Saturday, October 5, 2019

Life...

In late August, we had a going away/birthday party and baby shower. Here is a picture from the party. Owen is a couple months past 2. 

Rob and Owen 
Our son, Logan, has left for Moscow, Russia. He will be there teaching English until late May 2020. He has been accepted to the University of Glasgow in Scotland for fall 2020. He will be studying for his PhD in Sociology. My baby has flown from the nest. I was a wreck with worry. He's doing well, making friends, and adulting.

Courtney is due with baby boy #2 in a few days. Under three weeks, I'm grandma again. Woohoo! I can't wait to meet the little guy...will he be a red head like all my other babies or will he have dark hair like daddy?

Our house is mostly sold...the new owners are in and we are awaiting a closing date etc. I have started re-decorating here. The fireplace is now a grayish-olive and the walls are in the process of becoming a very pale olive -- bay sands. The colors work very well together and the mantle looks smashing if I do say so myself.

Remember this?

I have been stitching...after many trails and errors.


This was my first fabric. A very nice 25ct aida. But, the fabric pattern went up and down the stitch, which bothered me. And after a bit...the 25ct over 1 was too much for my eyes. I can't find the actual stitched piece. Sigh...


Then I bought a 14ct PTP Storm. As you can see, I made headway. But, the fabric was floppy. And I just wasn't feeling it. 


So, I went to Jo-Ann's and got a piece of 14ct white aida. It was working out. Until, I realized I had cut the fabric incorrectly and instead of a 24x60" piece I had a 30x48" piece. Considering the stitch will be 46" -- it was a tad short. 

Off I went to Jo-Ann's again, got another piece. I cut it correctly, but did not think to straighten the edges. Fool....so, I realized this before going too far and started for the 5th time. If I had continued, at about 1/3 down of the stitch... I would have run off the edge. 


So, I took the last remaining piece and straightened the edges, and gridded the top and bottom from the center. I have side salvages that are very narrow. But, the stitch fits on the fabric. I am loving this piece. And my mojo has returned!

I've been promised a trip to Maine when I complete my lighthouse. 


I'm further than this, but not by much. I have decided I need to make a rotation and get this one going again. In that rotation will also be - Colorful Sky


And then Birch Forest in Alps - 



So, I'm back and hopefully, I will be around some more.






Wednesday, May 29, 2019

IT'S A BOY!

I'm going to be grandma again and we just found out an hour ago...another boy!

His name will be Wyatt Parker and he'll be arriving in October.

DD was convinced this pregnancy was a girl. She feels completely different than last time. Our baby whisperer was wrong too!

Let me explain, my oldest nephew just KNOWS when someone is pregnant and has never been wrong. He even knew my sister was pregnant before she did. He's even known when someone had lost their baby before the mommy did. That time was just plain weird!

As for stitching, umm, yeah, I haven't put needle to fabric in  a long time. Maybe once this year. But, my genealogy is doing well!

If anyone out there reads this and knows any Matthews or Mathews in East central Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, or Missouri...we might be related. I

Off to seek more dead.relatives...


Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Brr...

Guess what I did yesterday! I stitched. Holy cow, it's been a long time since I've last had a needle and floss in my hand.

Do you remember this?

I have maybe 500 stitches complete in the upper left corner. Nothing to share a picture of, but it's still stitching! 

I had to re-think the fabric. I had started with a 25ct over one with one strand of floss. My eyes couldn't handle it. Bought a new 14ct and am going over one with two strands. The fabric is a bit more pliable than I'm used to. I may have to break out the hoop. What would really help though...if I knew where my prescription readers were. I haven't seen them since the move in October! Not in my last box packed, not in the cabinet, not with my current projects....where are they??

The new house has a few challenges. Umm, winter weather and my driveway. DO NOT MIX! I now own a bobsled run instead of a driveway! Kind of interesting when my hubby can't get up the drive...in a one ton 4-wheel drive truck. It took 7 tries, a shovel, and salt. My son, well, had a bit of a sledding issue going down it one day. I, on the other hand, bought two weeks of groceries and said 'phooey to driving!' My car is safely parked in the garage awaiting a thaw. 

Oh, and who ever heard of a 'cold' heat? We used to have a natural gas furnace. Now, we have an electric furnace. There is a difference. The price for one! Ouch!! And it just plain feels cold in here all the time! But, I sit here with nothing on my feet. Could that have anything to do with me being cold?? 

Haven't given an Owen update for awhile. He's now almost 19 months, 28 pounds and 36" tall. He's gonna be a big boy! 

Christmas at my sisters!
He's a good kid. I think he has some screech owl in him. He likes nothing better than to walk around shrieking and listening to it echo. I could handle a humming, but the shrieks get a little old after a few hours. Thank goodness when grandpa is around, Owen sits happily in his lap and watches tv with Pap. 

Well, I'm off to get some socks.