Exchange Gift

It was a great TANA Christmas Party! I was so happy to finally finish my exchange gift at 11:30pm the night before the luncheon. I spent the night at Becky's and we stitched in her family room in front of the fire. I had seen pictures of this before. I think it's called an Etui. I had a pattern that I borrowed from Becky of one that was made with stitching on plastic canvas. I had a brilliant idea that I would create a fabric-covered box. It sounds simple enough but I worked on it for weeks creating each piece. If I had enough time I would have kept it and made something else. However, I knew that in our stitching group whoever received it would really appreciate it.

I was so happy when Becky looked up at her mom and said, "Bring me that plaid-covered box." She chose MY gift! Well, I was right. She really appreciated it and probably more than most because she watched me working on it and knew how hard it was to assemble.

I did the top piece in needle tatting. I worked on it at Lanna's. I thought it was finished but when I laid it out and started stitching it to the lid, it wasn't even. I had to stitch another piece and sew it on to make it look like it was all one piece. I think it turned out nice.

Since I had stayed at Becky's, I knew which tin she had put her exchange piece in, so I grabbed it! You may not think it was fair, but I was letter "N" in the exchange so many people had a chance to get it before me and they missed out.

One of the more interesting things about the hardanger scissor case that Becky made is that I let her borrow the front pattern from me. Also, at the Ripley Retreat Lanna and I taught her how to make the necklace part. Life is full of irony.

I'm still working on the Nordic Needle Hardanger cards for this year. This is the completed November card. I'm working on December and should have it done today or tomorrow. I love this weather. I can use the excuse that the roads are just too snowy and icy to go anywhere so I can just stay home and stitch.

Recent Pictures

Since I haven't finished many stitching projects lately I thought I would just post a few pictures I've taken recently of family and/or current events. I hope you like them.
This is Emma so excited to get her first Christmas gift from Great Grandpa and Carolyn. Like most children, she lights up when she sees Santa.

Since Alyssa is the oldest, I let her choose first. She wanted the gingerbread man. She loves it!

When the Ironton Fighting Tigers made it to the playoff games, the coaches wanted the boys to dress up. This is my baby boy looking quite handsome if I do say so myself.

This is just me and Emma hanging out in the rocking chair. I forget to tell her to "smile". When we tell her to say "cheese" she just squishes up her mouth and says "cheese". She's still so adorable.

Busy Days

The holidays are always a busy time for us all, so it's a reason and not just an excuse that I haven't updated lately. I haven't completed many stitching projects either. I'm working on Christmas gifts so they aren't finished yet. I'm going to Lanna's house today so we can motivate each other (and she can help me) finish our Christmas exchange gifts.

Thanksgiving was a bit complicated this year. Alyssa was in the hospital for two days. She had strep throat and pneumonia. She was hooked up to an IV and oxygen. We spent a few days worrying our butts off about her. She got home late Thanksgiving day so we just postponed our dinner until Friday. We definitely had some thanks to give that day.

This past weekend I took a (vacation). Weekend before last the family and I were talking about stress and how all the little things add up and the bad feelings begin to overtake us. Randy mentioned that he would love to run away somewhere but didn't have any place to go. That got me thinking about things so I emailed my dad and asked him if I could come visit for a couple, few or more days. Of course, he was happy and told me to stay as long as wanted. I should remind him not to say that in the future in case I show up and decide to never leave.

I now have to go on a diet. My step mom, Carolyn is one of the world's best cooks. She loves me so much. She went out of her way every day to make me the most delicious home-cooked meals. I love the way a home smells and feels when there is good food being prepared in the kitchen.

We spent one day touring through the local antique shops. Carolyn and I both came home with a few goodies. I told Randy that I was shopping and he asked me if I needed him to bring the truck. We've been married for over 25 years so he knows me very well.

Dad and I went to see Unstoppable. It was a very good, very intense movie. My dad is such a jokester. He had an empty bank envelope in his pocket. He tore it up into several little pieces and was going to throw them away. There was a group of teenage girls in line in front of us. One had on a jacket with a hood on it. My dad very carefully dropped the pieces of paper in her hood! A few minutes later she took her coat off and all the pieces came out. She must have thought they were hers because she just picked them up and went on. We laughed so hard.

I now have a food sealer for my kitchen. I almost got a George Foreman grill. I told my dad and Carolyn that I thought the ones they had were really cool and that I didn't have either one. They went to the store and came back with the food sealer. I love it! I'm going to go to Wal Mart and get extra bags because I will be using this kitchen gadget quite a bit. Oh Dad, I really like the idea of cruising along the coastal highway in a vintage red corvette. (Well, it was worth a shot.)

When I was little, OK younger because I'm still little, my dad and I used to hang out together watching the then LA Rams play football. They are in St. Louis now but they are still the Rams of course. Dad gave me a Rams jersey. It is gorgeous! I wore it to the TANA meeting last night and got a lot of compliments on it. I told them dad gave it to me and that made it even more special.

They also gave me a sterling silver cake cutting set. It has the knife and spatula. (Is that what it everyone else calls it?) The spatula is engraved with a couple's name and date and it is still in the fabric lined box. They found it at a car wash. Weird place to find a wedding gift but there you have it. I'm going to contact a local person who does engraving to see if they can sand it off or melt it down to take the names and date off. It will be very pretty displayed and a nice set to actually use as well.

I packed up my bags, (They were a lot more heavier than when I got there.) and loaded up the trunk of my car. You have no idea how hard it was to get in that car and drive away. I love my dad and Carolyn so much. I wish we didn't live so far apart. They are in Buckhannon and I'm here in southern Ohio.

It was snowing and there were already 2-3 inches on the road. After I started down the highway I seriously considered turning around and waiting another day to leave. I took a deep breath and kept going. I had reports from back home that the snow was melting there. After driving very slowly for awhile, I made it out of the hills and into better weather. The rest of the drive was fairly easy. I got an email from Dad early Monday morning. They got 14 inches of snow! If I had stayed I would have been there for a very long time. I don't think Dad, Carolyn or I would have minded but the troupes at home wouldn't have enjoyed it very much. Randy said that sometimes he and the kids get upset with me but around dinner time they really wished I was there. It's nice to know I'm appreciated for something. lol

Well, I should close and head off to Lanna's house. She is one of the best ladies I know. There are only good things you can about Lanna. I challenge anyone who knows her to come up with just one thing about her that isn't good. I could start giving you a list of her good qualities but then I wouldn't make it to her house, my hands would tire from typing and you would get tired of reading. OK, you get the idea.

Tomorrow, I'm off to meet Jill so we can decorate the tree at the bank where we have our TANA meetings. We knew we had to hurry. Word is out that the tree is up and just sitting there in the lobby naked with some animals under it. Don't ask me about the animals. I haven't been there yet. I will let you know.