAI27Qfg7Py1hzIHA7l3fXeseCaYiBawE37QuJB4LTPPH0_3zUof0gANH5_XTUgl0MsURypEuLbTXDhR_VoXrHfgM4Gamx9YqQoqwd2idY7S/s320/IMG_2645.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Xjr5F_gclmSyf6oIXd18RAHPxMXVCz1GWGGWGwdN5hTSSwofpejHGYYrBdWLIrdf2lqF5ut1sy19P_Zc6V4VR4dNYSPy1XafikJYVnxy648nE6taZ7hqpYtQAdm6NlG5SyBc-MT7SGDLXhOvuPdKGWbAEXkdBmx0uWzlreYnHrWgeQb9U_DbBli_A24N/s3928/IMG_2646.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2945" data-original-width="3928" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Xjr5F_gclmSyf6oIXd18RAHPxMXVCz1GWGGWGwdN5hTSSwofpejHGYYrBdWLIrdf2lqF5ut1sy19P_Zc6V4VR4dNYSPy1XafikJYVnxy648nE6taZ7hqpYtQAdm6NlG5SyBc-MT7SGDLXhOvuPdKGWbAEXkdBmx0uWzlreYnHrWgeQb9U_DbBli_A24N/s320/IMG_2646.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>I have been very disciplined trying to work on this project for one hour a day. While stitching, I watch episodes of my new favorite flosstube on Youtube, “Running with Scissors with Jane and Julie.” These two cross stitching friends are just plain funny. I actually laugh out loud while watching them. Even if you are not a cross stitcher, you would definitely enjoy these ladies. Their projects including hardanger are not the type of stitching that I enjoy, but I absolutely do enjoy watching Jane and Julie. (Hardanger is a lace-like form of embroidery not for the faint of heart.)<div><br /></div><div>They have various sections on each episode including “Delightful Deliveries” where they show their cross stitch purchases which leads me to share a “Delightful Delivery” that arrived at my door the other day.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbFIcbQ8wXWPf2cILIi0C6DDBOHEhM38vGpMG85TB0qy1nA93ma5_bQKBgKprqYy0qKZfDIm3_o8po3_v4hT4ek993Z-E2nnd2WwTsIuuSpTgB-xXIHCi-W5yWR6vhq-VUrG4i5GkrFVopylYfGZ68h65trCpT7eutrl-IDKemUVE3NXy4SW7TWQUvCX-/s3843/IMG_2648.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2813" data-original-width="3843" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbFIcbQ8wXWPf2cILIi0C6DDBOHEhM38vGpMG85TB0qy1nA93ma5_bQKBgKprqYy0qKZfDIm3_o8po3_v4hT4ek993Z-E2nnd2WwTsIuuSpTgB-xXIHCi-W5yWR6vhq-VUrG4i5GkrFVopylYfGZ68h65trCpT7eutrl-IDKemUVE3NXy4SW7TWQUvCX-/s320/IMG_2648.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>This is a set of size 8 perle cotton. Aren’t these colors luscious! I already have a similar set in bright colors. I now have enough perle cotton to last me with my wool applique projects until I’m at least ninety-three. If I run out then, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. :-()</div><div><br /></div><div>The third item under my needle is a lovely cross stitch piece which I have also been stitching on each day. When the stitching is completed, I will be adding beads. This is something new for me, but I am excited with this project so far. I have been working on it for over a month and hope to maybe get it finished this week.</div><div><br /></div><div>At today’s meeting of the <a href="http://www.crosstownquilters.org" target="_blank">Crosstown Quilters Guild</a> we had an excellent speaker, Barb Vedder. You can see her work on Instagram, and you can check out her blog, <a href="http://www.funwithbarb.com" target="_blank">Fun with Barb</a>. If your guild is looking for a dynamic speaker with a trunk show or someone to offer a workshop, consider her.</div><div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Fungus Among Us . . . Just how rainy has it been? There are mushrooms sprouting everywhere.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAy4wJ0K0mQ4DXqOm21j8uOBRORUH16KtKnPH0wa7Be3k15oNA5f--BU35LqLJEejOZk3EJepzxOCqQfpJ6q9BNFWFvWq9PuiG4hSgqnIbRuMzljbYes3akJwVZgbrUZmfKSXf_M-8y-pGbcBzK5U9OZBn2Wg0PKJWVStmHo5X4v3lXIuQ5Zlz2qkLtOr/s1399/IMG_0308.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1399" data-original-width="1399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAy4wJ0K0mQ4DXqOm21j8uOBRORUH16KtKnPH0wa7Be3k15oNA5f--BU35LqLJEejOZk3EJepzxOCqQfpJ6q9BNFWFvWq9PuiG4hSgqnIbRuMzljbYes3akJwVZgbrUZmfKSXf_M-8y-pGbcBzK5U9OZBn2Wg0PKJWVStmHo5X4v3lXIuQ5Zlz2qkLtOr/s320/IMG_0308.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Stay creative and stay safe.</div></div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-74224875536165342772023-09-10T10:40:00.002-07:002023-09-23T06:37:47.731-07:00TB 12 Comes Home, Garden Notes, and a Possible Santa Sighting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pm6d5DmnUXSs5oBKIsmgmYOG68eNLJK5X8_ljuumBeDGr6SNwI__LeujqAZpXQp3om-Pb1WKE25irOE3waSGeZI1baWblfxxzJcL15wgVJxXpNYF2NCq62Gn2t8mmGkIuKpnmwkm663EvQDP3dHWU2URrWcOxuEAHyUbyOkQkuwYIgQwjLCkh1WD7wvs/s1399/IMG_0292.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1399" data-original-width="1399" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pm6d5DmnUXSs5oBKIsmgmYOG68eNLJK5X8_ljuumBeDGr6SNwI__LeujqAZpXQp3om-Pb1WKE25irOE3waSGeZI1baWblfxxzJcL15wgVJxXpNYF2NCq62Gn2t8mmGkIuKpnmwkm663EvQDP3dHWU2URrWcOxuEAHyUbyOkQkuwYIgQwjLCkh1WD7wvs/w400-h400/IMG_0292.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Patriots Nation is abuzz!!! Tom Brady has come home. At today’s first game of the season, the greatest quarterback of all time will be honored at half time at Gillette Stadium, and I cannot wait to watch it. For twenty years he brought joy to the hearts of Patriot fans far and near along with six Super Bowl titles. He went on to bring a Super Bowl title to the Buccaneers in 2020. One of the statistics that I find most remarkable is that he is the only quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl in three separate decades.</p><p>School started here this past week and though I truly loved teaching, I’m also truly enjoying this endless summer known as retirement. Students and teachers must have been sweltering in classrooms with the 90 degree temperatures and high humidity we have been having. . . definitely not a fun way to start the new school year.</p><p>Yesterday I attended a meeting of the Herring Run Quilt Guild, and it was as if we were sitting in a sauna. There were, however, some pretty cool quilts shown!</p><p><u>Garden Notes:</u></p><p>There is so much to do before ending this gardening season, but with the rain and the heat I haven’t accomplished much. (This summer is now in the record books as being one of the wettest summers in this area ever.) I am looking ahead to next year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM9fN8L1K2RmbSTHHyojrFiEpbGyj63s51GOUwrEMk2iRE6aJFuDlDeMyvOd7vAH_dv0TOpEJBG3VHPcb3N-SPOgwudxdocCApxhaIQ1jwx_b9E_3p0W2W3MLNXJyVNTLmigWIQOED4XwvTZ3J48k-W8N15tsyPq0YGSCHtGyNIkm2xoQyFQP_NDZ2BjR/s4032/IMG_2601.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM9fN8L1K2RmbSTHHyojrFiEpbGyj63s51GOUwrEMk2iRE6aJFuDlDeMyvOd7vAH_dv0TOpEJBG3VHPcb3N-SPOgwudxdocCApxhaIQ1jwx_b9E_3p0W2W3MLNXJyVNTLmigWIQOED4XwvTZ3J48k-W8N15tsyPq0YGSCHtGyNIkm2xoQyFQP_NDZ2BjR/s320/IMG_2601.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I have never really liked red salvia. A neighbor gave me an extra flat of salvia and thinking that it might attract hummingbirds, I planted it in the wine barrel in the center of my hostas. I’m a convert. They have grown about two feet tall and have made quite an impressive display.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZaQneUTjkaDCZcFSe35zeiUy1rUK3482FYBPJd7DxFOJTR3Ww02dRlIG3Vl5Acp1IkIVrhrQ7uYWGpexE2PPD00OSKCxtubSmrG1wiryJYcjdKcfy9a6fFjEnuQmEd_ID60geSCek50stv7FKlG-vucACdWqqqqSEw74j0UTlU5GCYwVjnCXpOVCp34K/s4032/IMG_2603.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZaQneUTjkaDCZcFSe35zeiUy1rUK3482FYBPJd7DxFOJTR3Ww02dRlIG3Vl5Acp1IkIVrhrQ7uYWGpexE2PPD00OSKCxtubSmrG1wiryJYcjdKcfy9a6fFjEnuQmEd_ID60geSCek50stv7FKlG-vucACdWqqqqSEw74j0UTlU5GCYwVjnCXpOVCp34K/s320/IMG_2603.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Orange is one of my least favorite colors, but I have to admit this hibiscus is gorgeous.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnaRVojas71T2ZMD8pXdei5n_CEfakDfOktlnW_TUK1_6sIPQ6jXg2D7fd3twGRx9KuvVDoVPIL6J7j4J0YLjCiw3zDPXmHbefBZZ0PN_rwNvKPHcYCEFCzN9BtfJu_NGPPoSY7wyNOHHlLFJ7Fi8pgNeNdvc9b7ZPRUi0Up5V2xH_nd0Mcd8BYv3TsyW/s4032/IMG_2584.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnaRVojas71T2ZMD8pXdei5n_CEfakDfOktlnW_TUK1_6sIPQ6jXg2D7fd3twGRx9KuvVDoVPIL6J7j4J0YLjCiw3zDPXmHbefBZZ0PN_rwNvKPHcYCEFCzN9BtfJu_NGPPoSY7wyNOHHlLFJ7Fi8pgNeNdvc9b7ZPRUi0Up5V2xH_nd0Mcd8BYv3TsyW/s320/IMG_2584.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Final garden note . . . never toss old galvanized gardening cans that begin to leak or that have holes on the bottom as they make lovely planters. (On second thought, do toss old rusty, leaky watering cans . . . toss them my way, and I will give them a good home. :-)<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQAiLyuY-6-vPB3mYlDKbwh_90J5yIAfe5r7n0ShRxcvqfXOYQucOp-v23OSMXV0sK8uX12BzQSnIpIgKHFiikTPic50ICupHKrLYrvUxz_iJJ4JEBHI0bJqamiTlx_JPQHU3_uneCpBa63OhtEXiSGaAMF0OC-EJDSddB94lLm0fFy5N2FBI6LWWzVm2/s4032/IMG_2623.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQAiLyuY-6-vPB3mYlDKbwh_90J5yIAfe5r7n0ShRxcvqfXOYQucOp-v23OSMXV0sK8uX12BzQSnIpIgKHFiikTPic50ICupHKrLYrvUxz_iJJ4JEBHI0bJqamiTlx_JPQHU3_uneCpBa63OhtEXiSGaAMF0OC-EJDSddB94lLm0fFy5N2FBI6LWWzVm2/s320/IMG_2623.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>For Emma fans . . . here she is after a trip to the groomers on Wednesday.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, let me tell you about a possible Santa sighting and you be the judge. I was picking up a few craft items that I needed on Friday at our local Hobby Lobby. Then I decided to take a look at the autumn/ Thanksgiving seasonal decorations. The whole time I was browsing the aisles I kept repeating my mantra. . . “you don’t need any more decorations,” and it worked, I didn’t pick up any. Next came the forest of Christmas trees on display. Okay . . . here is where it gets interesting. I was in one of the main aisles and happened to glance down one of the side aisles displaying Christmas decorations . . . when whom should I spot but Santa or at least it might have been Santa . . . you be the judge. At the end of the aisle in the decoration section was an older gentleman wearing a bright red scally cap and a matching red polo shirt and, yes, he had a full white beard!!!!!! Truth to say, he was fairly trim, but that might not mean anything as Mrs. Clause probably doesn’t start her holiday baking until November. So, could it really have been Santa? I don’t know, but if he is around this early, I’m not taking any chances. I’m going to be a very, very, very good girl from now until Christmas! </div><div><div><br /></div><div>Have a fun week and be good just in case. . . </div></div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-58320374053392024702023-08-27T14:20:00.004-07:002023-08-28T12:15:11.133-07:00 Three Cross Stitch FFOs and Wool Applique, Too!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxNoPC1LW1z4e1-sSYp732egPpe9EHBC_3jcGA6ldb-WdFncEhhlGPt6h4mhIUsDIGO_5YqN7dbfOYYZqlNs-8h0YZ93Xv-ImxYO3bdhoVd3rjPAqq612SVuOgXQeNYj3jAdqJHAhltrUKW8vRMMI94nKqicyw6nger4v40YFJvbL7UfbgUJ4VhQbjtXu/s4032/IMG_2605.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxNoPC1LW1z4e1-sSYp732egPpe9EHBC_3jcGA6ldb-WdFncEhhlGPt6h4mhIUsDIGO_5YqN7dbfOYYZqlNs-8h0YZ93Xv-ImxYO3bdhoVd3rjPAqq612SVuOgXQeNYj3jAdqJHAhltrUKW8vRMMI94nKqicyw6nger4v40YFJvbL7UfbgUJ4VhQbjtXu/s320/IMG_2605.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> There is a great deal to be said for having to stay off your foot for a week. I accomplished quite a bit including finishing this pillow for my bee display. “A Bee C” is a design by Lindsey Weight of Primrose Cottage on Etsy.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOOE40PF97lMWzvvzzeGxiOSNqHYjpHfoLHFXhc7QW0AOLPVenObjd_SwLhxJM8awOWqrYfU46fcX7pm3pbGgN3JZd_JG3TqAzMWVmqEGTD7rwrmDQOlkOEmq24rdZNJhjH09hRMyHOY7AgRfnwYOJn7GvTaQruTaUQivP_rqnQzo_zJ-6eaRsgBwy8oe/s4032/IMG_2606.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOOE40PF97lMWzvvzzeGxiOSNqHYjpHfoLHFXhc7QW0AOLPVenObjd_SwLhxJM8awOWqrYfU46fcX7pm3pbGgN3JZd_JG3TqAzMWVmqEGTD7rwrmDQOlkOEmq24rdZNJhjH09hRMyHOY7AgRfnwYOJn7GvTaQruTaUQivP_rqnQzo_zJ-6eaRsgBwy8oe/s320/IMG_2606.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I do not think that I posted photos of these pieces in previous posts. The first is “Bee Sweet” by Annie Beez Folk Art on Etsy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvrndaEBSHncoePH_tGYx4dMCJNKCnBwNhQqFFsWoYMHawY44nfBRZ3iO-RFJhEU5bH_4jzqB-aZeTTvU55hcyT3FEQem6_b3W6djBb7gg8kVUsj5Sgcci8_6riVkoWINLdj_aR-SNtr8b71NxJ7B_yfqTtyboPHmkMlts7WZWSoEgKZdd5l9MojyjUQD/s3978/IMG_2607.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3978" data-original-width="2943" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvrndaEBSHncoePH_tGYx4dMCJNKCnBwNhQqFFsWoYMHawY44nfBRZ3iO-RFJhEU5bH_4jzqB-aZeTTvU55hcyT3FEQem6_b3W6djBb7gg8kVUsj5Sgcci8_6riVkoWINLdj_aR-SNtr8b71NxJ7B_yfqTtyboPHmkMlts7WZWSoEgKZdd5l9MojyjUQD/s320/IMG_2607.jpeg" width="237" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Below is “Citrus Summer” from the Fat Quarter Shop. The Fat Quarter Shop is an online quilting and cross stitch shop. Kimberly Jolly, the owner, hosts a quilting program and on Wednesdays a cross stitch program on Youtube. If you enjoy quilting or cross stitching, be sure to check out the <a href="http://www.fatquartershop.com" target="_blank">Fat Quarter Shop</a> website. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2kHtWNqSMuWlt2IBtm7mEXWBSfhKfoQv0k9nkH-M8oGjvDjcGIaN4L2u9hByS4PCU7zxZy3Niv928FbkE9P2Wpltn9LP0nxt_KRSRDPxE8AE3Zwu_oU2VtKrYuG4dOSakUgMPFkBAkPOKw1m_yZorRC84M9NlWgX_xVpi9Inglsol0i3y7bu0Cdw5CBx/s3729/IMG_2604.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3729" data-original-width="2683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2kHtWNqSMuWlt2IBtm7mEXWBSfhKfoQv0k9nkH-M8oGjvDjcGIaN4L2u9hByS4PCU7zxZy3Niv928FbkE9P2Wpltn9LP0nxt_KRSRDPxE8AE3Zwu_oU2VtKrYuG4dOSakUgMPFkBAkPOKw1m_yZorRC84M9NlWgX_xVpi9Inglsol0i3y7bu0Cdw5CBx/s320/IMG_2604.jpeg" width="230" /></a></div><br /><p>This past week also afforded me the time to work on a wool applique table runner from Shabby Fabrics. I had purchased the kit during the pandemic, but when I saw how many pieces (269) I would have to trace, cut out, place, and stitch, I put it away for another time. Wool applique kits are expensive, so a month or so ago, I decided to get on with it. I traced, fused, and cut out all the pieces. To keep things straight, I put the pieces in forty-one separate baggies. Yes, the kit came with forty-one various shades of wool.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupyp9jmYPChE7G8qf2GAXPEoj_-2pVEz2Z-j2m9_wh_Ir3plP3QsNJLVBg2JrvgyjR-kA_BxawvKndtI_2zsPtwKoQWtOxAooHNeYJU4CAuBDyo3mK4CfVe5c-QFy4OWJb7lJwA7tgfMsk5TP7VAt-W_XIfptjR9Xdk5xpJBfyFmBu6LVZ-9D8GYGwSzX/s3811/IMG_2587.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3811" data-original-width="2381" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupyp9jmYPChE7G8qf2GAXPEoj_-2pVEz2Z-j2m9_wh_Ir3plP3QsNJLVBg2JrvgyjR-kA_BxawvKndtI_2zsPtwKoQWtOxAooHNeYJU4CAuBDyo3mK4CfVe5c-QFy4OWJb7lJwA7tgfMsk5TP7VAt-W_XIfptjR9Xdk5xpJBfyFmBu6LVZ-9D8GYGwSzX/w200-h320/IMG_2587.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><p>The runner will finish at about eighteen by thirty-eight inches. It took a few days this week to assemble this ‘jigsaw.’ I had fused various segments together and then began pinning them to the background. Truth to say, I had been muttering and sputtering about the whole thing and even considered tossing the project. I am, however, not one to give up easily and as it began to take shape, I was hooked! “Americana,” the wool applique kit, depicts a colorful village scene with a barn, a church, animals, etc. Because of its size this will not be a lap project. In fact, it’s a good thing that I have no formal banquets planned here at the castle for the next month or two as this piece will remain on my dining room table until it is completely stitched. </p><p>Though I had purchased the accompanying 12wt Sulky thread pack, I plan to use No. 8 perle cotton on the larger pieces. If I am going to do all this stitching, I sure want it to show!!!</p><p>My plan is to spend a minimum of thirty minutes daily on this piece and will post a photo of each section as it is completed. Wish me luck!</p><p>Today the news came of the passing of two TV legends. Bob Barker, the host of “The Price is Right,” passed at the age of ninety-nine. Carol Duvall while perhaps not as famous as Bob Barker was the queen of crafting in the early days of HGTV. She was delightful and her shows were always filled with fun, creative craft ideas. Carol Duvall was ninety-seven.</p><p>Have a creative, fun week.</p>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-1191968146379906352023-08-20T19:47:00.001-07:002023-08-20T19:48:14.508-07:00A Busy Week and a Scary Morning<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL8s1BgifFZq29INSi65OY9XSWZy6o-zthxpFDoLY3kL8YP_B00k6q7QOjPayqp8bP4cF7IQmCIx_dzNur9Rv9Yfg0evugZVSTa8WgGAa8YlsuVFbRAtiCkeqynvnU_xG9KOeOFcecHELff0Z1C_FyN07-p35ueZrCqCHb8qf07aqqvXWc4a4dRlwntBr/s1399/IMG_0275.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1399" data-original-width="1399" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL8s1BgifFZq29INSi65OY9XSWZy6o-zthxpFDoLY3kL8YP_B00k6q7QOjPayqp8bP4cF7IQmCIx_dzNur9Rv9Yfg0evugZVSTa8WgGAa8YlsuVFbRAtiCkeqynvnU_xG9KOeOFcecHELff0Z1C_FyN07-p35ueZrCqCHb8qf07aqqvXWc4a4dRlwntBr/w400-h400/IMG_0275.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>This lovely curcuma graces my sunporch. I love the sculptural elements of this plant. To learn more about curcuma plants you may visit <a href="http://costafarms.com" target="_blank">Costa Farms</a>. </p><p>So, what has been keeping me busy lately? The Company Theater in Norwell had a world premiere of a contemporary rock opera.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuloGhxp9y42MBSLLgJr9A5Jg41jjgVdIcvGmYPPMSWEUipBbyKUZcbDM1VhUemggThAChIQ5LKo5zW1bWR0_yiIsE2UxRQL5QhKM0JzU6VxNJ2CQ9u4JX7cflr4C0TkDuQStfbjHkszS9_JQIi4wp0sSURbDv-TjYAyFSenhEHIjSUyKcPQ_b-z7aErf1/s4032/IMG_2580.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuloGhxp9y42MBSLLgJr9A5Jg41jjgVdIcvGmYPPMSWEUipBbyKUZcbDM1VhUemggThAChIQ5LKo5zW1bWR0_yiIsE2UxRQL5QhKM0JzU6VxNJ2CQ9u4JX7cflr4C0TkDuQStfbjHkszS9_JQIi4wp0sSURbDv-TjYAyFSenhEHIjSUyKcPQ_b-z7aErf1/s320/IMG_2580.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Since my cousin Miss L. chose ‘Joan of Arc’ as her confirmation name and since her sister Miss T. is involved in theater, I invited them along with their parents to see this production. The music was wonderful and each person in the cast had a wonderful voice. The staging of the play was masterful and the story was well told. If I had any criticism, it would be that the first act needed to be shorter; a few judicious cuts would help move things along.</p><p>I met retired teacher friends for lunch on Tuesday, and friends came to dinner on Wednesday and other friends on Thursday. . . a busy fun week. I’ll keep that in mind this week as an issue will keep me off my foot for at least a week. Yes, I am grounded once again. Gosh darn it! I was supposed to join family at a WooSox game at Polar Park in Worcester this afternoon and I had plans on Monday and Tuesday. Oh, well, it is what it is . . . If I follow my doctor’s orders, I hope to be back out galavanting the following week. :-() Meanwhile I should be able to make some progress on the 269 piece wool applique project spread out on my dining room table. </p><p>So, about that scary morning . . . on Thursday evening meteorologists were predicting some heavy rain storms moving in around 5:00 am Friday. When I got up before 8:00, there was still no rain. Things changed after 9:00 as the meteorologists began breaking into the morning shows to report a tornado watch in Connecticut. Things went downhill at that point. The tornado alerts kept coming and to my shock where I live was in the target zone. At 9:45, my cell phone began blasting an alarm saying to take shelter in the basement which Emma and I immediately did. My cousin Kristin kept texting me updates. At one point, she asked if I was near two particular streets as the tornado was on that path. I live on a long street and the streets she mentioned are at either ends of my street. YIKES!!! Fortunately, there was absolutely no damage in my area. The tornado did, however, touch down and do some damage in another section of Weymouth. We have not had a tornado in this area in seventy years. It was scary. I’d just as soon just deal with our Nor’easters and blizzards.</p><p>The weather this summer across our country has been beyond crazy. Have a stress free, calm week and wherever you live I hope your weather is calm and pleasant.</p><p></p>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237974391485389193.post-90985241948681571162023-08-06T12:05:00.002-07:002023-08-07T14:44:27.243-07:00Sunday Smorgasbord <p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoHmhhDzZ_T2NfJni47iHG_XxqHjwlwuJyI_ryOqb7TRFKdVPixFXVW_gjAXkZf6rPPMVS9PNyHSqs0aEyRdj4XAsCvAgCXQh7Vy0bnQiSaTO6P7Et6SrGe2qtOK40TEfKtyJdSLpl045N6BarHqwxGlltgA4ab60ydA1kBYHnQNaccJDZNNgNxBgGhXH/s4032/IMG_2550.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoHmhhDzZ_T2NfJni47iHG_XxqHjwlwuJyI_ryOqb7TRFKdVPixFXVW_gjAXkZf6rPPMVS9PNyHSqs0aEyRdj4XAsCvAgCXQh7Vy0bnQiSaTO6P7Et6SrGe2qtOK40TEfKtyJdSLpl045N6BarHqwxGlltgA4ab60ydA1kBYHnQNaccJDZNNgNxBgGhXH/s320/IMG_2550.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Grab a cold drink as this catch up post could be a long one. These photos are from one of my dinner plate size blooming hibiscus plants. I have three such plants of various shades in my large garden.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuSFUYXYziSXynGSiDQfIxNQVANSKZ5zlJ0A59b8DjjN5Qj71zIQKokVlhc_H6KXRC0MtKLK1i0uPBvYCjDToWE7BYp_U1PtatyYdJhjYs98UJJsp3qmjj-GCVn7o-m47yF-sHCkIG6FhK80uq2fvutF5bOPq5bWui4Tk8uxOR0H6NUFGq7IaYnOa_CYg/s2991/IMG_2551.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2991" data-original-width="2491" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuSFUYXYziSXynGSiDQfIxNQVANSKZ5zlJ0A59b8DjjN5Qj71zIQKokVlhc_H6KXRC0MtKLK1i0uPBvYCjDToWE7BYp_U1PtatyYdJhjYs98UJJsp3qmjj-GCVn7o-m47yF-sHCkIG6FhK80uq2fvutF5bOPq5bWui4Tk8uxOR0H6NUFGq7IaYnOa_CYg/s320/IMG_2551.jpeg" width="267" /></a></div><br /><p>Yes, I simply love all types of hibiscus!!! They make such an impact. Here’s a regular size flower from my deck. Note the ruffled petals. I usually don’t bring in plants to overwinter them, but this one is so pretty that I may have to in this case.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusEY2Hj0PXxHfw5KNMjgJHlhRp_0b4t3KIWMAkhRtFAqqYH6YrutmxdPNFOrBY_oTcUWE53EaIiTsjlB76i1vhXdQf3q0C7MQC5bfHw7nYRRQ4k7CiaFHj9ztEL_KTSrlsl6Bvhktf4bA6vX5sH-Tq-BBA_gXf_Bl9RTgFpqO903sv_s57uQf5DyPZ24_/s3909/IMG_2549.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3909" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusEY2Hj0PXxHfw5KNMjgJHlhRp_0b4t3KIWMAkhRtFAqqYH6YrutmxdPNFOrBY_oTcUWE53EaIiTsjlB76i1vhXdQf3q0C7MQC5bfHw7nYRRQ4k7CiaFHj9ztEL_KTSrlsl6Bvhktf4bA6vX5sH-Tq-BBA_gXf_Bl9RTgFpqO903sv_s57uQf5DyPZ24_/s320/IMG_2549.jpeg" width="248" /></a></div><p> On Wednesday evening, I went with friends to see Lyle Lovett and his Large Band at Plymouth Memorial Hall. What a show!!! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRvuNp_oUJvVXrslmfeEIEH2YQZS3TlLCKTz1oiIP6XhVi7F7YohBOc3nSYHDigl7heGDFKLULPzY069_mcUgy3hE6KGaWWxe5abDHUX9fbwWtzIEdA5pKf213sIA6jz0og4v18e63-_uHhGxfP0Sw-vYPEkA5Z-MA9NUvL3SUEyxLdIV_Tn2CxmwC_TO/s4032/IMG_2562.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRvuNp_oUJvVXrslmfeEIEH2YQZS3TlLCKTz1oiIP6XhVi7F7YohBOc3nSYHDigl7heGDFKLULPzY069_mcUgy3hE6KGaWWxe5abDHUX9fbwWtzIEdA5pKf213sIA6jz0og4v18e63-_uHhGxfP0Sw-vYPEkA5Z-MA9NUvL3SUEyxLdIV_Tn2CxmwC_TO/w400-h300/IMG_2562.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>They came onstage at 8:10 and left the stage at 11:15, three solid hours, no intermission. The Large Band consists of twelve truly impressive musicians and three singers. Two members of the horn section are professors, one from Georgia Tech and the other from a University in Texas. They spend each summer vacation traveling with the Large Band. Lyle features each musician at least once or twice and tells a bit about each one, whom they have played with, and where they met. It seems that most of these musicians have played with Lyle on his tours for years and years. From June 1 to August 31, they play fifty-six shows across the country. </p><p>If they are ever in your neck of the woods, make it a point to see them.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJJna8v6mziXr1pn7YPmvWhRYJc1VI2g4FIS4La2uT40JvdAFLTY3J5YoNRTI98UDgoHZhQGL9lHwa7aufM3i2tskQAVkub9rzeDpI3IURPeDfXUmGAn8bqoK-jlS2Mksb4XU7mhf6JcL4G24xPBIbds6nqVcxvffHEh6nuvgzuJ0orpZGPf_0Ylyvf_x/s4032/IMG_2559.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJJna8v6mziXr1pn7YPmvWhRYJc1VI2g4FIS4La2uT40JvdAFLTY3J5YoNRTI98UDgoHZhQGL9lHwa7aufM3i2tskQAVkub9rzeDpI3IURPeDfXUmGAn8bqoK-jlS2Mksb4XU7mhf6JcL4G24xPBIbds6nqVcxvffHEh6nuvgzuJ0orpZGPf_0Ylyvf_x/s320/IMG_2559.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I stitched this piece “Beach Please” by Kathy Habermann of <a href="http://handsondesign.biz" target="_blank">Hands on Design</a> last month. I modified the size of the piece and left off the words. I mounted it on this small blackboard easel with a narrow shelf on which I placed small shells and beach glass.</p><p><b>Wool Applique Alert!!!</b> If you enjoy wool applique, do check out the <i>Pumpkin Village Mystery Stitch - A-Long. </i>You can get information at <a href="http://thewoolenneedle.com" target="_blank">The Woolen Needle</a>. Each Monday from July 31 - October 29, you may download a free block pattern. Each shop will offer kits and corresponding threads for sale. I should be able to complete this project from my own healthy wool stash. <b>Warning</b>! Wool applique may become highly addictive . . . great fun but highly addictive!!! </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIBXrOWt35dNmC0jmc-ljBRAmPALWsRl649KoscWzxo64iI4nJ8b7J8rQMDVLyBZmGr0jImHqx7F-2JhWpE8EqSRyiUxH6J_kNsryGZ4Ww_15MyZDd3K3-gUXH1m7zvO8oUCVbQZxQbP1MOtwbEbk8Xh35rD9Sl2T4d_n2JS2ajUgsZ_-0kooThVNNams/s3844/IMG_2542.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2037" data-original-width="3844" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIBXrOWt35dNmC0jmc-ljBRAmPALWsRl649KoscWzxo64iI4nJ8b7J8rQMDVLyBZmGr0jImHqx7F-2JhWpE8EqSRyiUxH6J_kNsryGZ4Ww_15MyZDd3K3-gUXH1m7zvO8oUCVbQZxQbP1MOtwbEbk8Xh35rD9Sl2T4d_n2JS2ajUgsZ_-0kooThVNNams/s320/IMG_2542.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>My friends Cathy, Marilyn, and I recently went to lunch to celebrate our birthdays; Cathy and I are July babies and Marilyn’s birthday is this month. We have been friends since we were little girls and no, I’m not saying how many years that has been. :-()</p><p>Finally, I thought you might get a kick out of this photo.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSOXbv5v_QW2o6PFBDLtA_mKqxCbPp6vy5aEprPq7UqQY9FOljxGL_K8KzuPTXX3sBPZkXyWNMh2WgVQqPLD-prxtFsxaiEALlym0L-2iXbAjwQlnwNxP7-Habbonx2vLnN2FbCZaAOLyPp94I9TkqXIxDMZJhti8FzZb-wsVBEskV-EqGq2DoT2ssIym/s4032/IMG_2569.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSOXbv5v_QW2o6PFBDLtA_mKqxCbPp6vy5aEprPq7UqQY9FOljxGL_K8KzuPTXX3sBPZkXyWNMh2WgVQqPLD-prxtFsxaiEALlym0L-2iXbAjwQlnwNxP7-Habbonx2vLnN2FbCZaAOLyPp94I9TkqXIxDMZJhti8FzZb-wsVBEskV-EqGq2DoT2ssIym/w400-h300/IMG_2569.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>These turkeys had thought it would be pleasant to take a stroll in my backyard. Emma took exception to this and set off barking and charging. With a whole lot of squawking and flapping of wings, the turkeys flew up into the tree instead. :-)</p><p>Okay, that’s all for now, have a wonderful week.</p><p>But wait! There’s more!!! When I write a post, I usually let it sit for at least an hour or so in hopes that when I come back to proofread it again, I will magically spot any silly errors. (Proofreading is tough. I can read and reread something and then much later spot a misplaced modifier, a wrong verb tense, or heaven forbid a punctuation error. Worst of all, I sometimes leave out a word. 🥴) Anyway, all the time my post has been sitting here, I could not get the word “squawk” off my mind. What kind of word is it? Where did it come from? Now, in the one in ten million chance that you, too, might also be wondering about this word, let me show you what I found on <a href="http://etymonline.com" target="_blank">Etymonline - Online Etymology Dictionary</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-77jSn9fZLZ6lD0JdO-hpilqmkf7j7I-Z_jShsXWhpMnokLlHo46UrMqwu4MyR0SdNLAcdAfCN-QU2Z_Ds_NyNBrkWL1vQiTyV3Gzmwy8bNL_Ng0IwCxXBWBOKCAECpYw2DzcC_fFNNruXi0Ac23yW1bNTDDjtA-sfHnmiClMMPryx30k8bP0gct4KPnt/s1606/IMG_0267.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1606" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-77jSn9fZLZ6lD0JdO-hpilqmkf7j7I-Z_jShsXWhpMnokLlHo46UrMqwu4MyR0SdNLAcdAfCN-QU2Z_Ds_NyNBrkWL1vQiTyV3Gzmwy8bNL_Ng0IwCxXBWBOKCAECpYw2DzcC_fFNNruXi0Ac23yW1bNTDDjtA-sfHnmiClMMPryx30k8bP0gct4KPnt/w400-h188/IMG_0267.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Why did it become slang in the US around 1945? Another site referenced the “squawking” of the radios in the planes flown during the second World War. There you have it. I don’t know about you, but I feel better knowing how this word came about. :-)<div><br /></div><div> Bye! (For real, this time . . . )<p></p></div>Janice Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805889411385180872noreply@blogger.com1