A finish & a tiny giveaway!

Hello dear blogging friends!  It's been a while since I've been able to read your blogs or post on my own!  But I am trying to catch up and see what you've been doing!

I actually have a finish I want to show.  It's really small, but oh so cute!  While I was stitching this, I thought it looked rather small!  When I was about half finished, I looked at the chart again, and saw that I was using 18 count fabric, as recommended, but the chart said "over two"!!!!  Oh well, it's really cute as a "MINI" since mine is over one!!!

I had this darling snowman fabric in my stash, so I will use it for finishing.  I think my dear friend Janie gave me this fabric!!  I changed the floss colors to coordinate with the fabric.  You can also see that the button wheels aren't sewn on yet, either!  But they will be!

This is the cute little chart--Snowman "Zippie" by Bent Creek.  I received this chart from Chris at Tot Hill Farm Stitches.  She was giving it away, and now I want to pass it to someone else.  So, if you are interested in stitching this cute little chart, please leave a comment and I'll draw a name on Wednesday of this week.

I've been busy with handling my mother's affairs, but it's all falling into place and I hope things will be a little easier/quieter soon.  It's been very tiring and very busy, but starting to slow down now.

Thank you for stopping by, and please come back soon!  Don't forget to leave a comment if you'd like to have the Snowman Chart!
Frances

I'm older!! And I'm lucky!!

Well, my 57th birthday is almost over!  And I survived!  haha!  I had a nice day and a lovely lunch with a friend today and another tomorrow!  It really seems like these birthdays are coming faster than they used to!!!

Marly let me know that I was no-reply YET AGAIN!  I haven't checked for a while, so I guess I will have to check more often!  It just flips to no-reply for no particular reason...I've read comments about the same thing happening to others.  What a pain, but I think I have it fixed again now!

I have fun news to share!!!  I won Edgar's Blogaversary Gift Away!  I was so thrilled to win and it came at a time that I desperately needed a "pick me up"!!!  I was thrilled when I stepped on my front porch and there was a box waiting for me!!!  I quickly opened it and couldn't believe my eyes!  Oh wow!!  It was a fabulous box of San Francisco treats!!!!

There was a box of cookies, biscotti, etc from Dianda's!!  I've heard of Dianda's!  Then I opened that box--look at the gorgeous contents!!!  They were so beautiful and tasted even better than they looked!!!  (yes, I used past tense--they're gone and they were good!!!)   My husband did help me eat them, though! hahaha

Then, I found a bag of Ghirardelli chocolates!!  So yummy!!!  A lovely bag of Blue Bottle coffee beans that smelled so fabulous when I picked them up!!!  It's wonderful coffee!!  Also, a package of California poppy seeds--I hope to have my own little sample of beautiful California poppies right here in MS!  Finally, a precious little fuzzy black sheep!!!!  How perfect to receive from Edgar!!!  I feel so lucky  (and a little bit fatter! ha!)

Thank you for stopping by, and please come visit again soon!

Frances

Moving forward

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your lovely and kind comments regarding the loss of my Mother. You will never know how much you are appreciated!  The past couple of weeks have been a big blur, but things are beginning to even out.  We miss her terribly, but a calm is starting to come over us.
I am going back and forth to her condo and will have everything that I need to do finished by the end of the month.  I have brought back a few lovely things--she had some pretty antiques, and I will get a mover to bring the rest.  She would be so happy to see her things in my home.

I stitched the Prairie Schooler "A Prairie Year" for her many years ago.  She wanted them individually framed and hung together--so that's how they are!  I don't know if I will leave them like this and display them the same way....or make ornaments.  Not sure--but they are a fun little collection of sweet stitching.  The colors are so pretty, but they don't show up so well below because of a glare.  I hurriedly took this bad photo and they are a little bit crooked, but you get the general idea!  Cute!!

I brought home this beautiful lamp.  Supposedly, it was one of the first electric lamps in her town.  I have always loved it.  I just plopped it down where another not-so-exciting lamp was in my house.  I will have to put thought into where things finally stay!  But I do love it.

Through all of this, I actually have a small finish to show, and will do that on my next post! It is rather small, but will be a precious little snowman ornament!  I have already picked out the sweet fabric for finishing, so I will have to sit down and make myself complete it!  I will pass the chart on, so stay tuned for a chance to stitch it for yourself!!

My birthday is next week...I will be 57 years old!!!  I cannot believe that I am closer to 60 than 50!!!  That sounds terrible!!  hahaha!   Now that I think about it, I have already been closer to 60 than 50 for the past year!!  Where is my brain?!?!?!    hahaha!

Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!

Frances

My Mother

Dear blogging friends,
I have been out of pocket recently for many reasons...you remember that I graduated on May 1st!!!
Well, my dear sweet Mother passed away unexpectedly on April 30th.  We were very shocked and devastated, but she did not linger or suffer, and that is a blessing.  She was a widow for 29 years and made the best of any situation.  She was a truly happy person and lived life to the fullest.  She loved to read the classics and had a wonderful library of literature.  She was artistic and loved music.  She volunteered at the local hospital, and was selected Volunteer of the Year recently.  She achieved her goal of visiting all 50 states and enjoyed traveling.  She was 85.

My family told me that I must go ahead and march in graduation.  I wasn't sure if it was the proper thing to do, but they assured me that she would want for me to do so.  It was hard to do, but I am glad that I went ahead and participated in commencement.  My brother, husband, son, and daughter-in-law were there with me.

Her service was lovely.  The priest mixed scripture with literature quotes.  There was a bag piper at the cemetery.  The flowers were pretty and the Spring weather was lovely. Everything was so green. She is now at rest beside my Daddy.

We are all doing ok.  I am so thankful that she was neat and extremely organized.  She lived 90 miles from me so I am having to go to her condo when I can to take care of things.  I am now committed to making my own home and everything neat and easy like hers, so that my child will not be burdened when my time comes!  I have never thought about it before, but I am so lucky in that respect!

Thank you for reading this post.  It wasn't easy to write, but I know that this is how things are supposed to be.  We are at peace and I am very honored that I had such loving and wonderful parents.  I hope to carry on their legacy.

Frances

Graduation!

Well, I actually graduated on Friday night!
There were seven of us who earned our Master of Music Education degree from Jackson State University.
So glad it finally happened!

                                    

                         With my piano teacher                                            At commencement

                                                          With my music classmates

Thanks for stopping by--please come back soon!

Frances