Exciting News....

Well as I am sure many of you who

may read my blog have realized that there

really hasn't been a lot of stitching showing

up on my blog. Well there is a good reason for that.

I have been diligently working behind the scenes

to begin my antique sampler reproduction, adaptation,

as well as original design business.

I am happy to announce I have two samplers

completed one with a model stitcher now and

several more in various stages of production.

My designs are exclusively distributed by Kelmscott Designs.

Please visit me at my new blog

www.blackbranchneedlework.blogspot.com

Back Home...

Well I have just been on a whirlwind trip.

Started last week going to Greenville, SC then

thru Asheville, NC which was a beautiful drive.

to get to Kingsport, TN for Thanksgiving.

Back home and then off to Michigan

to visit my in-laws. We spent

the night at Frankenmuth which always

includes a visit to Zehnder's for Dinner.

We then did some Christmas shopping

at Bronner's the World's Largest Christmas Store

Where did the time go???

Apparently I have turned into the worst

blogger in the world.

Is there an award for that?

It has been forever since I have had

an opportunity to blog and a lot

has happened

Went to the beach - had a wonderful time

with my stitching pals.

It was so good to get away from all

the day to day responsibilities

I was able to finish a couple of projects

and they will be off to the framers

this weekend. I will share photos and

more information once they return.

This past weekend our neighbor hosted

the first annual alley party. The street I

live on all houses have the garage in the back

so there is an alley that runs behind my house.

They provided the beer and brats.

We needed to bring a side.

I made this wonderful pumpkin mousse.

This weekend is my guild meeting which

always is a good time with the ladies.

I will do my best not to let so much

time go between my posts.

Whirlwind.....

Seems like September has been

a whirlwind at my house.

School is in full swing

I get to have my first Room Parent

meeting next week

- oh goody!!!!

Cub Scouts has started

anybody want some popcorn?

I am taking classes.

Work is busy as ever

- fortunately.

I purchased a few antique samplers

over the past few days.

Many are ones I feel like I may have saved.

- one is very special.

I am working on a secret project

that I will be able

to start sharing about in a few weeks

- if all goes as planned.

A stitching friend of mine has a beach house

that I will get to visit very soon.

No work, no husband, no kids and

a whole lot of stitching going on.

In the meantime here is a photo of

my last visit to the beach.

Such tranquility to look forward to.

We Remember...

End of an era

This past weekend my husband

finally made the decision

to let the car that belonged

to his grandfather go.

My husband has very fond

memories of his grandfather

and spent a tremendous

amount of time with him

and his grandmother

Fortunately I was able to meet

and get to know them as well.

My husband's grandfather

taught him how to fish

and survive in the bush.

His grandparents had a

cottage someplace in Canada

that had minimal modern

conveniences, but apparently

they all loved it.

It was here they fished,

played, spent time together.

His grandfather taught him

how to fix things - which I

thank him dearly for.

My husband's father isn't a

handyman - so those skills

would not have been passed on by

him, so it was his grandfather

that taught him wood working,

how to fix the plumbing,

how to wire the electrical outlets

and various other things

that sometimes only our grandparents

can pass along to us.

Shortly after my husband and I were

married he started to show the signs

of Alzheimer's as many know the

disease not only trying on the patient

but just as hard if not harder on the family.

Eventually they had to make the decision

for him to go into a nursing home.

My husband's grandmother

would go every day and visit with him.

The last time we went to see him

before he passed. We had our oldest

who was about 2 1/2 at the time with us.

Grandpa kept calling my husband his dad's name

and our son my husband's name.

When we left my husband was so upset

and told me he didn't know me.

I replied to him and told him he knew you.

He just recognized you at another

time in your life when you happened

to be a little boy with your daddy.

So when my husband's brother

asked if he could give the car to

our oldest who had just

started to drive we said sure.

Little did we know at the time it

would soon become my husband's

car that he drove to work everyday.

Until a couple of years ago when

the inevitable started to happen.

My husband repaired what he could,

but the car unfortunately sat more than

it was driven. He came close on more

than one occasion to have it taken away,

but would always change his mind.

Well this past weekend the car was

towed away and so was the end of an era.

Another Busy Week....

The week started off with our boys

heading off to school.

Our youngest didn't want his

photo to be taken, but

he finally gave me a quick smile.

A very rare photo is the one of

our middle son. I was able to

convince him to smile for me.

I didn't even bother with my

oldest plus he had already

left to go to his morning class.

So hard to believe how fast

the time goes by.