Wonderful giveaway for sampler lovers!

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Will post again soon!

Have you given up on me?

I hope not, even though I am the worst blogger in the world.  I have been the worst about blogging and stitching, though I have gotten a little stitching done.  I worked a little more on the Alamo this past weekend.

Not much longer now! Well-except for the back stitching. Ugh. 

My parents were here for a visit this past weekend- we had a great time as we always do. It goes by too fast though. We visited a local winery that dh and I had been to before- it is so lovely. I really want to go back and take a tour of the grounds sometime. They weren't doing any tours the times that I've gone. We did have a tasting and got a delicious wine for the holidays. They served it chilled, but also put it in a crock pot with water and mulling spices and it was sooooo yummy.  We are going to do the same.

We got wine club cards from my in-laws back in September so we can get a free tasting or glass of wine every month. Good reason for a date night! (Or afternoon)

Kona and Ginger are still their crazy selves. Kona started chewing our living room carpet when we weren't home so we tore it out and got some laminate flooring. We had been wanting to do something like that anyway. I really like it- eventually we hope to do the bedrooms too. Here is a little peek-

With a Kona peek as well! It is a little darker than it looks in the picture.

My birthday was this week- I actually forgot that morning until dh said "happy birthday" which is unusual for me. I guess cause we had been celebrating off and on all weekend, including dinner at Texas Roadhouse where I had to sit on a saddle! It was quite funny. 

Well that's it for now-here is a photo of Ko and Gin to sign off.

A little finish and other updates

Finally have some time to sit and blog- the calm before the storm as it were- soon school starts.  David will start soccer for the first time and Hanna will be going back to her judo classes next week.  It's going to get busy busy busy!

I did get something finished, finally! I finished the little gift for my grandma and mailed it off to her for her new apartment.  She really likes it. I am so glad.  ♥ Here it is-

I really like the way it turned out.  The little kits from the UK stitching mags are so fun. ☺

I am also making progress on the Alamo.  I've been trying to work on it on my lunch break as much as possible, and once in a while at night.  (I have started working on the LK Mystery Sampler again as well.)  Here is my progress as of right now.

I got my third ipsy bag last month.  I am really liking them so far! They always send great products.  

I got some Bare Minerals eyeshadow, a lip stain, some bronzer that was surprisingly natural looking, even on someone pale like me! I also got a moisturizer I had tried previously- I gave it to Hanna cause she liked it and it made me break out. I also got the pink bag in the background as well as a wonderful smelling lotion- citrus ginger.  My bag for August should get here tomorrow- I can't wait!  If you are interested in checking it out click here.

I finally finished Irish Whiskey the other day.  It took me long enough huh? I did stop reading it for a bit. A friend of mine started a book club for a few of us that like to read.  She was reading Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell  by Chris Colfer so we started with that. It was a kid's book but fairly long, and it was actually pretty good! It was about some children and a fairy tale land where they find out what happened to their favorite characters after the fairy tales, but it is a real place in the book. It was pretty neat.  Irish Whiskey was okay. I had read one other book in this series (Nuala Anne McGrail/Dermot Coyne) and I liked that one a little better.  It just seemed as if it took a long time for the story to get going in this one.  I will try some other books in the series sometime.  Now I'm reading The Ranch by Danielle Steele.  So far it is kind of sad but pretty good.  I definitely want to see how the story plays out.

We have been having pretty nice weather this summer.  I don't think it has gotten over the low 90's at all! It has been in the mid to high 80's lately which is so nice.  Usually it is so hot here in the summer.  We have also had some really nice sunsets and some beautiful clouds.

I love clouds. I am sure my facebook friends get tired of all my cloud photos! ☺ There is just something about a beautiful sky out in the wide open spaces of the country.  I just love it. 

And you know I can't sign off without posting some pics of my pups.  If it seems like I post more of Kona than Ginger, it's just because Ginger doesn't like me taking pictures of her, and often she moves or walks away when I try! Silly girl.

And that's it for now. Will post again soon!

Wellllll.. I had all these things I was going to blog about.. and now I am drawing a blank! Ugh.

I had been sooooo good, not buying any stash, trying to use up what I had first, or at least some of it.. well.. it doesn't count if it's almost free right? I had gotten a great deal from ebay the other day via email.  If I listed an item between certain dates they would give me a $10 ebay gift certificate- and if I sold the item I'd get another $10 added to it! And miracle of miracles, it actually happened.  I was like a kid in a candy store when that gift code came in- I could not decide what I wanted!  Well I finally decided to be semi-good and get threads for a chart I already had- that took up a good portion of it- so I got a couple of little Lizzie Kate patterns.  One looked kind of familiar- I couldn't remember if I had it on my wish list(which webshots deleted) or I already had it.  Hopefully I don't! Well this stash-buying- looking at all the patterns-got me anxious to finish my current projects and start something new.  So I am going to make an effort to get more stitching done then I have been.

Which brings me to my Alamo progress! It's not much but I did get a few stitches in over the weekend and some more on my lunch break today- I will be glad to get done with the trees and get back to the building itself.

I have also listed a few items on ebay- some older leaflets and will be adding a book or two soon. My ebay ID is hannasmom1198 if you'd like to have a look. :)

Kona is growing like a weed.  Here are a couple pictures of him and Ginger.

  

I thought this one was kind of funny.

They enjoy it outside even when it's sooooo hot. Of course we don't leave them out there for long periods.  Kona is learning how to play frisbee - Ginger never really took an interest in it but Kona is.  He can't catch the frisbee yet but he will go to it and try to bring it back.  Sometimes he can but the frisbee is a little too big for him, so sometimes he stands on it while he is trying to pick it up. :) DD just got back from a youth conference.  She got a little frisbee there, so we may try that one with him when she finds it.  She doesn't remember where she put it.

I recently finished reading Night Road by Kristin Hannah. It was an excellent book but so heart-wrenching! I cried so many times. I just recently started reading Irish Whiskey by Andrew M. Greeley, but am breaking from it to read a kids' book Land of Stories:The Wishing Spell.  A friend of mine started a book club and that's the first book we're reading. It's actually a pretty long book, so I thought I'd start now even though we're not meeting til the end of August.  It's actually pretty good so far!

Well that's it for now- hoping to have a finish to show you soon.  My grandma will be moving soon and I need to get her housewarming gift done!

New project!

Well.. I am still working on the Alamo of course, but started something else recently.  My grandma is moving out of her home of about 56 years and into an assisted living apartment.  I know part of her is looking forward to it-  a lot of her friends live there- but also sad because she has lived there for over half her life!  So I decided to make her a little something as a housewarming gift.  I got this kit with the UK World of Cross Stitching mag I think and thought she might like it.

I don't have any recent photos of the Alamo- but so far have just gotten a little more done on the trees on the far right.  Grandma is moving in July so I have been trying to make sure I put some time in on her project as well.

I forgot to mention in my last post about a "beauty club" I just joined- I guess that's what you would call it.. you get a monthly box of beauty samples - some are actually full size items- for only $10 plus tax.  I have been getting it for a couple of months and I really like it.  It's called Ipsy. Here are the items I got this month-

You get a different cosmetic bag every month as well.  There is a survey to fill out when you join, that helps them pick products you will like.  You can retake the quiz too if you want to change things up a bit.  This month I got an eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, lip gloss, trial perfume spray, and an anti-frizz cream for my hair.

This is my bag from last month-

I loved this bag- it was made of a soft canvas and very flexible, it is great for keeping makeup in my purse. This bag had an eyeshadow, sunscreen, moisturizer, a face mask, and some anti-frizz hair oil.  With my naturally curly hair and the humid summers here I am appreciating the anti-frizz products. If you'd like to check it out please use my referral link: http://www.ipsy.com/r/a589.  Oh, and if you review the products in your bag you get points that you can accumulate and redeem for free items! It's a great way to treat yourself inexpensively. :)

Well hopefully I will have a bit more stitching progress for you in my next post- but until then here are my furbabies. ♥

a Kona selfie ;)

A little progress..

I would apologize for not posting in so long, but I know you don't want to hear it! I am sorry- I need to fit blogging into my schedule again.  I have been stitching on the Alamo; I finally am finished with the bottom half and have started on the top half.  I can now stay at work for lunch so that has been helping. Here is my progress as of today- have not stitched on it yet today but am hoping to in a bit.

I haven't bought any new stash lately-I'm trying to stitch some of the things I have first.. so unless it's needed for a project I'm trying to be good!

 

Kona is getting bigger- he is 3 months old now.  He and Ginger are such a hoot together.  They have been chasing each other around the house tonight.  I think they are finally getting tired out.

Well... maybe..

Since it's kind of hard to see how he's grown in this photo, here is one I took last night.

 

 

My hydrangeas came back, unfortunately one only has one tiny cluster of blossoms and one has two larger ones close together.  The plants themselves seem to be growing so I don't know why I'm not getting more blooms?

 

I also got a hanging basket of petunias- they were really flourishing for a while-

 

Unfortunately they are not looking so well these days, I forgot to water them for a couple of days.  I need to pick off the dead ones and see if I can bring them back.  I'm mad at myself cause they were looking so nice!

 

I have been reading a lot lately as well- am currently reading Deep Down by Karen Harper.  I just finished Home Before Dark by Susan Wiggs which was an excellent book, very moving!

 

That's the latest- not much going on here but the day to day stuff- a late Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there- of human children and furbabies! Hope you had a great one!

 

 

 

 

 

New furbaby and a finished finish..

Well, I have been failing miserably at blogging lately.. 

I finally framed my "keep calm" finish and gave it to the friend for which it was intended.  She is from England and owns a British bistro here. I gave it to her and she proudly displayed it on the piano  in her restaurant. It made me so happy that she liked it so much. 

We also picked up our boy Kona last Saturday.  He is bringing us so much joy and he and Ginger are getting along pretty well! 

Here is a photo of just Kona-

He is such a sweetie. You don't want to go barefoot around him though- it can be 

painful. ;)

Back to stitching- I have been focusing on the Alamo. I don't have any lunch stitching time right now 'cause I have to come home each day to let Kona out. It won't be forever tho!  He will be big before we know it.

Progress pics!

Here is my progress on the Alamo as of today at lunch- hoping to get in a few stitches on it when I get done posting this.

  

Almost done with the bottom half! Woo hoo! I worked a little on my LK Mystery Sampler too, but not too much progress there yet.

A weekend or two ago we went to Home Depot- dh got a gift card for Christmas he hadn't used yet- so we went and got some plants for the front and back yard, among other things.  We got a lot of English primrose in various colors-

 

 

 

Now if it would just stay warm long enough to plant them! We also got some lavender and rosemary, and some creeping phlox.  I have always wanted lavender bushes so I am really excited!

Last weekend I stayed home most of the weekend- it was so nice!! I got a bunch of things done around the house that I'd been wanting to do.  Got some things organized, did all the laundry, and Hanna and I rearranged the spare bedroom.  Ginger liked it cause now the daybed is in front of the window.

Well, that's about it here.. hoping to have some new puppy pics soon- the breeder is supposed to send us some this week. :) 

Not much stitching this week..

I did get a little done here and there.. we had a bit of a drive yesterday and I got a little done then.. but I would rather post a pic when I have made a little more progress- hopefully this week!  I really would like to get the Alamo done soon- it has taken me so long and it's for a friend of mine so I feel really bad that it has taken me so long. I know she's not in a hurry for it but I still feel bad.

I do have some exciting news- we are getting another Corgi! That long drive I spoke of was to the breeder's yesterday.  He is right now only a week old- he was the only male in his litter so I feel really blessed to have him! He is going to be a tri-color or possibly a sable colored Corgi. 

Right now he only has a little red on his eyebrows and his cheeks.. the tri-color Corgis change a lot in color in the first few months so I can't wait to see how he turns out!  The breeder is going to send me pictures and we will go see him again in a few weeks.. then around the end of April/beginning of May he should be ready to come home.  I am so excited! We are still trying to think of a name- any ideas?

Finished!

Here it is- but I need opinions- does the tea cup look too weird?

Here is a close up-

The pattern was really hard to read on all those twists and turns.

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Will have a stitch post soon!

Snow day!!!

Finally!  I have been waiting for a decent snow ever since we got Ginger- and we finally had one last night. It started out sleeting, and it did for a long time.. I was starting to get nervous that was all we would get.. but those beautiful flakes finally started falling. :)  Now that we live out in the country the roads do not get the salt treatment that we are used to in town, so it was not safe to drive to work, and I got a snow day! And to make it even better our kids had a snow day yesterday, and dd cleaned pretty much the whole house so I was able to relax today. :) I admit I was quite lazy and did not get much stitching done.. in fact I am hoping to do some after I post this.  I have just been working on the "Keep Calm" freebie so I can hopefully get it done in time for my friend's birthday. Here is my progress so far-

I was working on it last night and got a little sleepy as right now I am just stitching straight rows of brown. I need to plug away at some more tonight.

And now for a few snow pics-

Please pray for us as I am pretty sure I will have to go to work tomorrow and the roads still are not good, as far as I can see! I think dh will be driving me in the 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Slow but steady..

Making progress on these projects- here is the Alamo-

And this is on the project I am working on for a friend .. The teacup on top was giving me fits cause I messed up somewhere - but since this picture was taken I think I have gotten it straightened out.

I had to take Ginger to get some shots on Saturday. Usually she is really hard to keep still in the car- she will climb from my lap to the passenger seat. But on the way home I held her in the passenger seat for a couple of minutes and she actually stayed! So I told my son to take a picture. He is not old enough or talk enough to sit in the front seat yet.

She looks like she is posing! Hee hee

 

DS and I had some quality time this weekend- he had been bugging me to make some gingerbread cookies from a mix I bought so we finally did. Didn't have any icon but they were still yummy, and made the house smell wonderful!

I went to the dollar store this weekend also- to buy some tissues and see if we could find DS some if those bracelet rubber bands.  I took a look at the framed art just for fun and found this- 

Isn't is surprisingly pretty? It's even better in real life because it's kind of shimmery. I'm not sure where I am going to hang it yet.

Now that the days are getting longer again the sun has been setting as I get off work- I love getting photos when the clouds look especially neat. 

Well -that's about it for tonight - hope everyone has a great week!