Merry Christmas!!

Dear Blogging Friends:

As usual, I start my blog posts with some lame sentence about wanting to post more!  I will just let that go now--you've heard it already!

As you know, this is the busy Christmas Season, and I have been overwhelmed with music stuff, and a lot of other things, too!  But I do want to catch up and hopefully stay caught up!

So much has gone on since my Thanksgiving post!  (isn't that pitiful?!)

I am getting into a rhythm of my "new normal" since my husband has been gone now for 6 1/2 months.  It's not how I want things to be, but I've made up my mind to search for happiness and contentment, and that's where I am now.

You all know that I am a musician, and have a job as a church musician.  Well, imagine my surprise when this happened!!!

Yes, I had a little accident!  I was gluing something with plain old white glue, and got a little on my finger.  I went to wipe it off with my left hand, and heard a little pop!  It didn't hurt, but I looked at my right hand and the end of my finger was drooping!!  SO,,,I went to the doctor and it wasn't broken but the ligament had popped loose!!  Freak accident!  SO, I had to go to a hand specialist and I now have a little rod inserted in my finger. It will heal in 8 weeks and the rod will be removed.  I'm already finished 2 weeks.  Can you believe this???  I am still playing, with 9 fingers!!!!  It's not great at all!!  But I guess I'll survive! This is a minor setback!

My new grand daughter is due on January 4th!  I am so excited!!!!   I will keep you posted on that!

I did put up four trees this year..even did some with a hurt finger!  My heart really wasn't in it this year, but after I was finished and looked at them, it was the right thing to do!  I think I would have been extremely depressed to have no decorations.  

This is the family tree, full of decorations from events in our lives.  This is in the den, and where Santa always came.  We have decorations from our travels, things our son made through the years, old family items, and just a good mixture.  The last time my mother came up before she died, she stood there looking, and said that this tree was like a diary of our lives.  And it really is!

 

This is my music tree,  It has all types of musical ornaments, with emphasis on little grand pianos!  I love this tree.  It's in my music room, of course!  I can see it when I play my piano!

This is a skinny little tree for Mississippi State University!  I did not go there, but my husband and son did.  We have season football tickets and it's just a big deal!  So, I still put this up, even though my husband is gone.  But our son loved it.  It's tucked in the corner of the dining room, so we can see it when we eat!  ha

Finally, this is my cross stitch tree.  I made most of the ornaments, but have a few that were gifts or from exchanges.  I love this tree!  And I have a couple of new ones this year! One was a gift from a FB exchange that Dixie Samplar started.  I absolutely LOVE my ornament!!

Isn't this beautiful??  I am so lucky!  I just love it!

I also had a small finish--finally!  ha!  My dear friend Janie was down from Indiana to visit her mother and she came by and we did some finishing!  I will show you one for another holiday later.  I love this silly little ornament!

I am worried that I might be a no-reply blogger.  If anyone has found that to be true please let me know!  Google + has messed everything up!  It looks like all is ok but I read an article saying that just because it lists your email on your profile, it still might not show up!  I just don't know!  ha

You know I can't post without including Omar!  My son and daughter in law brought him this fabulous kitty cocoon, handmade in Nepal!  He loves it!  I think it suits him perfectly!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!  Keep stitching!  Thank you for your visit and please come back soon!

Frances

Year in Review!

Dear Stitching Friends,

2014 has been such a lovely year with many new and exciting things!

First, I started my blog this year and it has brought me much pleasure!  I have met many wonderful people through it, and I hope to meet even more in the coming year!  I had wanted a blog for quite a while, and just never made up my mind to do it!  I finally took the plunge this year, and I am so glad I did!

I have won some giveaways!  I have participated in exchanges!  I have received RAKs!
I even had my own giveaways!

 Beautiful giveaway from Annette!

My 1st giveaway win from Jacquie! 

 

Exchange I sent....                                                      Beautiful RAK from Andrea!

THERE ARE OTHERS!  I hate to post just these few photos, because I don't want to leave anything or anyone out!!!!  I have absolutely LOVED everything that I have been privileged to do!  And also the people---such wonderful, wonderful new friends!!!  I'm just not organized with my photos and I'm finding what I can!!!  (I need to work on that!)

Time has been limited at some points, but I manage to keep it going!  I am about to begin my LAST semester on my Masters in Music and I will graduate in May!  I cannot wait to have this behind me!  I was probably CRAZY for attempting this past the age of 50, but the end is in sight and I am thrilled!  I will definitely post photos of me in my cap and gown, marching with a bunch of 20-somethings!!!  I'm so excited!

My music has always been so important to me!
I work as the Parish Music Director/Organist at my church and each year the adult choir presents an Advent Concert on the First Sunday of Advent.  It is a wonderful event and we have done this for 8 years.  Below is a photo--yes, that's me at the piano.  Our robes are about the most unflattering garment made....so ignore how "round" we look!!  (even though I like these and think they look great together!!)

On Christmas Eve, we have 2 Masses and the first has the youth instrumental ensemble that plays, and they always do such a great job!  It's so nice to see young people participate!

I have a beautiful kitty, Dolce, that I got after I lost my precious Violetta.  I also have a lovely family: husband and son & daughter-in-law!

Life is good!

What do I want to do for 2015???    Am I making silly resolutions??

 

Well, I'll probably get out the standard list of resolutions that I make every year, and never keep!! LOL!!
They are the usual:  lose weight, be more kind to everyone, get organized......

However, I really want to do MORE stitching and get all of my stitching supplies, etc, organized! My blog has made me more aware of how "together" other people are!!!  I want to be, also!
I also want to be better about commenting on other blogs!  I faithfully read many of your blogs, but I'm usually racing through and don't take the time to comment!  I know that I should.  I know how much I enjoy comments, and I certainly need to make to effort to share that enjoyment!  That's a new and sincere resolution!
I also want to get my computer in good shape...I couldn't find photos today....I need to delete useless stuff--just that type of thing!  I've let it go and now it is imperative that I jump in and fix it all!

My main interest in cross stitching has been fixing my seasonal and holiday trees!  I will continue to do that, but hope to add a large piece to work on, too.  I have one big UFO that I might drag out and finish, just to prove that I can actually start and finish something, even after all these years!  It must be 25-30 years old!!! LOL!
BUT, I only have one unfinished thing, so I guess that's positive!  HOWEVER, I have at least 9 million charts that I want to stitch!  So, I'd better get going on those, don't you think????

I hope all of you have a wonderful, healthy, prosperous, and joyous 2015~

Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!
Frances

Exchange!

This year I participated in the 2014 Halloween Exchange, organized by Kim, and it was so much fun! Thank you, Kim, for doing this!
The postman brought me a wonderful package the other day...all the way from Australia!!!! I was so excited and ran in to open it quickly!  What a precious mug rug from Jo!!  I love it!!  I also love sweet black kitties, so this is just perfect!  I borrowed this photo from her blog, and she says she made two while she was sewing!  (I'm sure glad one was for me!!!)

I know it's a mug rug, but I propped it at the base of my Halloween tree for now!  It just looks perfect there and I do love it!!
What a good exchange experience!  Too, too cute!

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

What a wonderful day!!!

I feel like Christmas has come early!!!  You may remember that I participated in a couple of exchanges this year.  It's new to me, but hey---I think I could get used to this!  I have mailed both of my parcels, and have received one--and it is fabulous! (and yes, I'm checking my mailbox daily for the other one!!)
The Harvest Exchange 2014 was organized by Terri and I was lucky enough to receive a package from her!!!  I am absolutely thrilled with it!

Look at this bounty of greatness!!  She included so many lovely things...charts, floss, backing fabric, scissors, trim...the list goes on!  and TWO wonderful stitched pieces!  I am overjoyed!

This is a precious little bag that can be used so many ways! I can put treats, flowers, and any other decorations in it!  I just love it!  The stitching is so tiny and cute, and the finishing is wonderful! I love it!  Right now it is hanging on my tree because I didn't want my cat to sit on it!!! LOL!!





This lovely ornament has the cutest tiny black cat!  It is so perfect!  I love it, too, and it has found a wonderful spot on my tree!









Thank you so much, Terri!  I am absolutely thrilled with my exchange from you!




Thank you for visiting, and do stop by again soon!
Frances

Exchange Package Received!

I had never participated in an exchange until this Fall!!!  And I got rather industrious and did TWO! I haven't heard from one yet, but this was the First Annual Halloween Ornament Exchange, organized by Kim from Wisdom with Needle and Thread!!  I wasn't exactly sure what to send, but I just went with it!! My partner was Joelle and here is her blog.   She lives near Paris, so my little package traveled around the world to get to her!  It actually got there faster than I thought it would and she has contacted me and told me that she liked it! That's a relief--she was so nice!  Here is the ornament, a freebie called "Halloween Costume" from Birds of a Feather. Also, here's a snap of the rest of the package I sent!  It was really fun! NOW, I'm waiting to get mine, from somewhere!  HA HA

I hope everyone is enjoying cooler weather and getting ready for Fall happenings!  This year has really flown by for me, and I just don't know where it went!

Thanks for stopping by...do visit again!
Frances