Back so soon!

First you do not hear from me for a week, now a post 2nd day...This post is what the mail delivered for me...

A package from Jacquie who was my last Round Robin partner. Beautiful flowers, which was my request and buttons and pattern booklet along with cute 4 season bear pattern. Thank you dear Jacquie! She has not received my RR package yet. I did not wake until 5 am today...that is like losing 2 to 3 hours from my morning! but it sure did feel good to get extra sleep. Laundry on and stitching ready. Plans are to sit outside today with Red and enjoy our wonderful weather. I will sit by the pond and listen to the bubbling water. The table and chairs are under the small tree, Duranta, Sweet Memory for some shade......and most likely the Hummer will keep me company. Gee, that sounds so----- ideal ! let's hope it all comes to be. A few Arizona stitchers plan to meet today at The Attic around 11 am, I thought about going. I am not too keen on driving across The Valley for half an hour by myself....seems like all the gals live on that side of the Valley. The older I get, the less I like to drive especially on the highway. Either way, I will enjoy my day off from work. Glad you visited with me...thank you for your kind words and your friendship.... have a wonderful day.

“All is well... That's my new philosophy...”
― Charles M. Schulz

Exchanges here and there

As busy as the Christmas season is, every year I join exchanges. My SSCS has arrived at it's destination.... here is the ornament that I sent along with a gift that will be opened on Christmas day...

Fiona peeked to see who sent it...so I can show it to you. Then My package arrived from my SSCS and I did not peek at who sent it so I can not tell you that yet...

I do know that the red felt bag contains candy bars! Also yesterday the mail brought my RR from Kim...

A lovely stitched rose and pretty fabric and pink floss..... but///she also included a beautiful item that I admired from her blog! A needlepoint bag backed with wine colored velveteen. I am honored to have it.
Glad to have today off. I have not put an x to fabric for days...have pulled out a couple of sewing projects I would like to do. My hand is sore, but the cut is healing over thanks to lots of Neosporin. I think I am getting used to this new knee brace.... all in all I am doing fine.
It is always a pleasure to have you stop by for a visit.... thank you for the kind words and your friendship.... hope you have wonderful day.
PS...the Verification thing is gone! and I fixed it with the help of Kathy ...so if you need to get rid of the verification, stop by and learn how.

More mail and 19 years later....

The morning is starting out a bit chilly---- temp is 57 but should rise to around 84 today. In the meantime, I had to put my cotton robe on! I am off today and hope to spend time working on an old project. First let me show you what arrived yesterday...

my latest RR piece from Michelle from Stitch Craft Place in the UK. This just might make for a pretty pillow finish....and the fabric she sent would be perfect for it. Do stop by and visit her lovely blog. Michelle enjoys knitting and crochet as well as cross stitch. I have to do the final finish on 3 ornaments...and soon as one must be sent by November 24th. I forgot to take a picture of the tatted ornament that I made for  my co-worker Rindell...it really looked nice and she was pleased.
I want to tell you about the "old piece" that I will be working on. First, here is a picture ...

This is my sweet niece Elyssa taken in October 1995.In the back round you can see a pattern.....Elyssa is working on a stitched piece of her own. She spent a lot of time with Mr H and me and when I stitched, she did also. Her age here is 2 1/2 years old......here is the little girl now...

Oh my...with Elyssa is Joe and their adorable little Natalia Rose who is 7 months old.  Do I feel old today....you bet I do! I have not meet my great niece yet, but I just think she is a doll. Every time they post a picture, I immediately download into my Natalia file....a few are printed out and displayed.

Here is the Santa as it is..... and it will be finished in time for this Christmas even though it is 19 years late! You may ask why it never was finished..... hard to really give you an answer. One day I just looked at it and did not want to work on it anymore. In those days I would work on only one project at a time and this had so much going on that I tired of it. Then one day I decided to work on it (years later) but could not find the pattern. Do the linen was put away. Some years past and I found the pattern but could not remember which box had the stitchery...so...you get the idea. I then thought this piece was not meant to be. It is now! ----- never too late is it? So that is my story for the day...glad you were here to listen....than you as always for the kind words and friendship...have a wonderful day.

I got mail....

Can you believe it is November?!? Today is November 1st; All Saints Day..... growing up Catholic and Italian, it was a day of going to church to pray to the Saints and honor them. As children it was also the day after getting lots of candy while trick or treating! No, this will not be a lecture on the subject, but  just one of those dates/days that we remember even if we do not attend church. What I will be doing today is going to work.... Saturday is a busy day for Jo Ann's. Everyone is trying to use their coupons before they expire and get what they need for the weekend crafting....some will still come back on Sunday to buy with the new coupons..a circle of busy. I will be one of the people who buy what I need for the next 2 days which I have off....and of course there is always something I need! Yesterday the mail delivery was for me...and only me....I could only see the envelope marked with my name and that of Cathy from I Love to Stitch. What a lovely package...

she was my partner for the RR. Cathy stitched a beautiful flower design and included something from my Wish List.... a Just Nan mouse kit and even included a piece of fabric. What a wonderful mail delivery. We both love to make bracelets and she included some pretty pearls....thank you Cathy. If you want to see what I sent to her, visit her blog (click on the red link above). I am thinking this piece would be a beautiful pillow...
I think there are only a couple more exchanges for this RR that June from Butterfly Wings organized. Not sure if she is planning another. If you are interested, be sure to follow her blog so you will know. Well, my friends, it is time for me to have a cup of coffee, my second one! and something to eat...my stomach is hungry. Glad we could spend some time together, and I thank you for the kind words and friendship. Have a wonderful day.

Jack in the Hat

Mr H and I had a nice relaxing Sunday...football and the NE Patriots won, the PBR and more football,  and stitching. What more can a girl ask for. Today is our monthly stitch group meeting so not much stitching gets done there. Today the gals will sign up or the Christmas ornament exchange which will be at our November meeting. Tomorrow will be my visit with the surgeon and I will find out what we will be doing. I am so glad I decided to  send for this next design....

Jack in the Hat is finished. Design by Nan Lewis from Threadwork Primitives. I stitched on 32 ct linen from my linen box...love the color. I used the listed DMC threads but stitched with 2 over 2 instead of 1 over 2. I wanted heavier coverage and the colors deeper.

stitched him into a bag and stuffed and weighted him then attached his bright ribbon...he looks nice with Betty The Witch on the mantel. I am almost finished with another pumpkin....Pumpkin Head, and I have gathered all the stuff for my next RR partner project. As much as I have enjoyed the RR I don't know if I will participate again. I don't mean to sound petty, but I do believe in sending a thank you to the person who took time to select and stitch a special design for you. As soon as I open any package that I receive, I sit right down and send off an email. I appreciate the talents of my fellow stitchers. If nothing else it also lets the person know that it arrived. We all know how the mail can be. Anyway, most of my partners have acknowledged the pieces sent. Our wonderful Arizona weather is finally cooling; we have been in the high 80's and low 90's. Soon, soon I will be outdoors stitching comfortably. Oh my, I am just noticing the time! I must have a bite to eat before leaving for the meet-up. Glad you stopped by and thank you all for the kind words which always mean so much. Have a great day.

The storms have passed

What a crazy day we had here in The Valley on Saturday. While at work it started to rain, thunder clapped loudly and then it poured and all broke loose. Trees down, power lines down and power outages. Our power went out briefly at Jo Ann's and we escorted people to the front of the store to wait it out. As soon as the lights returned, back to business. We were lucky at The Horton House, nothing broken. Mr H worried about me at work and by the time I left at 5 PM it was just spritzing. All this summer rain will certainly bring many Spring flowers for us. Sunday brought a quiet stitching day for me, that is in between resting my right hand which is beginning to swell again. I am dreading getting the injection again. So, what did I stitch....

This is from The Primitive Hare and I used 28 ct Mushroom and the listed DMC threads. Mabon is the Autumn Equinox. I love the grapes. When I was a little girl, September/October was the time we got to pick the grapes from Uncle Paul's arbors and make jam and jelly.
Then I visited my next RR partner Catherine's blog and found just what I think she will like....want a peek...

well, you didn't really expect more did you. Catherine may stop by for a visit and I would not want her to know what it is yet. But I will show you an update on Cinderella...

coming along nicely. I have several days off so I hope to get much more stitched on this, as well as my RR and the Christmas ornaments that I have started. All depends on my hand of course. After the storms of Saturday, the morning temps were delightful and Mr H and I sat out on the lanai for a couple of hours while I stitched and he did some plant trimming. It is so nice to be able to open the kitchen slider so early today and enjoy cool temps. We may have a cool down these nest few days with temps under 100...that will be delightful for sure. How pleasant to have you stop by and chat. Your kind words always make my day. I must have a cup of coffee and some toast..... have a wonderful day.

Fall may not be here yet, but a RR exchange arrived

There is a nip in the morning air...it is 76 and comfy. Temps today should rise to 103 but right now it is a bit cool. I don't really think we will be out of triple digit temps yet. Mr H bought a new DVD player yesterday and whoever at Sony noted that it was an easy hookup was nuts. It took over an hour to get it all ready and able to receive Netflix. While I am at work  (short shift today) Mr H can play around with it to be sure we got it right.  Electronics, love hate relationships. Anyway, before running out for errands yesterday the mail arrived...for me....

my Round Robin exchange from June:http://butterfly-butterflywings.blogspot.com/. She included lovely Vanilla sachet and thread and trinkets and pretty fabric....

and the stitched piece is so pretty. Of course, mail from the UK arrives fairly quickly but going from the USA to the UK or anywhere else seems very slow---- she has not received mine yet and we mailed them just about the same day. I am enjoying the RR exchange, it is the first I have joined. So far it has been nice. Still waiting to hear from one that I sent off to, but so it is. June is the organizer of this group and she has done a wonderful job of getting it together. It is a task to be sure. I have my next partners name so I will be thinking of what to stitch for her. She does not seem to have a blog so I can not see what she is like or likes. Definitely will be keeping my fingers crossed that I get it right. Thank you for the nice compliment on my stitching board. It is working out wonderfully. Now my pattern is not wobbling around on the armrest. When I stitch in my sewing room, I have my work table so it is not a problem. Soon I will be able to sit outside on the lanai to stitch with the sweet hummingbirds to keep me company. Guess that is about it for today....time for my breakfast. I go to work for 10:30 today but will be home with the afternoon for stitching. Your visits make my day.....hope you have a good day.

One more day

Friday......one more work day...whew! I guess my unofficial vacation is over. Getting back into a 4 day work week after the last few months of only working one day has been tiring to say the least. It will also mean a little cut back on stitching time or does it? Actually, when my schedule is less work time, I tend to think I can do this later...then I get to doing this or that and not always back to what I planned. However, when I know that my time is "scheduled" then I will continue to make better progress at whatever I have to do. Make sense? Anyway, I have continued to stitch on Elizabeth in the early hours of each day. It will not be long now and the bloom row will be complete. I still need to figure out what Christmas ornaments to get started. One will be for my stitch group exchange and then the others for mailing out here and there. Speaking of the mail, I did hear from our RR moderator that my piece did arrive in Ireland. I know I took a picture of what I made but it seems to be filed someplace within the depths of this computer...it was mermaids and so cute! My next RR piece is coming along. From the kind comments I see that we all like to watch the clouds. I often think of the nun I had in first grade; she would take us outside and ask us to "look to the clouds, what do you see".....did I mention she carried a ruler around the class?! I noticed this morning that things in the sewing room seem to be , well the room is in disarray. Those pesky faeries have been at it again. Time to make the donuts organize. We don't even want to talk about my desk! Laundry #1 is on and my stomach is begging for food....so, thank you for chatting with me, thank you for the kind words and have a wonderful day.

After the rain

I really enjoyed the comments left about the postal service. Sorry, but it makes me happy that I am not the only one who has issues! No sooner had I complained to you yesterday....first I received an email from Lynda Ruth letting me know she recieved my Round Robin piece and asked if IO had gotten hers yet....I answered no. Then the mail arrived...her RR piece was in my mail box....

I have asked my partners to stitch flowers for me...and look at what she sent...I do need a new calendar book and it is a 2 yer kind which I always use and I love the chunky pen...love pens. So, the mail came through just fine..... still waiting to see if my partner Hannah in Ireland received her package yet....
Last evening we had another rain storm. The rain and wind was actually loud enough to wake me at 1:30 am.... going to be a long day.... now we have a cloudy but very warm morning with the chance of rain later. Hopefully it will wait until I am home from work...do not like driving in rain out here. I was happily stitching strawberry #2 until I ran out of #3722...will get it today at work.  I plan to coffee dye one of them and leave one as is. Speaking f coffee, I think another cup is what I need right now. Thank you for the wonderful comments yesterday and I think we have a new club----The Postal Club! Have a grand day.

Mail and a Hummer

Love to get mail... I know we all do. My Round Robin exchange from Heather arrived...

isn't it pretty. I requested that my partners stitch flowers for me. I have mailed out to her and hope she gets it soon. But we all know how finicky the mail can be and especially with a custom form attached. I am not sure what/how I will use my pieces. I know some of you have a tree that remains up all year long with this or that on it...a thought.  I am just about finished with my next RR exchange piece. This has been my first RR and it has been fun. I love doing exchanges!
There is a new Hummingbird in the garden...

and a rose bush has grown. Our little rose bush has not been doing well with all this heat. If it can make it through the rest of the summer and winter, I think it will be a pretty bush next year. Yesterday as I drove home the temp was 110. Taking care of the garden is a challenge.  Mr H just planted some sunflower seeds; he is very persistent. This morning the Desert Mobile goes to the Hyundai dealer for a scheduled check-up so I hope to get some stitching done while I wait. Usually getting there for 7 am, a first appointment and it might take an hour so I wait instead of coming back home then having to go back out in a short time. I also picked up the new Piecework magazine yesterday so I will have something to read instead of a golf magazine in the waiting area.  In my neighborhood as a child we did not play golf...we played horseshoes and of course bocce. I can't see hitting a tiny ball and then going to find it and hit it again...All those golf carts. Out here we have them driving on some of the streets.... a hazard, but that is another story for another time. Speaking of time, thank you for sharing some of your time with me today. Thank you for the kind words and friendship...have a wonderful day.

Staying cool---indoors

I have started several tasks this morning but have only completed a few... the laundry is in the dryer, umbrellas opened medical forms filled out. Getting easily distracted today. Oh, I was stitching for a while on Hummingbird Garden. All those scattered stitches along the boom part are a pain but they are looking good. Our garden did not have much of a problem other than that broken pot. Not sure what the name of this one is....

but I love the "blooms" it has. Delicate tiny petals that turn this sweet shade of pink. Then I found this rose had bloomed this morning

They are small but so lovely. It is called Iceburg Rose.... a small bush that keeps producing a few at a time.

 I finished stitching My Needle is Sharp from Notforgotten Farm. I must have a dozen wooden boxes in my collection but not one that will fit this. I know, it is originally finished as a pin pillow, but I wanted a box top. I love sewing boxes and do use them as I work on projects. I am all set to go to the Post Office tomorrow to mail out my RR #3. Wonder who I will partner with next? The weather forecast is for more Monsoon wind and rain.  With this weather we do get some humidity which we do not normally have. You know the saying--"but it is dry heat". Our skylight was fixed yesterday just in time if it does rain. The rain we do need but the wind and dust storms I can do without. We have a cardiologist appointment for Mr H on Friday...got us right in. So easy now with filling out all the forms on line and automatically having the medical chart ready for the visit. I hate sitting in an office filling out the paperwork. Even this post seems scattered! Guess that is about it ...working today. So nice to have you visit with me...and thank you for the kind words  and friendship. Enjoy your day. 

Stitching and Round Robin arrived

I really appreciate the kind words for Mr H. Today he is going for blood-work.... I hope they leave some in him. The lab slip is 1-1/2 pages long! Then I need to get an appointment with a cardiologist. They did 3 EKG's and there is a question....so tests are needed. The doctor told him that she did not like his coloring and they had difficulty getting a good pulse. I have said this before, we are not religious people here in the Horton House, but I do ask that you keep us in your thoughts.
On a happier note, Cucki finally received Round Robin #2 piece and the threads she needed for a project .... her RR request was for Fall stitching and I found this leaf pattern and used DMC variegated threads for it. She had also posted that she was unable to obtain certain threads for a planned stitch in So Africa. What's a friend to do, send them of course. Out of 18 colors I could get only 15 so I reached out to the other Prim Stitchers in our group and Lisa Sener found the other colors and sent them. Looking forward to seeing what Cucki stitches with these lovely colors. I was busy stitching and my Hummingbird Garden is growing...

The colors are much nicer in person. The blue linen actually looks nice in this picture. I still have more of the top flowers to do and of course the outlining.  I am also working on my Round Robin #3 pieces and obviously I cannot show that to you yet.  It is a nice piece that I think I will have to make for myself. My chores are done...umbrellas up, plants watered, hummer feeders filled and thistle sack filled. You know what that means, time for stitching. I hope you have been enjoying the Arizona Bound story. What till we get going on the drive part! I am so thankful to count you as my friends.... your kind words always make my day brighter. Hope you have a great day.

Those pesky Quails

Spent yesterday stitching....

Oh, I know it does not look like much progress.... but building the fence was a chore.... and not I have the
foxgloves finished, I have started on the Lavender plants. I also organized the upcoming projects....

There are four ready to go projects on the craft table....I do need to pick up a few threads for 3 however. Tomorrow when I go to work I will get them. Laundry #2 in the dryer, and the umbrellas are open. Now I can return to the stitching chair and work on the Hummingbird Garden.
Remember our conversation yesterday about bloggers? I sent out 6 emails and 2 responded back. I just wanted them to know I was missing their posts. As I mention the work missing.... I sent my Round Robin exchange out to Cucki, South Africa, on June 3. It finally left departed LA on the 5th and she still has not received it! Sending packages through customs has been nerve racking. I do hope it arrives soon.
Recently the Quails have decided to relax in a pot of Hibiscus just about every afternoon which is not making Mr H happy....we now know why the plant is looking less than nice. They hop in and dig around the plant to make a nice rest stop, then the both of them (a pair) settle down for a rest.....

They do look cute..to me, not Mr H. This is out in front of our living room window. It has been so hot for them... and near by is the birdbath for a quick drink of water. The temps today are expected to be around 108. So I say, let them rest where ever they want. I am amazed at how critters survive these hot days.
Well, time for a tall cold drink... iced water and lemon slices...glad you were able to visit with me today and thank you for the kind words. You always make my day! Enjoy your day....

“If you smile when you are alone, then you really mean it.”
―Andy Rooney

Thank you Cucki

The weather has been hot and I have been stitching on Clematis....I will update with a picture soon. I am enjoying this and have no idea why I never finished it  before.  I do know that I have a few others that really should be finished and I do know that I have plans to start a dew more...oh dear, it is just a dizzy circle! One of the ones to start I needed light blue linen. I decided to experiment and dye some samples. Don't you love dying fabrics and trims? I use almost anything from Rit to fruit and of course tea and coffee.....coffee, still not in my diet and I do miss it. Anyway where was I? oh yes the light blue fabric. So I started the process...

starting with 28 count white evenweave, this is what happened. I started with 1/2 cap full of Royal Blue and first 2 cups hot water, then 3 and finally 4 cups hot water. The top row are all dipped in and then rinse for a few minutes in plain water. The bottom row is washed with soap.  The sample all by itself is 1/2 cap full and 1 cup water and just rinsed. Now to select and try to duplicate. Love doing this!
My Round Robin #2 piece arrived from Cucki

So pretty and a lovely postcard too. Love getting postcards from different states and countries. I will be thinking of a way to use this. I just joined a SAL, my first one. I am Just waiting for the kit to arrive. The others have started so I will play catch-up. It is not a large project so I should be able to follow along. So any of you do Punch Needle? I have wanted to try it for some time. I love  seeing what others create but now I have a push to try it. Charl, from the Prim Society Group is sending me the tools to do so. Very kind and generous.  I know what you are saying, why something else? I can not help myself! When I am sitting in the Angels Craft Garden someday, I want to be able to join in on all that everyone else is doing! Dear friends, it is time to go out to open the umbrellas, and water my assigned plant! (more about this later) and of course have another cup of tea. I will be working today so my stitching is not a happening thing nor is the fabric dyeing. Thank you for your friendship and kind words. Hope your day is wonderful.

Round and Round I go

I am really enjoying this Round Robin experience. I just wrapped for mailing... on Monday... RR#2 going to Cucki.    Shirley in NZ received my piece so I can now show you...

It is a Just Nan piece that I have had but never stitched. It originally calls for a hummingbird charm to stitch in the center, I did include it along with 2 fat quarters of fabric...forgot to take picture! forgot that Shirley does not have a blog! Shirley let me know that it arrived and she will certainly add the charm when she decided how she will finish it. Love the subtle colors that Just Nan chooses for her designs. I will definitely be stitching this for me.
Yesterday Mr H and I took the 50 mile ride to The Attic. I wanted to pick up threads to send to Cucki that she is not able to get in South Africa. I was able to get 12 out of 15 specialty threads for her. I also needed my magazine for an upcoming possible SAL.

I have wanted to make one of these Pincushion Dolls for so long.... love it. Finally decided to go ahead. Jean, from The Attic is going to put together a kit. WE talked about it yesterday and the doll bodies are on order. I know I could gather the materials and order the doll part, but I thought this would be easier, definitely not less expensive though. While I was browsing abut, I saw this...

somehow it flew home with me! I really love the Just Nan designs. This Singing Pin Bird is so sweet. Mr H was also roaming around the place and showed me a sample and said he liked it.... I said I have that pattern. So that will be next in hand. I will tell you it is hummingbirds at the feeder in a flower garden..... did I mention that I have had the pattern for a few years? Just pulled the DMC threads and still need to get a few. Since I am working today, that will not be an extra trip to get them.
I think I can safely say that I am finally eating real meals. I still include the lovely blah BRATTY diet, and have not had a cup of coffee in a week! I feel much better and less tired. This body just needed more than rice and bananas. I do miss the coffee. I have one more week of the meds. Glad to get this put in the past. Are you still with me... I know a chatty post today. I am happy to have your visit and your kind words. Hope you have a wonderful day.

Cloudy, muggy and mail

The temps recently have stayed in the triple digits reaching 107. Today they tell us we will have a cool down, maybe it will be 98, but cloudy and muggy. I just poked my head out to get the newspaper. Think it will be an indoor day for me today especially since I am feeling better. Oh I do have to go to the Post Office to mail out Natalia's quilt.  I have added tea and yogurt to the BRAT diet now making me BRATTY! I started a new med and slowly adding real food to the diet. Definitely helping with the fatigue. I actually have been stitching but cannot share because it is RR #2. Yesterday the mail brought me...

 my first piece from Shirley in NZ. She does not have a blog but we catted via emails. I love the motif and she sent a few goodies too. Tea, humbug, beads and lavender ribbon....she did check my blog! Shirley included a postcard from her area and that is something I try to remember to include when I send something. I will post the motif I sent when I know she received it.... she reads my blog so I do not want her to see it here first. I really am glad I joined in this exchange. Another month has flown away...2 days left and then it is June. I will continue my Arizona Bound post then. I am ready for another cup of tea and to stitch for awhile. Hope whatever your plans are they are fun. Thank you for stopping by and for your friendship....

Nothing will work unless you do.

Maya Angelou