We are enjoying beautiful weather the past couple of weeks. After a summer of rain, cool weather and more rain it is now sunny and gorgeous. I spent the afternoon trimming plants, pulling out spent summer flowers from their containers and replacing them with mums and pansies. Fall is my favorite time of year. I bought a white pumpkin at Blooms and Berries because I know when their Fall on the Farm weekends start they are all going to be snapped up. Here it is on my porch.

I took my grandson to Nisbet park on Tuesday to enjoy the sunshine and get some physical activity. Afterward, we enjoyed some gelato at the Blue Chip Cookie Co. Can you guess his favorite flavor?

After changing the date on my 'Beneath the Sunlit Sky', twice, it is finished and framed. I love it. I also finished 3 other pieces that are now waiting to take a trip to the framers. I should hurry because two are fall themed. I'm still working on Sarah Owens. I also started a very old Shepherds Bush (1984) to use as a Christmas ornament. Can't show that one for quite a while but it is sooo cute. And actually, it's not a Shepherds Bush but a Leisure Arts, Vanessa-Ann leaflet. Remember those? The profile says Tina Richards is 27 !!!!! I love rediscovering oldies but goodies. So here is my BBD:
We are going to a wedding this afternoon. It will be outside. A beautiful day to get married.

Marsha

Misc.

Guess I wasn't in the blogging mood for a while. Actually, when I got my computer back, I didn't have time to find my pictures on my newly installed hard drive. Then we went on vacation and then it was back to work etc. Soooo, I have some misc. pictures to share. A real mish mash.

Here's Dana and her new car. Cash for clunkers at work. We're happy for her and her family. A snappy Mazda 3 - zoom zoom.

I saw this sleeping bee in the garden one morning. I wanted to pet him but I figured I'd wake him up and he wouldn't be too happy about it so, I took his picture instead. He's hanging onto a few florets on a butterfly bush.

Edith, one of our guild members, is an amazing stitcher. This is one of her pieces that was recently framed. Look at all the stump work. It is so gorgeous. I could look at her work for a long time. It's beautiful.

My DH and I got to spend a week in upper Michigan in this cabin. Isn't it swell? this was our view:
Very relaxing. Had beach campfires, saw millions of stars, could see at least 5 lighthouses. It was wonderful.

This is the biggest tomato we've ever grown. They've been really big and luscious this year but this! This is crazy big.

Hope you had a great Labor Day weekend. It's not officially Autumn yet!

Marsha

Back, sort of

I have my computer back, YEAH! Apparently there were no terrible viruses 'only' a dying hard drive. Ouch. Everything is downloaded to the new hard drive but I'm having trouble finding it all. So, for now no pictures.

I had to delete the Cosby Mint Farm posting. Apparently, their website has become greatly contaminated with viruses after I posted. I hope they made their goal and will be able to retain their family farm.

Just finished reading 'The Story of Edgar Sawtelle'. What a good book. I highly recommend it.
I listened on cd to 'Two for the Dough' and 'I Feel Bad about my Neck'. I am organizing, once again, cross stitch charts etc. in the sewing room. I finished stitching 'Beneath the Sunlit Sky' and ripped and restitched a row from Blackbird Designs 'Petite Rouge' (sp). It had my grandmother's last name and birth and death years. It's still a little off but I refuse to rip and stitch a third time. I'm thinking of stitching it again for me. I will take pictures when they are done being framed.

Summer has finally arrived, just in time for the poor kids going back to school. I finished picking the last of the blueberries this morning. What a long season they had. I will miss fresh berries on my cereal every morning. Frozen will have to do after this week.

Marsha

Blue Screen of Death

My Sony Vaio laptop that has ALL my pictures and Gift of Stitching Magazines and you get the picture has the blue screen of death. I will be taking it somewhere to get fixed so I may be missing in action for a while. I hope not long. Our good newer computer is in the basement and it's cold and damp since the dehumidifier died (don't buy a GE humidifier - it lasted one year). I don't like sitting down here. I have pictures of a trip to Pgh. and others. Wish me luck.
Marsha

Blueberry Time

The blueberries have been ripening and we've been picking, freezing, jamming and baking.
Clark stays with me when I pick berries. Maybe it's the free berries he's after. He loves them.








This picking is from just 3 bushes. We have 9 bushes. 3 of one kind that ripen first and are smaller and 6 of another kind that are larger and ripen later. These berries are from the second set of bushes. You have to have two different kinds of bushes to have pollination. After I pick a bush, I give it 3 to 4 days to ripen the next go-round of berries. Thank goodness they don't all ripen at once. It take hours to pick them. At the moment, I have 3 stuffed, gallon zip-locks of frozen berries and
Last week was also a busy guild week. A day stitch-in was Mon., an evening stitch-in was Wed. and the toy chest etui class was Sat. and Sun. Here are a few finishes from some of our guild members. Their work is inspiring and beautiful.

This is Paula's Dutch Beauty.

Here is Linda's Village of Hawk Run

Our class with Betsy Morgan of Willing Hands Needlework Design was great. We learned many new tricks and the time flew by. I don't have a lot to show for it. I have hours more stitching to complete each piece. I did finish the Jacob's ladder needle book and I'm thrilled I got that far. Here is a picture of some of the finished pieces for the toy chest etui.
We learned lots of construction techniques. Her directions are very detailed and I feel pretty confident I can finish all the pieces. The button box is next on my list or maybe finishing the thimble keeper. I still have to finish stitching the drum and the big box. Lots of hours to go but they will be delightful. Here is our group, Betsy instructing and then a picture of other projects she teaches. Sorry the pictures aren't great. If you ever have the chance to take one of her classes - DO - you won't be disappointed and you'll be thrilled with what you can accomplish.



You can see the toy chest near the middle the third item in from the right.

Marsha

Christmas in July for Sharon

I thought I would share pictures of what I made and sent to Sharon at Quilting With A Marmalade Cat for our July swap. This is an ornament I stitched hoping it looks like her kitty.
This stocking was made from felted sweaters. I haven't actually made a quilt yet but I did learn paper piecing last fall so, I put together these two pieces for a wall hanging.
An ice cream cone/tape measure. (More felted sweaters)










A scrap bag (for her name beginning with an S), some things in purple (her favorite color), card, pattern and not pictured Pepperridge Farm Gingerbread men. Yum O.


Thanks Karen for the great idea.

Marsha

Christmas in July Swap & Birthday Presents

Today is CHRISTMAS IN JULY! What a fun way to start the day, opening presents. My partner was Sharon over at Quilting With A Marmalade Cat. These are my Christmas in July presents from Sharon. Starting with my card on top

From there we move on to the delightful quilted bag that held all my goodies. The pockets held more surprises.

We have patterns, doll and quilt, tiny Claus note cards, coffee from a NY coffee shop, buttons (I love buttons), a recipe for pear salad, a flag rubber stamp, tapestry patch, Mary Engelbreit journal, notepad and Kleenex, a fat quarter in turquoise blue (my favorite color), a fabric panel with Christmas labels, Christmas Kleenex and a delightful hand stitched Christmas ornament. I have a small tree in my sewing room and the ornament will reside there until the big tree comes out in December. The bag is nice and large and will hold traveling stitching very well.

Everything is great! It was a fun swap to prepare for and just as much fun to receive. Thank you Sharon!

Monday was my birthday. I received a box from my secret stitcher. Another fun surprise.

A piece of 28 ct. linen, a fat quarter with cute sheep, an awesome thread winder - I don't have any of these so I can't wait to use it, a cute note pad, stitcher's lotion, a Kit & Bixby 'Thankful Wool' pattern and the cutest pin cushion fit into a silicon cupcake liner with over one stitching of my initials with tiny flowers and an even tinier bee. Thank you secret stitcher.



Here we are celebrating my birthday. It was a gorgeous day with perfect weather, good food and the wonderful company of family.




.........and there goes Evan, off to collect lightening bugs

What a great birthday week.

(Hint: click on the small pictures if you want to see them larger)
Marsha