The little pond...

Across the street is host to several canadian geese and their babies.

This morning they were all enjoying their breakfast

and being together. I decided to sit on the front stoop

and take some photos. You have to be careful if they

notice you they will start to take flight.

You would think by now they would be

used to people living around them.

Has it really been over a month?

I can't believe it has been almost six weeks since my last post.

Where does the time go???

I have made some progress on my Long Dog Sampler.

Here is my progress so far. I will stitch on it some and

then some smaller projects.

My husband finished my cabinetry in the laundry room

My attempt at organizing the space...

we will see how long it will last

Here is my little guy very intent on

his creative endeavor

Playdough

what's not to like???

Here he is notice something missing?

The one rare moment he would sit still

and smile for me

He has actually asked me to show him how to stitch.

So that will be our next project.

I remember when John my middle son asked me

and he worked on a piece a couple of times

and then lost interest.

I still have it tucked away in my stash.

It's the little things that we always

remember and cherish.

He would be mortified to know

I still have it and that I smile every time

I see it and remember his attempts

at stitching "like mommy".

Good Morning

I know it has been a dreadfully long time since I have
posted anything. I assure everyone I am alive and well,
just busy working on the yard and doing some things
in the house. First up our backyard.

We had the patio installed last summer and I love
going out in the evenings and sitting in the chairs
to read. This area receives the morning sun so by
the evening it is a nice cool place to sit.

Second up is our laundry room. It began as an unfriendly
space which didn't help that it was a place one of my least
favorite tasks to complete also has to be taken care.

The room is small and an odd shape so it was not
very conducive to storing cleaning items. So I was able to
persuade my husband to stack our washer and dryer
and add cabinetry in the laundry room to store things.

He being very handy said he would install them
(especially after the guy at HD told him it would cost
$900 to install them - evidently it is a flat rate and the cost
obviously is for a full kitchen to be installed not my little
laundry room). The cabinets arrived right before we went
to Disney but it has turned out to be more of a project
than he thought. First the laundry room had to be painted,
then the washer and dryer had to be stacked. My husband didn't
like the way the builder had installed the drain for the

washing machine so that of course had to be remedied.

The large cabinet was then put into place next to the

washer and dryer he has the doors off right now so he drill

access holes in the back to shut of the water

in an emergency (my idea - every once in a while
I have one) and to get to the power supply for the washer
and dryer which is next on his list. Yesterday he hung
the set of cabinets over the laundry sink.
Which I was very excited about.

Here is the cabinet next to the washer/dryer

I will take more pictures once the room is

completed, but I can't wait to have actual

storage for cleaning stuff.

And finally - I wish I knew how to insert a

drum roll but just pretend you hear the drum

roll because yes actual stitching has also taken place.

I received my needlework system 4 stand and I

love it - absolutely love it. I am working on my

Long Dog Sampler which I had taken a break from

because I didn't like the way the Qsnaps irritated the

silk floss I am using. I put it on the stretcher bars

I originally tried to use for it and viola I am now

working on it in my Master Bedroom sitting room

in the evening while watching TV

.

This chair I love - my mom found it believe it or not

on the side of the road she has a knack for that. She

had it recovered and I became the recipient of it.

When she had it recovered whoever owned

it previously had hid inside the seat post cards

old newspaper and some other items which

were pretty neat to look at because it

gave us an idea of the age of the chair.

and here is the progress so far on my Long Dog Sampler.

I thought working with one color would be fun and fast given

no color changes. However, this sampler takes longer

because I have to use a highlighter to mark what I have

completed because the design has so many of the

same repeats just one or two stitches over.

I will be glad when I finish it because it is going to hang

in my home office. I think I am going to have a red sampler wall.

At least that is the thought for now - we shall see.

Hopefully my next post will occur a little sooner than this one.

Back Home

Just returned back from visiting my in-laws in Michigan. I received my needlework system 4 floor stand before I left. I am looking forward to using it for my next project. I am planning on using the stand with my evertite stretcher bars. I am looking forward to being able to stitch with both hands.

Some Stitching

It has definitely been a while since I actually provided

a stitching update. This past weekend our guild was

able to visit the home of a designer who is in the

process of moving and no longer designing.

She was selling items she didn't want to move and I have to

tell you the collection she had amassed was unbelieveable.

I picked up several out of print books.

and I believe the entire collection she had of Fine Lines Magazine.

These are extremely hard to find and when you do find them on

ebay they can go for quite a bit. I kept debating and then

I finally just took the plunge.

I am in search of a slate frame and trestle.

I hear they are wonderful for stitiching projects on,

but in the US extremely hard to find.

I am trying to convince my husband to make them for me.

In the meantime I have ordered a set of evertite stretcher bars.

I have put them together and I am getting ready to tack

down my fabric. I just need to pick up the correct tacks to use.

I am still debating if I want to use the evertite frame for

my next project of persuade my husband on the slate frame...

Disney - Day 2

Saturday Lance started his day with a character breakfast

Of course he thought the Mickey Mouse plate and

waffles were funny...

Pooh stopped by our table first.

Personally Pooh is my all time favorite.

Tigger of course wasn't far behind

Snow White was absolutely beautiful and Lance of course

recognizes she is beautiful and takes his opportunity to hug

Snow White. John would not join in the picture

so she called him Bashful just like one of her dwarfs.

He still wouldn't join in....

Mad Hatter was the last to visit our table. Lance

didn't quite know what to make of him and his hat.

I had to take a photo of the above. This was given to Disney

by France and still works. However, due to how loud

it is they had it turned off. This is mounted in the wall above the

seating area.

Once breakfast was finished we were off to the

Richard Petty Driving experience. William was so

excited he couldn't stand it. What 19 year old boy

wouldn't love to get into a race car and be allowed

to drive 123 mph's. Needless to say he

had a blast and was beaming the whole time.

Here he is suited up and ready to go.

Photo of him with Richard Petty's race car

Here he is taking one of his laps around the track.

With Dad afterwards.

Disney's Animal Kingdom - Day 1

We just got back from Disney.

We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge and had a great time.

This photo was taken at the lodge as we headed

off to the park. Not everyone was awake yet.

These lovely pelicans were right outside our window

and this photo was taken our first morning so

there is a little fog due to the humidity.

The antler's were absolutely amazing,

I don't know how they carried them they looked very heavy.

Our room had a view of the Savannah and

I was able to capture a few pictures.

William brought his camera along so I will have

to snag some of his photos as well.

He takes great pictures he has a great eye.

Here is a photo of feeding time at the Savannah.

They were placing tree branches in the top of the tree

for the giraffes to eat.

On our first day we went to Animal Kingdom

and our first stop was the Safari I had heard great

things about it so off we went.

I thought this was a great view of the giraffe's,

wildebeest (I think I have that right)

and our safari vehicles.

The lion scratching his neck.

The lioness resting...evidently she lounges around like

this for nine hours a day. Why can't we all have lives

like that lounge around and enjoy the sun. She didn't budge.

Well as you can tell we had great weather for our first day.

The boys had a great time at the Park.

I will gradually add more over the next few days.