Remembrance on Memorial Day

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly. Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Happy Mother's Day

In Honor of my mother, who passed away 2 years ago, just before Mother's Day, I wanted to post this picture. It was taken when I was about 3 weeks old, in 1950. I think my mother looks SO happy and beautiful in this picture. I still feel her loving arms around me. I will love you forever mama!

I hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing Mother's Day. Nikki

It's been 2 years

It was 2 years ago today that my mother lost her battle with CHF. I miss her everyday. Here is a picture of her ( on the far right) with myself, my daughter Shannon and my granddaughter Kaleigh taken quite a few years ago. Mom was healthy and happy then, and I like to remember her that way. I love and miss you so much!

On a happier note, my grandson Zachary went to his first prom last night. He is a JR. this year and his date Tyler is a Sr. Orangy dresses seem to be a very popular color this year. I hope they had fun, because they looked great!

Now onto to stitchy things. I ordered 3 charts from a NEW favorite designer called Country Garden Stitchery. I saw some of her charts at the Online Needlework Show and ordered these.

I began stitching the Papillion Creations Stitch A Long after choosing my 8 floral colors and 3 greens. I haven't gotten far yet, but thought I would show you the progress.

And here is my progress on the Quaker Scissors Pocket that I tracked down and purchased directly from the designer. I will post what the finished project looks like later, but here is my WIP so far.

It's back to work tomorrow. Have a good week everyone. Nikki

A Great Giveaway

Check out Nancy's giveaway of her hand dyed floss on her Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe blog. She does such beautiful work. Go on over to her blog, become a Follower and leave her a comment to enter for a drawing of 5 skeins.

http://victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com/


Here is a sample of her threads, aren't they GORGEOUS!



Nikki

THREE Day Weekend for me

In New England, Monday is Patriot's Day, so I have a long weekend off from work. Today was just beautiful weather, almost 70 degrees and breezy.

I took a nice drive today to my Needlework Shop in Wiscasset on the coast. It is the only one within 100's of miles of me. I usually buy cross stitching supplies online, but I wanted to be able to see the threads for this project in person, before buying.

I have signed up for Papillion Creations new Stitch a Long that will go on for 24 months. Each month a new part of the design to stitch. Part I has been released and here are the colors I have chosen. We needed 3 greens, and 8 floral colors. I chose 40ct linen to stitch it on in the color Flax.


I also took my cat Punkin to the VET this morning to get the sutures out of his ear. He developed a Hematoma in his ear, and it swelled up so huge. The VET had to do surgery and drain the blood out, and put sutures all over his ear so the tissue would mend back together. He had to wear that dreaded collar for a week. So, here he is healthy and 2 pretty pointy ears


Here is Punkin after the surgery with his collar on. Owwww, the ear looks painful!


And here he is this afternoon, after the sutures were removed this morning. He looks grumpy, but he is a lot happier now, really !! His ear sadly will always droop like that.


I picked up a new magazine, to me, today at the grocery store. It is called Cooks Country. I watch the TV show on PBS with the same name and I love their recipes. They also do the America's Test Kitchen show. Anyway, this magazine has the yummiest looking Pound Cake with cream cheese in the batter. OMG! Here is the magazine and a picture of the cake. I will make it tomorrow and let you know how it tastes. YUMMMMM-oooooo




Have a great weekend everyone!

Nikki

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter everyone. It will be a quiet Easter here today as husband has to work. I'll roast a ham, and have mashed potatoes and asparagus for my son and I and maybe make a rice pudding for dessert.

I haven't been stitching much this past week, but I did manage to get some more done on And A Garden Grew


I got my order of the sampler chart Three Things by Moira Blackburn in the mail this week, and went and bought all the DMC colors for it. I think I will order a cream color 36ct linen to stitch it on....I cannot wait to start it. It can go into the rotation of all the others I am currently working on!!!


I also purchased this Rose Quaker sampler from a 123 Stitch board member as I have always admired it and want to stitch it someday. Isn't it lovely?


Enjoy your Easter with family and friends!

Nikki

Rainy Sunday

Such a cold and rainy Sunday today. I stayed in my PJ's all day and just puttered around the house. But looked what I picked from my yard yesterday ! This is March in MAINE......we have never had daffodils blooming in March before that I can remember.


Even the birds are hiding today in the rain. The only thing trying to get to the feeders is this cute little Chipmunk who comes daily and fills his cheeks with sunflowers seeds, and this gray squirrel who was waiting patiently on the railing for the Chipmunk to be done so he could get some!




Look at the cute plant stand I found at Wal Mart for my deck. It's still too early to put plants out there yet, but it will look so cute this summer with a pot of petunia's in it.


This is book I am currently reading. It is the first in a series following the same family. It begins before the Revolution in the US and is SOOOO good. I am about 1/2 way finished and cannot wait to get the next one.


Look what I found! The chart for Ida Mae Crowe which is an out of print chart from The Goode Huswife. I just thinks she is so cute, and decided I have a liking of crow things all of a sudden. A nice lady named Shirley from the 123 Stitch board emailed me that she had it and was finished with it and will send it to me; after I posted to the board's weekly wish-list. I will send her a nice goodie in return.


I am off to read or do some stitching now and have a nice cup of coffee.

Nikki