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My sushi scarf!

See what my Mom made me? It's a scarf and when you roll it up it looks like sushi! cool huh? I love it!

Dead Until Dark

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thought this was a great book, and the series on HBO is following it really well, though they have added a couple of things.. anyway, I had read some other reviews that said Sookie was too naive, etc, but I disagree.. I think she knew a lot more than people gave her credit for. Sure she did naive things from time to time, but don't we all? I'm looking forward to the second book (gotta wait my turn at the library.)


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Another great read!!

Deadly Night by Heather Graham

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved this book!! It's fast-paced and quite different from the suspense novels I usually read. I will definitely be reading the other two in the series. A great read if you like suspense that involves the supernatural.


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Eat, Drink, and be Scary

Stitched up this Sampler Girl freebie last week. I'm hoping to add some fall and Halloweeny buttons if I can find some..

Ren Fest pics

Here are some picture from the entrance and the inside of the festival!

Back from Maryland

My brother-in-law and his wife invited us to Maryland this past weekend for the Renaissance Festival. It was so much fun! This Ren Fest is amazing, I'll post some pics soon. The festival runs from Aug. til sometime in Oct. and there are permanent structures there for it. There was so much to see and do!! We are already planning a trip for next year and we are hoping to make costumes and dress up. They have a website . Check it out!! It's worth a drive, even if it's a few hours.

My Secret Garden

I finished this over the weekend, and just now getting around to posting it! The lighting in my house isn't so good, I wanted to take the picture outside to take a better picture but the weather hasn't been cooperative. So here it is. I am thinking about framing it in a shadow box and maybe putting some minatures of some sort to the sides.. don't know when I will get around to doing it tho. I may ask my dad to make the shadow box.

Finished Pride & Prejudice (again)

The book this time, who is like an old friend!! But I did realize one important part they left out of both the recent movie and the BBC version. The conversations/relationship toward the end between Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. The BBC version touched on it as did the newer version, but I think in both films we really miss the affection between these two. Now that I've gotten my Jane Austen fix, off to a novel a bit more "shocking" as they would say back then.. lol

Another Christmas finish

This is a Prairie Schooler freebie from ages ago. Instead of DMC I used Weeks Dye Works fibers in White Lightning, Aztec Red, Cadet, and Molasses(I think- don't have the list in front of me.) The flesh color is still DMC. I stitched it on 32 ct MCG textiles grey linen.

Ornament/card finish

I haven't decided what I'm going to do with this one yet.. but I finished it earlier this week. It's from a Just Cross Stitch ornament issue, the designer is Angel Stitchin. :-)

Final thoughts on P&P

I was pleasantly surprised by this! While still not comparable to the A&E Pride and Prejudice, there were things I still liked about this one.. I mentioned some in the previous post. Upon further watching I found the Bennet home not so near to poverty as I orginally thought. The actor playing Mr Darcy did grow on me but still does not hold a candle to Colin Firth. ;-) I thought it silly that Mr Darcy came to Elizabeth in her bedroom to give her the letter as such a thing would have most certainly been frowned upon back then, and Lady Catherine waking them all from their beds to fuss at Elizabeth? I found that far-fetched as well. However I did like the engagement of Jane and Mr Bingley, I liked that they showed her acceptance. Mr Collins was funny as always though I thought his portrayal very similar to the actor in A&E's version.. I liked the actress playing Mary Bennet better in this one as she wasn't quite so homely, and I liked where she and Mr Bennet hugged after he embarassed her at the ball. I also liked the end, where you see Lizzy and Mr Darcy at Pemberley after they were married, I thought it was sweet, even if we did miss the wedding. Ok that's my thoughts! Would love to hear what you think, you deserve a listen after my rambling.. lol

Random thoughts on the newest (I think) Pride and Prejudice movie

With Kiera Knightley that is.. I confess the first time I started watching this, I never finished.. compared to the A&E version there was so much combined and cut out I turned it off. But I'm in an open-minded mood tonight and actually have the TV to myself so I decided to watch it on Oxygen. I missed the beginning but not much.. it's not as bad as I thought. Of course the acting is wonderful, except possibly for Matthew McFadyen, if that is the actor playing Mr. Darcy. I find him not near as good looking as Colin Firth and his portrayal rather blah. I like the actress playing Charlotte Lucas a bit better, she's not quite so serious all the time and I can picture her being Elizabeth's friend more than the actress who played her in the prior version. I was rather disappointed that the characters of Mr and Mrs Hurst - Bingley's married sister and her husband, were totally eliminated from the movie. Judi Dench is great as Lady Catherine, although I like the "other one" also. You rarely see Wickham in this one either, at least so far. I still have a bit of the movie to go..The actor playing Wickham is much better looking in this one, he reminds me a little of Orlando Bloom. I was surprised at how poor the Bennetts house looks and how grand Netherfield looks.. although I can picture Bingley living in such a home I thought the Bennetts, while not having near as much money were not so near the poverty level.. their home looks like it is not well kept and rather dirty in places. I also thought it kind of curious, that at the ball where Mr Darcy first asks Elizabeth to dance, almost all the women are wearing white gowns. Maybe it's something I don't know about the time period. Overall I'm not as disappointed as I thought I would be, though I still like the A&E version better. Maybe I will post some more later, when I finish watching! (or tomorrow, as it's getting late..)

Another great suspense read!

The Stolen by Jason Pinter

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh.my.gosh. This book was soooooooooooo good! I had never heard of Jason Pinter before. I got his book from my Mira book club and it sounded good so I read it. I HATED to put this book down.

Daniel Linwood disappears as a young boy only to return to his family almost 5 years later with no evidence of abuse or neglect, and no memory of the years he was missing. Henry Parker is a reporter sent to cover his story. Intrigued by certain things is his interview with the boy, Henry digs deeper and finds Daniel isn't the only child who has been taken and then returned a few years later unharmed. I won't spoil the story.. just read it and find out the deeply hidden and disturbing secrets behind the disappearances.


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Never Argue With A Woman

I got this from my friend Chris. I love it!!


One morning the husband
returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take
a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife
decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short
distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden
in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says,
'Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?'
'Reading a book,'
she replies, (thinking, 'Isn't that obvious?')
'You're in a
Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her
'I'm sorry,
officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'
'Yes, but you have all
the equipment. For all I know you could start at any
moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

'For reading a
book,' she replies,
'You're in a
Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her again,
'I'm sorry,
officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading.'
'Yes, but you have all
the equipment. For all I know you could start at any
moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

'If you do that,
I'll have to charge you with sexual assault,' says
the woman.
'But I haven't even
touched you,' says the game warden.
'That's true, but
you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start
at any moment.'


'Have a nice day
ma'am,' and he left.


MORAL: Never argue with a
woman who reads. It's likely she can also think. Send
this to four women who are thinkers. If you receive this,
you know you're intelligent.

Tea With Jane

I finished this yesterday.. any ideas what I should make it into? I don't need a tea cozy cause I don't have a teapot.. at least not yet..

Hanna and her new do

Actually she got it cut a couple of weeks ago but I forgot to post!

A book review: The Ocean Between Us

The Ocean Between Us by Susan Wiggs

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a great book, especially for anyone from a military family. Grace and Steve are married. Steve is in the navy and is gone for months at a time. They have 3 teenage children, two of which are coming upon their high school graduation. The story is about them and another couple (I will not spoil the plot by telling you about them) and basically how Navy life affects their family and the decisions they make. It was an excellent book.


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Two things finished this week!

A San Man kit I received as a gift a while back- pillow included (I only WISH I made pillows that well! And a magnet for a friend who hopefully won't check my blog for the next few days. I did cut it a little more evenly after I took this picture, but I was at work so I didn't take another pic.

The gift I made for Mom and Dad's 40th anniversary

I can post it now cause they got it yesterday!

Quick blog before work...

Sorry I haven't blogged much, I have been stitching away to get a couple of things finished.. now they are done but I can't even post them here yet, because they are gifts...one you will get to see soon but the other may be a while. I have started a couple of new things, and am still working on my Christmas ornament on Mondays. The two things I just started shouldn't take too long so hopefully I will be posting them in the next week or so! I will blog more later, I have to finish making my lunch and get the kids off to daycare so I can go do my morning walk. I didn't walk at all last week and I feel like a blob. lol

My new glasses!

Whatcha think?

More glasses!

OK, trash all the ones on the previous blog, cause I like all these better. I am really leaning toward either the first or last one, but I thought I'd post the middle one too, even tho I look like I'm stoned in that picture. lol Appointment is next Wed. I have never been so excited to get my glasses in my life!! :-D The one pair is kind of crooked, but I couldn't get them to straighten out.

Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark

Two Little Girls in Blue: A Novel by Mary Higgins Clark

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow. Mary Higgins Clark does it again! This was a page-turner. I finished it in just a few days. While I'm not sure about the whole "twin telepathy" thing, at least not to the extent they had in the book, it was still really good. I sat up last night and finished it because I couldn't put it down, I HAD to see how it ended!


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a fun site for readers

Has anyone heard of GoodReads? Here is my page: Hi,

http://www.goodreads.com/friend/i?i=LTM2MDU4ODYyMDI6MzU2%0A

Not much on there yet, I'm just starting out. :-)

one for Christmas

My days are off from having today off(not that I'm complaining) and I almost forgot today was my "Christmas stitching day". I remembered just in time and finished this one by the Sampler Girl. :-)

AWESOME books

I got this great book at the book sale at my library back in April. It's called The Disappearance by and author named J.F. Freedman. This book was so good. I think it was over 400 pages and I read it in a week/week and a half. I read it every chance I got- at lunch, in the line to pick up Hanna from school, at long stoplights(shh don't tell). It's a suspense book- kind of Law and Order meets CSI- heh. I highly recommend it.
Next I read Summer's Child by Luanne Rice, which when I started I didn't realize was a prequel to another book I read by her, Summer of Roses. Both of these books were great as well. Matters of the heart and suspense as well! Good summer reading!!

What do you think?

Next week I am going to get new glasses- which ones do you like best? I know they are all kinda similar but I would still like to know what you think. :-) Please forgive my hideousness.

Magnolias are here!

One of the things I love about living in the South. Aren't they beautiful? And they smell wonderful too!

Scissors fobs

Hanna, my 9-year-old, actually made these and would like to sell them. She will be making some more when we can get more supplies. They are $5.00 each + 1.00 for shipping. :-) I think they're pretty!

Some new things to post

One of these, the pillow, I finished a few weeks ago, but was waiting for my friend to get it in the mail. The other is one I finished this week, I plan on making it into a pillow but want to find the perfect fabric. :-)

Juno

I watched this movie tonight. It was surprisingly cute and sweet. But I have to say the soundtrack SUCKED. Almost every single song sounded the same and was really annoying. And the Moldy Peaches? What kind of name is that? I just didn't get the soundtrack, really. I don't even usually notice the music in a movie to be honest, unless it is exceptionally good. But all the songs were pretty much the same, and kind of loud. Ellen Page did a great job in the movie though. I give it two thumbs up. lol

And another...

The shades make the man!

A Verse

Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not wrong who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
~Edgar Allan Poe~


Isn't it lovely?

Loving Swirly Snow is finally done!

Hooray! I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out- I wasn't sure the fabric would work but I like it. It gives it that grey snowy sky feeling. :-)

Bubbles!!

Rob got David a bubble gun, and he and Hanna were playing with it outside today. I love this picture, even if he is all messy from eating lasagna! lol

David's first fishing trip

He went with Rob and caught 3 fish today, including the one pictured! He caught more than Rob did!!

Need opinions please..

Here is a piece I finished a few weeks ago, it required a charm that I couldn't get locally, and rather than order it and not know if it would fit or not, I bought a charm at Michael's today(actually a pack of them). This one is the one that worked the best. Please let me know if you think it works ok or not- I could just take it off, it didn't seem like anything was missing without it but I thought it was a nice touch. Thanks! Please excuse my wrinkles and the askew-ness of my charm, it got knocked a little when scanning!

A new finish

A bookmark for a good friend from church!

Fun with Photo Fantasy

I actually forgot I had this program til I picked it by accident to touch up a photo. I've been having fun messing around with it! I know, I need to get a life.. lol

I love this picture

I took it awhile back at my little man's bedtime!

Updates

Here are my two projects I'm working on... I didn't get much stitching done the few weeks I was sick, I hope to get back working on these on a regular basis now!!

Idle flowers

Thick on the woodland floor
Gay company shall be,
Primrose and Hyacinth
And frail Anemone,
Perennial Strawberry-bloom,
Woodsorrel's pencilled veil,
Dishevel'd Willow-weed
And Orchis purple and pale.
~Robert Seymour Bridges, Idle Flowers

I really like this quote!

What makes a good blog?

Just now I was clicking "next blog" and paging thru the many blogger blogs that are out there.. and find mine very lacking. I found blogs full of beautiful pictures and insights and things very meaningful. I am a little depressed now and feel a little like my blog is rather dull. :-(

Hanna's Oil Pastel Egg

Every so often the local schools display kids' artwork at the mall, this time one of Hanna's was chosen! Here it is. :-)

still here...

I know it's been a little while, a bad cold or flu, I don't know what it is, has got me down. It's been off and on, mostly on, for three weeks now and it's REALLY getting old. I am feeling a bit better today, but I don't know if it's the meds I'm taking or I'm actually getting better or both. I stayed home from work today because this morning I felt so weak I could hardly stand for more than a couple of minutes together, though I think that's my own fault for not eating right this weekend. I just wasn't hungry. The worst part of it is that our medical insurance changed the first of the year and our old doctor isn't under our new plan, and we haven't chosen a new doctor yet. And the new insurance doesn't cover places like Immediate Care or any of those other walk-in places. So we need to sit down tonight and find a doc. Cause I am tired of this mess.
So as a result of this, I haven't stitched much lately. I've been going to bed pretty much right after the kids do, with the exception of last night; I stayed up and read for a bit. Maybe while I'm home today I'll have the energy to sit and stitch a bit.. we'll see..I may try to go into work later just to run the end of the day reports.

A good wife.

OH my gosh this is too funny! Supposedly an actual article from "back in the day."

a better pic of "Comfort House"

Finally got some batteries for my camera..

a framing finish from a couple of weeks ago..

I stitched this piece back in '02 (!) and finally framed it, another frame courtesy of my dad. :-) Sorry for the crooked picture!

David's Haul

David is almost 3 and has been in the 3-year-old room at daycare quite a bit, so he got to go the 2-year-old's party and the 3-year-old's party. Look at all this stuff! I feel like a slacker mom, I just gave him traditional cards with tattoos in some and pencils in others.. and all these moms made goody bags!