Yahoo it's 2011. Well as everyone is bringing in the New Year with a bang, I am saying goodbye to a difficult 2010 with wishes of a happier and healthier year. Has everyone made those unattainable new year's resolutions, I did but a little different this year. Instead of the usual lose weight, get fit finish all my UFO's this year I simply wish to be happier.
Full retirement has set in and we have enjoyed the past year trying to find out what it is we want to do with the rest of our lives. The biggest advice I can give anyone so far is to not just sit around. We have done the walking and the hobbies but the normal everyday sort of stuff that you do in addition to working, cleaning etc. has been not as regular as in the past so now it's time to get off this relaxed rollercoaster and start living the rest of our lives.
Of course my pile of UFO's has grown exponentially and so this year I am going to finish some projects. It wouldn't be fun though if I could start something new so I will have to check out the list and see what I can come up with .
I haven't any pictures of the cherry blossoms or the heron in winter but not much has been done to the later since I started just that kind of year.
Well here goes 2011 and heres to a terrific year for everyone.
Keep on Stitching, one thread a day. Pennie
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Friday, October 8, 2010
Home Again, Home Again......
Well we have just arrived home again from our holiday south of the border and it's good to be home. Don't get me wrong D and I had a wonderful time in Virginia and this holiday was a little more relaxed than in the past as the weather really didn't cooperate much. We had rain, fog, wind and cloudy days so we stayed where we were and enjoyed the free time to stitch, read and build model railway buildings.
I missed my Wednesday night stitch with the girls and look forward to getting back into the routine of the fall. While in Virginia I was lucky to visit a stitching shop in Fredericksburg called "Everything Stitching" it was a great little place but I didn't have much time to look around. What I saw will make it a revisit next time we are in the area.
If there is anyone else out there that appreciates model railroad or trains in general a place to go is Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia and if you can make the trip through the George Washington National Park it will all be worth the trip.
The one thing that I missed down there this year were the colours they hadn't happened yet and I was told by the people at the resort that they didn't think there would be colours as they had a drought this year and the trees would probably just drop their leaves and not change colour. What a shame I know I wasn't the only one to miss them. Driving through the upper part of Pensylvania it looked like Mother Nature had dropped her paint box of colours all over the mountains it was beautiful.
As much as I love taking a holiday it is always good to come home and find out what everyone has been up to and it sounds like my family is doing OK right now and that is a good thing.
To everyone I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving
Keep on Stitching, one thread a day. Pennie
I missed my Wednesday night stitch with the girls and look forward to getting back into the routine of the fall. While in Virginia I was lucky to visit a stitching shop in Fredericksburg called "Everything Stitching" it was a great little place but I didn't have much time to look around. What I saw will make it a revisit next time we are in the area.
If there is anyone else out there that appreciates model railroad or trains in general a place to go is Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia and if you can make the trip through the George Washington National Park it will all be worth the trip.
The one thing that I missed down there this year were the colours they hadn't happened yet and I was told by the people at the resort that they didn't think there would be colours as they had a drought this year and the trees would probably just drop their leaves and not change colour. What a shame I know I wasn't the only one to miss them. Driving through the upper part of Pensylvania it looked like Mother Nature had dropped her paint box of colours all over the mountains it was beautiful.
As much as I love taking a holiday it is always good to come home and find out what everyone has been up to and it sounds like my family is doing OK right now and that is a good thing.
To everyone I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving
Keep on Stitching, one thread a day. Pennie
Monday, September 20, 2010
Fall is on the Rise
Today we put the cover on the pool. It is a balmy 70 degrees but the pool is a very chilly 62 and so we must close the pool before it gets any colder so it is secure for the winter months ahead. That's a very chilly thought indeed. Standing here looking at the pool and it feels like fall is here. We have one of those new covers that looks very much like grass but it is not the beautiful blue that we look out and see every summer morning. We have started to put the umbrellas and cushions away and generally tidy up the yard. It will still be nice to sit out and read or stitch while we can.
D and |I have just booked our fall vacation. Great deals when it is last minute like this and so at the end of the week we will head south to Virginia for some R&R. How does that work when you don't work for a living anymore. Every day is like a holiday, sorry for those of you out there still gainfully employed. I know it's tough but someone has to do it.
It's funny the first thing that D and I thought of when we booked our trip was what are we taking with us to work on. We vacation a little different than most as we are hobbyists to the end. When we are driving there is no space issues so it can be large or small, it doesn't really matter. Also on our holidays the first thing we do is find out if there are any, train, stitching, quilting, or beading stores in the area as the U.S. does have more variety and a larger selection so we always find something interesting. Last year we came home with a glass etching 18x36 of The General (locomotive) seat belted in the back seat so it would arrive in one piece. We thank the glass artist in Massanutten the piece is quite beautiful and D shows it off to all his train buddies. It did arrive home in perfect condition.
Last year I didn't find very many stitching places so maybe this year I will have to go a little further afield. If anyone wishes to comment on any shops please feel free to do so. Mind you like most I don't need any more stitching right now if I stitched full time I would probably have to live till I'm a 150 to finish all the pieces. I'm not like the younger ones in the Stitching Sisters they seem to stitch one a month. Don't get me wrong they stitch beautifully but they also have the eyes for it and no arthritis in the hands. Oh to be young again. No strike that. I don't need to go through that again.
With age comes some benefits like retirement. Well I guess while the afternoon is young and the sun is shining I will take my stitching and go outside.
Keep on Stitching, one thread a day. Pennie
D and |I have just booked our fall vacation. Great deals when it is last minute like this and so at the end of the week we will head south to Virginia for some R&R. How does that work when you don't work for a living anymore. Every day is like a holiday, sorry for those of you out there still gainfully employed. I know it's tough but someone has to do it.
It's funny the first thing that D and I thought of when we booked our trip was what are we taking with us to work on. We vacation a little different than most as we are hobbyists to the end. When we are driving there is no space issues so it can be large or small, it doesn't really matter. Also on our holidays the first thing we do is find out if there are any, train, stitching, quilting, or beading stores in the area as the U.S. does have more variety and a larger selection so we always find something interesting. Last year we came home with a glass etching 18x36 of The General (locomotive) seat belted in the back seat so it would arrive in one piece. We thank the glass artist in Massanutten the piece is quite beautiful and D shows it off to all his train buddies. It did arrive home in perfect condition.
Last year I didn't find very many stitching places so maybe this year I will have to go a little further afield. If anyone wishes to comment on any shops please feel free to do so. Mind you like most I don't need any more stitching right now if I stitched full time I would probably have to live till I'm a 150 to finish all the pieces. I'm not like the younger ones in the Stitching Sisters they seem to stitch one a month. Don't get me wrong they stitch beautifully but they also have the eyes for it and no arthritis in the hands. Oh to be young again. No strike that. I don't need to go through that again.
With age comes some benefits like retirement. Well I guess while the afternoon is young and the sun is shining I will take my stitching and go outside.
Keep on Stitching, one thread a day. Pennie
Friday, September 10, 2010
Lazy Day in the Sun
For the last few months I have been trying to decide what kind of notebook computer to get and when I have such questions I usually go to my two sons and start to ask questions. My first and foremost issue was that it had to be light weight and compact and be able to do what my regular laptop could do. My husband and I travel a lot and our present laptop was like taking another piece of luggage. Since my regular laptop is 5 years old a lot has happened in the technology world and so this wasn`t going to be a problem. Famous last words.
First of all both my sons have a huge knowledge of computers as most young people do. They differ a great deal in their uses of the computer. I had this ongoing pros and cons arguement with the two of them for the summer, one thinking a notebook would be wonderful the other thinking it would be great to just get a smaller regular laptop. So I would talk to one and would decide yes this is what I want and then I would talk to the other and find out that the notebook wasn`t going to provide the options that I wanted. This has been going on all summer and I have also asked friends who have a bigger knowledge than I do of computers, that doesn`t take much, I`m grateful to those who gave me their opinions.
This is definitely the time to buy a small laptop-notebook as school has started once again and the deals are out there. I got an e-mail from my son letting me know that there was a particular notemook on sale, great price in my budget, good opportunity, sale ends in 3 days. The other son basically said no get a smaller regular laptop it would be better and he could probably find one on the net for a similar price. Decisions, decisions well I just picked up my new notebook and personally I think it is great. I can fit it in my purse if I want and it is an aqua colour. I remember the days when asked about what I wanted on a computer I would say a nice shade of grey would be good. All kidding aside this is a gem. Big enough for an old dog like me who still doesn`t know much more about computers and it has everything I need or want and if I wish to download a program all I need to do is use an external DVD player and of course the expertise of one or both of my sons.
Isn`t technology great. Good Grief. Now I will relax and stitch for the rest of the day. Tonight I`m going to meet with some new knitting friends so it should be a wonderful evening.
Keep on Stitching, one thread a day. Pennie
First of all both my sons have a huge knowledge of computers as most young people do. They differ a great deal in their uses of the computer. I had this ongoing pros and cons arguement with the two of them for the summer, one thinking a notebook would be wonderful the other thinking it would be great to just get a smaller regular laptop. So I would talk to one and would decide yes this is what I want and then I would talk to the other and find out that the notebook wasn`t going to provide the options that I wanted. This has been going on all summer and I have also asked friends who have a bigger knowledge than I do of computers, that doesn`t take much, I`m grateful to those who gave me their opinions.
This is definitely the time to buy a small laptop-notebook as school has started once again and the deals are out there. I got an e-mail from my son letting me know that there was a particular notemook on sale, great price in my budget, good opportunity, sale ends in 3 days. The other son basically said no get a smaller regular laptop it would be better and he could probably find one on the net for a similar price. Decisions, decisions well I just picked up my new notebook and personally I think it is great. I can fit it in my purse if I want and it is an aqua colour. I remember the days when asked about what I wanted on a computer I would say a nice shade of grey would be good. All kidding aside this is a gem. Big enough for an old dog like me who still doesn`t know much more about computers and it has everything I need or want and if I wish to download a program all I need to do is use an external DVD player and of course the expertise of one or both of my sons.
Isn`t technology great. Good Grief. Now I will relax and stitch for the rest of the day. Tonight I`m going to meet with some new knitting friends so it should be a wonderful evening.
Keep on Stitching, one thread a day. Pennie
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Confetti Anyone
Hi Everyone Once Again:
I have a background YAY! My many thanks to my good friend and fellow stitcher who has once again come to my aid and put a background on my blog. After a few tries myself and not succeeding and getting frustrated by the minute it's good to know that I can always count on good friends to bail me out. I would also like to thank my good friend for framing my butterfly so beautifully last month. It has been hung in my livingroom as a lasting memory of Barb.
I have taken pictures of my on going trial of the Heron and the Cherry Blossoms. The heron of course is time consuming. For one I am stitching on black, it is also a ton of confetti stitching and although I can work for what seems like hours I only seem to achieve a small amount. A couple of stitches here and
there and once again I have to start another thread I am trying to reach a point where there are more stitches of one colour. As you can see from this picture I have a lot of black fabric to cover and I hope one day to do that. Right now as you can see the work is long from finished but one thread a day and one day the
celebration will begin. I have entertained different thoughts; to proceed from working on one area at a time with different threads, to doing as much as I can of one colour. The second way can be a problem if you get out of count and place a stitch in the wrong spot then it is a real bummer. I also am trying to figure ways to start and stop threads as where there are several starts the back is beginning to take on its own depth and this may cause a problem when framing. Anyone have any ideas.
The cherry blossoms is quite enjoyable to work on colour is light there are a few blended threads but that will give it depth when it is finished I didn't give the full length of this one but it is about the same amount to stitch as the heron. I must try to pick something a little smaller I never seem to quite do that. I do love a challenge but not usually this much at once. On the cherry blossoms this is just about the first book, then I can move on to the second of three. I wonder if I can finish this before retreat next May.
A couple of fellow stitchers and I went for a road trip on Saturday and ended up at the Thread and Eye in London they have just moved to a new location which is a little bigger with lots of classroom space and just come on over and stitch space. The second shop was in St. Thomas, Stitch-it Central and she is still working on her location at the present. She is located in front of her home in the previous house. This is a very small and inconvenient space which will be torn down in the next few weeks and she will move into her new basement space in their new home with approx. 3000 sq ft. to devote to her store. I wonder if it will be big enough. I hope she has lots of big ideas for the space because I am sure that her regulars will be able to suggest lots of inventory that they would love to have.
To night is our regular stitching meeting and it is good and hot for everyone to come and enjoy a swim before we start to stitch for the evening. Hope everyone will come and enjoy.
Keep on Stitching one thread at a time
I have a background YAY! My many thanks to my good friend and fellow stitcher who has once again come to my aid and put a background on my blog. After a few tries myself and not succeeding and getting frustrated by the minute it's good to know that I can always count on good friends to bail me out. I would also like to thank my good friend for framing my butterfly so beautifully last month. It has been hung in my livingroom as a lasting memory of Barb.
I have taken pictures of my on going trial of the Heron and the Cherry Blossoms. The heron of course is time consuming. For one I am stitching on black, it is also a ton of confetti stitching and although I can work for what seems like hours I only seem to achieve a small amount. A couple of stitches here and
there and once again I have to start another thread I am trying to reach a point where there are more stitches of one colour. As you can see from this picture I have a lot of black fabric to cover and I hope one day to do that. Right now as you can see the work is long from finished but one thread a day and one day the
celebration will begin. I have entertained different thoughts; to proceed from working on one area at a time with different threads, to doing as much as I can of one colour. The second way can be a problem if you get out of count and place a stitch in the wrong spot then it is a real bummer. I also am trying to figure ways to start and stop threads as where there are several starts the back is beginning to take on its own depth and this may cause a problem when framing. Anyone have any ideas.
The cherry blossoms is quite enjoyable to work on colour is light there are a few blended threads but that will give it depth when it is finished I didn't give the full length of this one but it is about the same amount to stitch as the heron. I must try to pick something a little smaller I never seem to quite do that. I do love a challenge but not usually this much at once. On the cherry blossoms this is just about the first book, then I can move on to the second of three. I wonder if I can finish this before retreat next May.
A couple of fellow stitchers and I went for a road trip on Saturday and ended up at the Thread and Eye in London they have just moved to a new location which is a little bigger with lots of classroom space and just come on over and stitch space. The second shop was in St. Thomas, Stitch-it Central and she is still working on her location at the present. She is located in front of her home in the previous house. This is a very small and inconvenient space which will be torn down in the next few weeks and she will move into her new basement space in their new home with approx. 3000 sq ft. to devote to her store. I wonder if it will be big enough. I hope she has lots of big ideas for the space because I am sure that her regulars will be able to suggest lots of inventory that they would love to have.
To night is our regular stitching meeting and it is good and hot for everyone to come and enjoy a swim before we start to stitch for the evening. Hope everyone will come and enjoy.
Keep on Stitching one thread at a time
Friday, June 25, 2010
This week I have happily finished a couple of small projects which has put me back into the routine of stitching on a regular basis. I spent most of the weekend cleaning up my sewing room and finding a few treasures that I had forgotten about. I haven't as yet found the Christmas ornaments that I had finished and needed to be put together, they are however somewhere in my sewing room.
You know when you put something in a place so you won't forget well guess what, I have forgotten where that place might be. I know they will turn up and in the most logical place but till then I will continue to stitch more Christmas ornaments.
Tonight I found out a lovely bit of information. Peter who loves model railroading with my husband told me that he also cross stitches, what a treat. He saw all the pieces that I have around the house but most are not mine. That's OK. Since he likes trains I showed him the HAED of the General. He loved it but only wants the part that is silhouetted in the top left corner. He also doesn't stitch on linen so that may be a learning curve. I don't know if he is up for that. Maybe I could even get D interested in cross stitch, but then I'm sure that he would want me into trains and sorry for your luck but I have enough UFO's is don't need a new past time.
Well I guess I had better get my act together as I have to do my one thread today. Barb had the right idea but sometimes the end seems like it will never come. Ah well if I don't start I won't finish. Best to all.
Keep on Stitching one thread a day.
You know when you put something in a place so you won't forget well guess what, I have forgotten where that place might be. I know they will turn up and in the most logical place but till then I will continue to stitch more Christmas ornaments.
Tonight I found out a lovely bit of information. Peter who loves model railroading with my husband told me that he also cross stitches, what a treat. He saw all the pieces that I have around the house but most are not mine. That's OK. Since he likes trains I showed him the HAED of the General. He loved it but only wants the part that is silhouetted in the top left corner. He also doesn't stitch on linen so that may be a learning curve. I don't know if he is up for that. Maybe I could even get D interested in cross stitch, but then I'm sure that he would want me into trains and sorry for your luck but I have enough UFO's is don't need a new past time.
Well I guess I had better get my act together as I have to do my one thread today. Barb had the right idea but sometimes the end seems like it will never come. Ah well if I don't start I won't finish. Best to all.
Keep on Stitching one thread a day.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
A Time to say Farewell
I am sure there are a few of you out there that are thinking OK she is finally going to stop blogging. Well not yet. I am going to persevere for a while. You know it's true about retirement, you have all this time and yet it is not enough and life gets in the way.
A couple of weeks back my stitching sisters gathered together for a wonderful stitching retreat weekend. Everyone, that could, in our group came and we had a few additions from the surrounding area and it was a great weekend of stitching and friendship. For me it was a two fold weekend. Previous to the 2nd annual retreat I had been able to attend a similar retreat in Gananoque and for 14 years my sister-in-law and myself would go to this retreat from Friday to Monday. Each year generally the same group would go and we would be able to reacquaint ourselves with these yearly friendships. As all things come to an end in 2008 it was the last time that retreat was held and I missed seeing my friends from that group.
Then a year ago my stitching sisters decided to organize our own retreat that was much closer to where I live and of course I joined in. This year was our 2nd annual retreat in Grand Bend and it was a tremendous success. For me though it had some sad moments not because of anyone attending but because of someone who wasn't there.
For those of you who have known me over these many years of stitching you have also met my sister-in-law Barb. Thirty-five years ago I met Barb for the first time shortly before I married her younger brother Don. Barb started out as all do, my sister-in-law, but over the years we became best of friends. Her husband in the Canadian military moved frequently as do most in the military but their last posting was in Ottawa and this was when Barb and I became best friends. This was the closest they had ever been to Barb's family as it was only a 5-6 hour drive depending on the weather.
Barb, her husband and two daughters would trek down to Brantford for special occasions, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Family Reunion and the four would stay with us. I remember the first time they came, there were four suitcases and four or more various bags of knitting and stitching. Barb would never know what she wanted to work on so she brought it all. We used to say the troops had landed when they arrived as the entire front hall would be stacked with bags, suitcases, pillows etc. You have to realize that generally in the beginning they were coming on Friday night and going on Sunday afternoon so this was a huge amount of luggage for a weekend stay. They and Don and I and the two boys hit if off from the very beginning. She loved to stitch and knit also two of my favorite pasttimes. The four kids got along famously even though there was a huge age difference, the guys would watch sports and visit and Barb and I would sit a stitch/knit in a marathon.
When they came at Christmas they usually stayed for a week so the marathon was wonderful. Of course every visit also included a visit to our local craft store, Mary Maxim known for knitting but has supplies and pattern/kits for cross stitch. Christmas morning we would be up early, open gifts and have breakfast, get the turkey in the oven, get the vegetables on and set the table. Then we would sit stitching for the entire afternoon until family arrived. It was great. We would laugh and solve all the world problems of course and look at all the wonderful projects that we both had on the go. UFO's and projects that we hoped to get to at some time in our lifetime.
Barb usually only did small to medium projects whereas I always pick the large challenging ones. Barb had one philosophy, to stitch one thread a day. Any project large or small if you don't start you can't finish. At the beginning of April Barb went into the hospital two weeks later she was diagnosed and on May 10 she sadly passed on. At our retreat she would have been my roomie and so the sadness. She was missed.
As I sit and stitch at home I realize that my stitching marathons with Barb will never happen again. The world's problems will go unsolved and I have lost one of my best friends. I remember her philosophy of one thread a day and will try to carry on her resolve but the loss is still there. I know with time the sadness and emptiness will lessen but the loss will still be there. So today I will say farewell and as I stitch I will keep fond memories of all the time we spent stitching our marathon sessions.
Keep on Stitching one thread a day.
A couple of weeks back my stitching sisters gathered together for a wonderful stitching retreat weekend. Everyone, that could, in our group came and we had a few additions from the surrounding area and it was a great weekend of stitching and friendship. For me it was a two fold weekend. Previous to the 2nd annual retreat I had been able to attend a similar retreat in Gananoque and for 14 years my sister-in-law and myself would go to this retreat from Friday to Monday. Each year generally the same group would go and we would be able to reacquaint ourselves with these yearly friendships. As all things come to an end in 2008 it was the last time that retreat was held and I missed seeing my friends from that group.
Then a year ago my stitching sisters decided to organize our own retreat that was much closer to where I live and of course I joined in. This year was our 2nd annual retreat in Grand Bend and it was a tremendous success. For me though it had some sad moments not because of anyone attending but because of someone who wasn't there.
For those of you who have known me over these many years of stitching you have also met my sister-in-law Barb. Thirty-five years ago I met Barb for the first time shortly before I married her younger brother Don. Barb started out as all do, my sister-in-law, but over the years we became best of friends. Her husband in the Canadian military moved frequently as do most in the military but their last posting was in Ottawa and this was when Barb and I became best friends. This was the closest they had ever been to Barb's family as it was only a 5-6 hour drive depending on the weather.
Barb, her husband and two daughters would trek down to Brantford for special occasions, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Family Reunion and the four would stay with us. I remember the first time they came, there were four suitcases and four or more various bags of knitting and stitching. Barb would never know what she wanted to work on so she brought it all. We used to say the troops had landed when they arrived as the entire front hall would be stacked with bags, suitcases, pillows etc. You have to realize that generally in the beginning they were coming on Friday night and going on Sunday afternoon so this was a huge amount of luggage for a weekend stay. They and Don and I and the two boys hit if off from the very beginning. She loved to stitch and knit also two of my favorite pasttimes. The four kids got along famously even though there was a huge age difference, the guys would watch sports and visit and Barb and I would sit a stitch/knit in a marathon.
When they came at Christmas they usually stayed for a week so the marathon was wonderful. Of course every visit also included a visit to our local craft store, Mary Maxim known for knitting but has supplies and pattern/kits for cross stitch. Christmas morning we would be up early, open gifts and have breakfast, get the turkey in the oven, get the vegetables on and set the table. Then we would sit stitching for the entire afternoon until family arrived. It was great. We would laugh and solve all the world problems of course and look at all the wonderful projects that we both had on the go. UFO's and projects that we hoped to get to at some time in our lifetime.
Barb usually only did small to medium projects whereas I always pick the large challenging ones. Barb had one philosophy, to stitch one thread a day. Any project large or small if you don't start you can't finish. At the beginning of April Barb went into the hospital two weeks later she was diagnosed and on May 10 she sadly passed on. At our retreat she would have been my roomie and so the sadness. She was missed.
Keep on Stitching one thread a day.
Thanks for visiting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)