Happy New Year!

To all my friends in blogging land.... Only good wishes going out to all of you!

Are any of you starting new projects tomorrow? I shouldn't be, but, I'm going to! I've kitted up the lovely chart I received from Carol -- LHN "The Friendship Tree", and will be starting that! I do have to figure out how to change one of the cats to black.

One thing that I do want to do in the next year, is clean out and stitch from my stash. I have so many lovely things, I think I will really limit the new items I purchase. (That will make DH very happy too!) I'm off work until Thursday, so hopefully can update on my stitching progress!

On the needles: Baby Blanket -- gave to my sister, Reee, to finish for me!
In the hoop: Winter Exchange Project (shhh -- it's a secret right now!)
Current Read: Debbie Macomber "Rainy Day Kisses"

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to wish all my blogging friends a Very Merry Christmas!

More Exchanges!

Here is some more pictures of Exchanges!

This is the beautiful USEBB Eye of the Needle Exchange I received from Goldie. I had admired this piece earlier in the year, and now I have one of my own!



And -- she included all these goodies! Thank you sooo much! I love it all!



Here is what I sent Carol in the USEBB Eye of the Needle Exchange. She was very understanding, as I was very late in sending!



And... here is my SBEBB LHN Exchange from Su!!! I tried to take a creative picture like Su does, but, somehow it just doesn't work out! LOL I love the needlebook, and Su also included goodies!




When I know that my SBEBB LHN Exchange has been received, I will post a picture of that one. (I was late sending that one out too.)

This is an ornament I made for our Office Ornament Exchange. Every year we exchange ornaments, and this year I made one! The recipient seemed thrilled with it!



Here is my silly Shadow trying to get warm on the register!



And this is something a friend sent me, and it just struck my funny bone today! Probably because our Produce Manager would give Frosty a look just like that! LOL


I hope you are all ready for the Holiday! I just have some wrapping to do! The last package I was waiting for was delivered this afternoon. (I did a lot of shopping online this year.) I had taken my Mother shopping on Tuesday, and picked up all the 'little' stuff. If I forgot anything... they are not getting it this year! or, I'll pick it up at work...

Hugs and Stitches... Thanks for reading and your comments!

In the hoop: Exchange stitching
On the needles: Baby Blanket
Current Read: Captive Star by Nora Roberts

Autumn Seasonal Exchange

Carol is my Seasonal Exchange Partner, and all I can say is -- she spoils me rotten!!!

Look at the wonderful goodies I received:

This beautiful wooden box:


Check out the inside:


And just a box full of goodies!!!



I am thrilled with it all, and I told Carol I wanted to stitch up the lovely LHN design as a sign of our growing friendship! (I hope!)

And, Amy posted that she had received the Exchange I had sent....


I have my LHN Exchange and my Eye of the Needle Exchange to post... but, will not overload you all at once!

Thanks for reading, and your comments....

Hugs and Stitches...

It's Winter!!!

Yes, here I am... I know it's been a long time since I posted! I'll try to do regular updates from now on. I really need to get my life back together.

Here is a couple pictures of what we got this weekend! (My son drove me to work on Sunday morning in his 4-wheel drive Jeep. Good thing -- I never would have made it out of the drive in my van! It was a total white-out at 4:30 in the morning, and I think we were the first to venture out on the roads!)


And here is a picture of our Christmas Tree. Becca put up the decorations and everything this year. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. My MIL made the beautiful tree skirt. She is being terribly missed during the holidays.


I've been doing quite a bit of reading... nothing to take note about, and I finally started to stitch again! I am working on a little needleroll design, and then maybe I can take care of some UFO's. (They were WIP - but, after this long they must be UFO's!)

Going shopping with my Mom in the morning. She wants to go to the mall, and I don't want her to go alone. Hopefully it will be a short trip!

Until next time.... Thanks for reading, and your comments!

Hugs and Stitches....

Autumn is here!

The weather is starting to turn a little cooler -- at least at night! And, after all, the calendar says that Autumn is here! So... I did a little bit of adding some color to the outside --

Here is my front porch. I added some fall leaf garland around the door, a fall wreath, and also some leaf garland and touches to the geranium basket and flower box.


Here is my birdhouse stand. I added garland to that too!


And, I've been doing some fall type stitching!

"A Pumpkin Sampler"
Window Garden Designs
Stitched on 28ct. Annabelle Potato w/DMC

This was stitched just for fun... I think I'll finish it into a box type thing... or something else. Any suggestions?

"Pumpkins"
LHN Thread Pack w/Crescent Colors
Stitched on 28ct. Annabelle Potato

I stitched "Pumpkins" as part of the SAL on the LHN/CCN Yahoo group. It stitched up really fast, and was a joy to stitch! I'm thinking of finishing this one into a flat fold stand-up. I also have the "Acorns" pack to stitch up this month, as part of the Thread Pack SAL.

I hope everyone is having a great Autumn! This is one of my favorite times of the year!

I am way behind on reading blogs.... My son says he thinks the power supply is dying in my computer.... :-( Good thing he can fix these types of things!

Happy Stitching! Thanks so much for stopping by, and leaving comments -- it is much appreciated!

Stitching on today: It's a secret!!!
Current Read: "Out of the Mist" by JoAnn Ross

Wedding Pictures...

The Wedding was beautiful! The weather was outstanding... even though it was warm.

Here are me and my husband Chuck....

This is Kristen, my new DIL, and the girls...
from the left: Kristen's sisters Becky, Sherry, Kristen, my DD Becca, and Kristen's friend, Jen.

My daughter Becca walking through the fall leaf covered arch...

My son, Rick and Kristen, taking their vows...

The Wedding Cake -- didn't it turn out great!


The Hallman Family! Chuck, Becca, Kristen, Rick, and Myrna!

So... now we are five. :-)

Getting ready for the rehearsal dinner....

I think my house is about as clean as it can get!

Okay... you have to imagine the food is on there.... and I used my old tupperware 'harvest' colors for the salads.... Everything is prepared -- except me!

We are having Sloppy Joes, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, jello salad, chips, pickles and olives, and some kind of dessert. The blue things are Dove chocolates with fall leaves on the foil, and the other two little bowls are candy corn mix and peanuts. Kristen's mother is supposed to be bringing a dessert. (I might run out and get some cookies from the bakery -- just to have on hand...) I'll try to remember to take a picture when the food is on there!



Hi to everyone out in blogging land... I hope to be able to catch up on reading blogs next week!

Photo Hunt - Plastic

Here's one for you all....


For our 20th Wedding Anniversary, our neighbors gave us this.... I think we have used about half of the box! (And in only six years! -- I think they thought we would invite them over for desserts more often, if I didn't have to wash the forks! LOL)

No Stitching -- but a new dress!!!

No stitching updates, as I have been stitching on an exchange piece.

But, I finally went out to look for a dress to wear to my son's wedding. Yes, it's in less than two weeks -- but, I hate to go clothes shopping. Dragged the husband and daughter with me.... We found one! DH Chuck picked it out, I tried it on... It fit perfect!! Even daughter said it looked good! And now for the best part --I got it at Younkers. (My boss recommended looking there.) It was tagged at $128.00, but, it had a yellow dot -- wasn't sure what that meant. A lady told me that meant it was marked down. Yea!!! So, I took it to the check-out station, and asked the lady there if she thought it would be okay for a Mother of the Groom at an outdoor wedding. She told me it would be perfect! So, then I asked her how much it would be.... She told me with the discounts -- $16.00. Excuse me, did you say $16.00???? Yes -- it's marked down to $79.99, and then another 80% off the marked down price!!! Yeah, I bought it!!! My shoes I got at Walmart for $12.94 -- almost more than the dress!

Here is what the dress looks like:


I'm a happy little stitcher today! Now, I am trying to coordinate all the stuff for the rehearsal dinner... And, hoping my daughter's bridesmaid dress fits! Oh... and I guess I better think about the normal stuff like cleaning and laundry and dinner... LOL

Off to get another cup of coffee!!

Stitching on today: Exchange gifts and whatevers!
Current Read: Debbie Macomber "74 Seaside Avenue"

Egg Roll Recipe

Julie had asked if I would share the recipe for the Egg Rolls.

Here it is:

Egg Rolls

1 lb. ground beef (or shredded chicken, pork or shrimp)
cook before mixing in w/veggie stuff.
1/2 small cabbage -- sliced very thin and chopped small
1 package match stick carrots
2 whole eggs
1 bundle rice noodles (rice sticks - about 7 oz. package)
soak in hot water until soft; drain; cut to about 2-3 inch lengths.
spring roll egg roll wrappers - (I got them in the produce department. 2-3 packages)
salt
pepper
1/2 cup oyster sauce

whip eggs, add oyster sauce, salt and pepper and mix; add cabbage, carrots and rice noodles; add meat. stir all together.

place mixture on wrap - about a large serving spoonful; fold up bottom triangle and tuck edge around filling. fold up each side, like an envelope. roll up to the remaining point. dab inside edge with a little flour/water paste to stick. place sealed point side down until ready to deep fry. Deep fry in canola oil until golden brown. Place on paper towels to drain. (We then put them in the oven to keep them warm until they were all done.)

I made these pretty full and used 2 packages of wrappers. (40!) I had stuff left over, but, only about a small cereal bowl full.


Thanks to all the new people stopping by!!! I love it!! (It makes my rambling worthwhile... LOL)

What's the Buzz Exchange Received!

Andrea received the 'What's The Buzz' Exchange I had sent her.... She said she liked it!!

Just Nan 'Big Bee, Little Bee'
Stitched on 28ct. Creme Linen
w/recommended fibers
Finished as a pinkeep

I also included some 'bee' themed goodies....

That's it for exchanges for a bit... Next up will be my Autumn Seasonal for Amy -- and I did sign up for USEBB Eye of the Needle Exchange.

Thanks for reading, and making comments!!!

A Bit of Accomplishments!

Last night was our league golf banquet. We had a fun time playing golf, and then a little meeting and awards. I received a little birdie pin... I had the most birdies of anyone in the league this year! I also received an award (cash!) for having low net score (28)! All in all, a pretty good year playing golf with the league!

Today I didn't have to work!!! I finished up the JBW French Country Cat --- don't know how I'll finish-finish it yet!

JBW French Country - Cat
28 ct. Cashel - Country Cream
DMC #310

Then, set the oven to clean, and spent the rest of the morning playing in my Craft Room -- putting things away and a little reorganizing! I found a frame that I had gotten for LHN Home of a Needleworker, and got that framed up! It now hangs in the living room. :-)
And, I made a little wall hanging out of CCN Geranium House, and that is hanging on the front door! Today is our 26th Wedding Anniversary. DH Chuck stopped at Stitches 'N Things yesterday, and Deb helped him pick up a few things! In the bag was two packages of Piecemakers needles, some Six Strand Sweets fibers, an emery board that says 'The Cat Hair Is Free', and a sticker for the van's window that says 'I (heart) Cross Stitch'! Deb also put in a beaded thing to wear around your neck and hold a little pair of scissors!

I guess I'll keep him for another year! LOL

Thanks for reading and your comments!

Current Stitch: An Autumn Design

Labor Day Lazy

We have been having a lazy day! I finished stitching CCN Geranium House, and started another project: JBW French Country Cat. And, we have been watching the CSI Marathon on TV.

Chuck made breakfast, we had a frozen pizza for lunch.... and then decided we would try something different! I made egg rolls!!! I made shrimp ones, and beef ones. Chuck says they are very yummy!!! They weren't that hard... I did all the mixing and wrapping, and Chuck did the deep frying!


Thanks for stopping by, reading, and your comments!

Current stitch: JBW French Country Cat
Current read: Nora Roberts: "The Calhouns: Suzanna and Megan"

Photo Hunt - Dirty

This week the theme is dirty! I tried to take a picture of a dirty golf ball -- that's what happens when you hit it in the mud -- but, it didn't turn out. And, then DH Chuck says, "Well, Becca didn't clean the birdbath". Oh My Gawd!!! It was disgusting!!! Here is a picture of one dirty birdbath!

Thanks for reading, and your comments!

Summer Seasonal Stitchers Exchange

I received an email from Amy that she had received the Summer Seasonal Exchange I had sent out! I had been reading her blog, and trying to figure out what she might like...

Here is what I finally decided on -- remember I take horrible pictures! LOL

Just Nan - Small Delights - Seasonal Gems II - "Summer"
Stitched on 28ct. Cream Cashel Linen
Fibers: DMC, Kreinik, & Caron Wildflowers
Embellishments: Beads & Rose Charm
Finished as a pinkeep with a deep mauve fabric on back

And, I also included some extras in the package....


Amy says she likes what I sent.... It was fun putting this package together! I have already started on the Autumn package! I found just the neatest thing!

Thanks for reading, and your comments! I appreciate them so much!

Stitching on today: CCN Geranium House -- still!!!

Kids....

As I don't have any stitching updates... you all get pictures of my kids!!! (And not the fur-kids!)

This is my son, Rick, and his fiance, Kristen. We are very lucky she is joining our family. She is a sweetie!!



And, here is my baby, Becca. She will be a Senior in High School this year. :::Sigh::: They grow up soooo fast!!!



Thanks for reading my posts, and for your comments... They are much appreciated!

Stitching on today: CCN Geranium House

Exchanges!!

I have been sooo lucky! I received my Seasonal Exchange and my What's the Buzz Exchange!!

My Seasonal Exchange came from Carol, and to say I was thrilled was an understatement! I read Carol's blog, and am always in awe of the beautiful stitching she does. And, now, I have my own "carol-stitching"!!! Carol made a mattress cushion for me from a SB design.

Here is the front:



And the back with our names:



And.... the entire package!! Lovely lotion, a car jar, floss, fabric, scissors, notepads, a cat chart... and mice for my kitties!!! I am feeling spoiled! (I am not worthy!)



Here is CeeCee with 'his' mouse! It now is minus a tail....



The mailbox was buzzing when I emptied it yesterday, and found a package from Terry! Inside was a darling biscornu covered with bees! One of the cats thought this was another toy for him! He was set straight right away! This is Mommy's toy!!



Terry also included some goodies: a bee themed piece of finishing fabric, a darling ME trinket box, and the chart "The Busy Bee"! I am feeling soooo lucky!



That's it for exchanges for awhile. I haven't signed up for any because of all that's been going on around here, and feeling so 'unsettled' would be a good word, I guess. There is one that is tempting me on one of the boards -- I'll probably cave and sign up! I would just like to get back in a routine.... maybe when school starts next week!

My sister, Ree, is going to come get me today, and we are going to explore yarn shops around town... or so she says! Should be fun, but, I did tell her I had to be home by 5 to play golf! I should get off of the computer and work on getting my two exchanges packaged up to mail!

Thanks for stopping by, and for leaving comments! They are always appreciated!

Stitching on today: CCN Geranium House & TW Knotwork Bookmark