Been meaning to blog all week..

Since last Sunday actually! Time seems to get away from me.  Last weekend we took a trip up to Raleigh, to go to Trader Joe's, do some other things, so I got quite a bit done on "Beach Cottage!"

Can't say I got much done on it this week though- so this is progress as of today. I have also been working on my friend's project, I'll post a picture of that soon. 

I finished a good book today- A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton. It was my first(and the first!) Kinsey Millhone book I've read. I enjoyed it! It wasn't s super pageturner, but sometimes that's ok. Easier to put down when something else needs to be done.  Now reading another of the Virgin River series- Temptation Ridge.  I'm going to see how this one goes. I enjoy the series, but sometimes it's a bit too unrealistic to me-the men are all  so sweet to their wives, all the people in town seem to be good looking.. granted I read books to "get away", and they don't have to be very realistic all the time, but it seemed the last one I read was just a little too sticky sweet. Like I said, we'll see how it goes.

We spent quite a bit of time at the mall this weekend, off and on.  Hanna's school collected over 1200 pairs of jeans for "Teens for Jeans"- they give gently used jeans to less fortunate kids.  Aeropostale was running a deal on this, so every kid at her school got a coupon for 25 % off a pair of jeans.  She needed some so we went yesterday to look- got her a pair of clearance jeans and a second pair on sale, which was the pair we used the coupon on. I love a good deal. :) I went back today to the mall with the kids; I had to get a gift for a friend that I forgot to get yesterday.  While there I saw the cutest purse, a little different from the ones I usually use.  It was on clearance and I picked it up, carried it around for a bit then talked myself out of it.. but I am still thinking about it.. I really don't need another purse but it was sooo cute. What would you do?

Ginger is doing well. :) Still have a couple issues we are working on but overall she is a good little puppy.. she has been very snuggly this weekend which has been nice. :)

Had her playful moments too!

Oh, and I forgot my TUSAL update.. here it is.. not much different from last time but I have been stitching, I promise!

I will be listing several older kits and cross stitch items over the next week or so, including some P. Buckley Moss ornament kits, so if you are interested please check them out! My seller ID is hannasmom1198. :)

F is finished! And another *late* TUSAL update..

I finally finished F (is for Fairisle) in the Stitcher's Alphabet. I wish I could take a picture that would show the sparkle of the beads a little better.. will start on G Friday, hopefully!

I always seem to forget the TU SAL updates- I need to see if my calendar lists the new moons and highlight them! lol But here it is, a bit late-

Today I participated in a zumbathon for a local young mother- her husband recently died and she has three children 5 and under.  The local YMCA let us use their gym to have a zumbathon fundraiser for her.  We had a pretty good turnout; it was great.  It was three hours long, and though we did take breaks my legs are still feeling it this evening! But it was so much fun it really felt more like a party than exercise. A lot of local restaurants and businesses donated items for door prizes. I won a bottle of a local restaurant's barbecue sauce. lol I think I am luckier in blogworld. lol!

Pitiful progress, a late TUSAL update, and a free book!

I have been really bad about posting lately- I am so sorry! It has been crazy lately! Last week dh was admitted to the hospital- he had been at work and started sweating really bad, and having chest pains, and felt dizzy.  They took his blood pressure and it was pretty high, so he called our doctor, who advised him to go to the ER. They ended up admitting him and running a ton of tests.  They said it was only a muscle spasm, but still said he needed to follow up with our doctor in two weeks. He took it easy over the weekend and went back to work Tuesday. I'm so thankful it wasn't anything more serious.

I have been stitching a little bit- my mind has been motivated but my body has not. lol  Here is my pitiful progess on "F"-

And here is my very late TU SAL update-

And today I had a nice surprise in my mailbox- I was notified a few weeks ago that I had won a giveaway on goodreads. I received my book today- Pray For Silence by Linda Castillo. (Click the title for a synopsis.) I read the first book of the Kate Burkholder series and I'm excited to read the next one! I actually got the first book for free as well as the publisher was giving them away in a special promotion. 

Speaking of free, I was VERY blessed the other day- my boss's daughter had gathered a bunch of clothes that she was going to give to goodwill- then she happened to think of me, and wow! Four trash bags of clothes and every single thing I liked fit me.   Some beautiful clothes I can wear to work and some still had tags on them! Also some great shorts and capris, which I really needed. I am so thankful!   Well, I have to get little man to bed- so I have to sign off for now. I will really try to be better about posting, and reading everyone's blogs as well!

Updates and some more garden pics-

First a TU SAL update-

I haven't posted and Sense & Sensibility progrss for a while- sorry for the oddball picure-

And now for some more of God's beautiful creation!

and here is one of the buildings next to the castle- I can't remember for sure what it was- maybe the kitchen? (We didn't visit it that day.)

And last but not least- the kids in the guard station!

I should've used the zoom feature! Stay tuned for more pics (I hope you're not bored with them yet)- and don't forget to enter my giveaway for the LK flip it if you haven't already!  Please leave your comment only on the giveaway post if you want to be entered! Thanks!

Snowman progress and a TU SAL update..

I finished all the cross-stitching on my ME ornament tonight- now just need to do the backstitching and french knots-

And here is my Little River "Snow Sweet" so far-

And last but not least, my TUSAL update! I remembered! lol

Tomorrow I'll work on my Stitcher's Alphabet- I'm hoping to finish C! :)