cross stitch – Page 6 – Asbery's Echoes

Heirlooms

These dolls came from my dad. I cherish them so. Dad’s mom made the clothes for them. She was such a crafty person and the best grandma. She was always making something. I loved her Christmas gifts – they were one of a kind and handmade with love. Notice the doll in the middle – the bigger one dressed in yellow? I love this one because it is in the picture below that I’ve shared before! It was my dad’s doll and it looks like he and Aunt Konnie liked to play tea party with it! The doll on the right was my grandpa’s and the one on the left was also dad’s. Treasures for sure.

I’ve started on a new cross stitch project and I’m loving it. It’s called “Tea Time” Kettle Mat. It’s a kit from a Scattered Seed Sampler club by Tammy Black. I love all of her designs. I don’t drink tea, although I wish I did, but I still love this kit. The little tea kettles are so sweet. It’s a fun stitch! I worked on it last night while watching This is Us. I always cry watching that show. I think it’s one of the best TV shows on right now.

Sunday Surprise

My springy kitchen window display. I finished this cute little pin keep by Tammy Black of Scattered Seed Samplers and wanted to be able to enjoy it so what better place – I see it everyday while doing dishes! It goes well with my quail eggs and sweet little nest from Gable House Goods

We had a nice surprise Sunday morning. Jeremy and Abby were out for a drive and brought Braxton over to visit! I love unplanned visits from my kids! The boys played outside for a little bit but it was just too chilly and windy so they ended up inside. Drew was so excited to get to see Braxton – he’s been so bored being at home now that he’s feeling so much better. We sat and chatted for awhile then went to town for lunch before they had to get back home. I didn’t get any pictures. I guess I was too focused on their visit!

Another finish – Ann’s Sampler Sewing Tray by Stacy Nash. I love how it turned out.

It’s nice to have Joe back too. Saturday we ran to Washington to pick up his deer meat. We tried to get Aaron to go out to lunch with us while we were there but he was at work and couldn’t get away. Later in the afternoon we ran over to my dad and mom’s to give them some deer meat. Since Joe hunted their timber and that’s where he got the deer he thought he should offer them some of the meat! He had it made into sticks, bologna and summer sausage. Perfect for snacking on. We ended up staying for supper before we headed back home. We didn’t get much accomplished over the weekend but we did get to see family and that’s what’s important!

A very quick stitch. I changed the colors of the birds to blue – my favorite color! Keep Song in They Hearty by Country Rustic Primitives – Jenny Hoffman.

Last night Joe grilled for supper. Our small town grocery store has changed hands and they have put in a full service meat counter and we have definitely been taking advantage of it. So far we love their bacon wrapped three cheese chicken breasts, their butterfly pork chops and their bacon wrapped asparagus spears. Yummy stuff! With Joe being gone last week and Eric being busy most nights, I hadn’t really cooked a big meal. Eric was home last night and he sure enjoyed his supper. I couldn’t believe how fast he ate a pork chop! We also had homemade macaroni salad and ranch potatoes and carrots. With plenty of leftovers for tonight – which always makes me happy.

We had a nice relaxing weekend. Nowhere we had to go, nothing we had to do. Just time with family and at home. Those weekends are always the best! And I had just enough time to get some finishes done to enjoy too!

One week –

One week after Drew’s surgery. It’s been a long week! He’s bored. So bored. For the most part he’s feeling pretty good but he gets tired and listless at times and just wants to sit and watch his Kindle. He’s been outside a time or two which helps but the past couple of days have been cold and windy so no going outside to play. He spent yesterday morning with Grandpa and Grandma which he thoroughly enjoyed. Lots of one on one attention there! He’s got his fort all decked out with a light, music and books. That has been a big help in keeping him entertained. I can’t wait to take it down though – I’m tired of seeing it in the living room!

Drew wants to do a lot of cuddling with me so while he’s cuddled up beside me I’ve been stitching away. I’ve finished a couple projects, printed off some new patterns, and started on Ann’s Sewing Sampler Tray by Stacy Nash. I need to sew I Carry The Key into a pillow tuck but first I have to dig out some fabric to back it with. I do enjoy stitching. Pulling the thread through the linen and seeing each design come into play. It’s so relaxing and enjoyable. I can’t imagine not doing some kind of handwork almost on a daily basis.

This evening we go to Eric’s Pops Concert. His last Pops Concert. I’ve enjoyed watching him participate in band all these years. Abby and Aaron were both involved in band but neither of them stayed with it all through high school. I loved band when I was young, especially marching band and I’m thankful the kids have all been involved too. There’s a different element to being in band compared to school sports that I think is just as important. Looking forward to tonight and then he will have a Spring Concert and that will be his last. It’s hard to believe he’s getting ready to graduate. Planning the graduation party is not my cup of tea but we’re getting there. We have the venue, most of the menu planned and my niece is making cake balls. It will be a small get together. Mostly family and a few friends. I’ve enlisted Abby to help – she’s a lot better at these things than I am!

Days like this

This big guy enjoyed his day – first day back to school after Christmas for Drew so no little terror to interrupt his naps!

It’s been one of those days. You know it can’t be good when your five year old asks you why you’re so grumpy first thing in the morning when driving him to school. In my defense – he was a bear this morning – I had to jump through hoops to get him up and out the door without being late. Then when I went to pick him up from school – I have to sit for 30 minutes waiting for him to get out – I realized my Kindle hadn’t charged right and was almost dead, I forgot my phone at home, and I didn’t grab my yarn because I had planned to read and not crochet. So I got to sit for 30 minutes doing nothing. Then while making supper I tripled the amount of chili powder I put in the stuffed peppers stuffing and had to start over. Not good on the budget or on my time. Then Drew spilled his glass of milk all over the table and floor. It seemed like everything was against me today. But now, supper is over, the dishes are done. I’m in my jammies and robe, cuddled up with Drew who’s had his bath. Getting ready to work on my blanket because while I was gone picking Drew up from school, my yarn I had been waiting for was delivered. It’s perfect blanket crocheting weather – cold, cold, cold. It was a throw another quilt on the blanket night last night. Now all will be well once Eric gets home from a friend’s house where they are working on their short film for Speech competition. Days like this always end and tomorrow will be a fresh new day!

First stitch of the new year – I Carry the Key by Country Rustic Primitives – Jenny Hoffman

Soon to be a warm and cozy blanket – I hope!

Thanks for stopping by – Rhonda

Stitching . . .

Winter Beekeeper Threadboard by Stacy Nash Primitives I started this awhile back and wanted to show the finished product. I don’t do well with framing as you can see. I like to think it just adds to the primitive feel!

It’s funny, now that I’m not going to work everyday I find that I’m stitching less. Stitching has always been a stress reliever for me – guess that means I’m not as stressed! There is just something about pulling the needle and thread through the linen – it is so calming. Also, it’s summer so we don’t get settled in of an evening like we do during the winter months – which is my stitching time. I did get a lot of stitching in over the weekend while we were camping though. I got up early in the mornings and sat outside and stitched away. So relaxing listening to the birds chirp and the campground slowly wake up. I didn’t realize until after taking the above picture that I had a hand in making everything you see. I made the bee skep, stitched the little picture, punched the bee skep pillow, did some embroidery on the doily and stitched the penny rug! I’ve been busy!

And here is what I worked on last night while watching some of the new Orange Is The New Black episodes:

O is for Old Glory by Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery

I’m really excited about this one. It’s the first in a series she is planning. I can’t wait to see what other fabulous designs she comes up with. I have stitched another series of hers that I love and I know I will enjoy this new series just as much!

Well, Drew and I are off to the dentist this morning to get his tooth filled. He was a little worried about it last night but I’m sure he will do fine. I have to stop and get some groceries afterwards and we just might have to stop at Tractor Supply on the way out of Ottumwa and let him pick out an animal for his farm once we are done. He has gotten really into playing with his farm equipment and animals this summer. I love watching him play and entertain himself. It’s not something he has done much of until recently.

Five Again!

Drew got to celebrate his birthday twice this year – a very rare occurrence! On Sunday we took him to Chuck E. Cheese in Des Moines. Lots of family came along too to help celebrate. Turning five is a big deal!!!!

Playing air hockey with big sister Abby and nephew Braxton - fun! — Playing air hockey with big sister Abby and nephew Braxton – fun!

90 year old Grandpa Meiners playing skee ball - he beat everybody! — 90 year old Grandpa Meiners playing skee ball – he beat everybody!

Lots of fun for the little ones and the oldest one! It was such fun to see Albert enjoying himself.

I’ve been stitching away in the evenings when I can. I just love this little bunny and those strawberries – so sweet. And a fun quick stitch. Will have to stitch it into a pinkeep soon so I can enjoy it this spring!

Strawberries Bunny Pinkeep by primitivebettys — Strawberries Bunny Pinkeep
by primitivebettys

And this is what I’m working on now – this will take a little longer to finish. I don’t always enjoy stitching lots of one color. I guess I like to see that I’m making progress when I stitch. But, I’m making myself slow down and just enjoy the process of stitching with this one. It’s fun to slowly see this dress take shape. This stitch reminds me of days gone by, when life moved a lot slower and things seemed to be simpler. It’s nice to slow down once in awhile in this fast paced world.

Winter Beekeeper Thread Board Stacy Nash Primitives — Winter Beekeeper Thread Board
Stacy Nash Primitives

Well, it’s time to start the day – laundry to hang out, rooms to clean, supper to plan. I’m going to try out a new recipe – Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs. Hope it turns out. I’m working on getting a list of tried and true recipes everyone likes put in a notebook that I can use to menu plan. My goal is to be able to plan a weekly menu using these recipes – so I can shop once a week and not make so many trips to the store after work. Hoping to save myself some time and money. Wish me luck!

It’s Coffee Time!

Pierre Piddlepants enjoying the fresh air!

I love the smell of coffee in the morning. I just wish I liked the taste! I have tried throughout the years but to no avail. I can drink it with creamer – lots and lots of creamer – but then I can’t really call it coffee! So – no coffee drinking for me. But, I do have a fun use for coffee. It works great to prim up a cross stitch piece, or a homemade primitive doll, or a tea towel that is just too white. When it comes to my cross stitch, for some reason a piece just doesn’t look finished to me until I’ve darkened it up with coffee. And maybe some vanilla and cinnamon thrown in the mix!

Here is one of my most recent projects – before the coffee bath. (I have really enjoyed this series by Tammy Black. Sheep and the alphabet – two of my favorite things to stitch!)

In the middle of getting stained. Sorry – my photography skills are definitely lacking.

And the final product – so much better with a little bit of stain.

Pure in Heart Scattered Seed Samplers - Tammy Black Sheepish Needle Samplar Series — Pure in Heart
Scattered Seed Samplers – Tammy Black
Sheepish Needle Samplar Series

It is a beautiful spring day here in southeast Iowa. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and there is no wind! It is so nice having the windows open today. Getting fresh air into the house. Definitely a day to just enjoy!

Today is my little one’s birthday. He is five – and loving it! He’s such a sweet boy but can be such a handful. He is all boy – that is for sure. I thought after having raised two boys that one more would be a breeze. He has proved me wrong from the get go! He didn’t have preschool today and it’s my day off so we get to spend the day together – nothing special, just hanging around the house. Tonight we will go to my Dad and Mom’s house for cupcakes and ice cream. This weekend we will get together with his siblings, brother-in-law and his nephew! I cherish the times when the kids are together. It’s not always easy to get them all together when they are spread so apart in age.

Well – off to hang some clothes on the line. I love seeing clothes hanging out. I love not having to run the dryer but more importantly just the act of hanging out the clothes is so calming for me. A time to slow down and enjoy being outdoors. It reminds me of a simpler time!