Happy St. Paddy's!!!

Hello Blogging Friends!!

Hope you're all lucky and happy, and full of green beer!

I've had my St. Paddy's tree up for a couple of weeks.  I always enjoy this one, too!  (I probably say that about each one!)  I love green, and this tree certainly gives me that "green overload!"

This is the tree from a couple of views.  And below are several close up photos of various ornaments.  I think the newest is the Lizzie Kate "Luck to You" with little beads I put around the edges.  The second close up has a little green pillow with a blue and green checked ribbon.  I pinned a little antique shamrock pin with a pipe on it.  That belonged to my "Nannie" who died about 52 years ago and she was in her 80s at that time.  It's really old and so worn out.  The shamrock is wire and little green threads were woven through the wire, under the little white pipe.  Almost all of the threads are gone, but I think it's really sweet.

 

You will notice I put green lights on the tree!  Also, there are many green beads.  We have a St Paddy's Day parade here, and I have tons of green beads from that!

I love stitching St. Patrick's Day ornaments!  I have such cute little shamrock fabrics!  I have a few patterns sitting here, patiently waiting for me to stitch them!  Haha   I need to do that, so I can use my cute fabrics!

My dear friend Janie came for a visit, and we had such a good time, as always.  She was able to finish up a couple of ornaments.  I did some stitching on a Christmas Cardinal, but it's not finished yet.

I always have to show a photo of my "two favorites!"
First is Omar.....I decided to clean the bottom of the windows...where the window closes.  It had dirt piled up there.  I opened the windows and got wet paper towels and cleaned it up.  The dirt comes through the screen and collects on the bottom of the sill outside.  They were so dirty!  When I opened the window, Omar jumped in the window and smelled the outside air, looking like a bunny!  ha  He sat there all afternoon.  I didn't feel I could leave the room because the screens are just barely screwed in and I was afraid he would knock the screen out and go for a neighborhood run!!!!  However, it was so nice to have the fresh air in the house!  I can't really do it now....all the pollen is everywhere!
I went on the patio to take Omar's picture, and he's really busy telling me something!  Silly kitty!

My son sent me this photo of Zoe. I laughed and laughed when I got it!  They were teaching her how to take a selfie with the phone!  That curl on top is so funny!!!

I guess that's about it for right now!  I'm getting out the Easter stuff and will get everything changed up quickly.  Holy Week is almost here!  EEEEK!  I love the services, but I play for 6 days straight!  It's a lot to keep up with, but I've got it pretty organized, so it usually goes off without a hitch!  (fingers crossed!)  I will post photos of the Cathedral with its Easter decorations.  It's always stunning!

One thing I forgot to show you on my Mardi Gras post was my lion on the front porch!  He was at my mother's house, and came to live with me when she died!  I found a large plastic bag in her closet with a Santa hat (with a little neck strap) and a mask and beads.  Those were the lion's finery for Christmas and Mardi Gras!  She would decorate him and had his things all packed up in a bag.  He can also wear the mask for Halloween!  Anyway, here is Mr. Lion in his Mardi Gras getup!  He's too cute!  I should try to find him some bunny ears!

I don't have as many birds as I had several weeks ago.  I'm sure some headed home to somewhere in the North.  I've got to do a little reading on that.  I still have my feeders, and birds are still coming, but not in the huge numbers they were before!  

Thanks for stopping by, and please come again soon!

Frances

Mardi Gras Fun!

Dear Blogging Friends:

It's Fat Tuesday tomorrow, and then Ash Wednesday, and my days as Cathedral Organist are full until Easter!!!  Wow!  Time flies so fast!!!

I have my Mardi Gras Tree set up in the foyer, and it's pretty similiar to last year's.  It always makes me smile and I love the bright colors!  I have said before that I grew up an hour and a half from New Orleans, and we always went to the big parade-Rex-on Fat Tuesday.  Such happy memories from so many years ago!

Omar walked by as I was taking photos, and decided to sit and pose!  Silly kitty!

This is a fun little ornament of a mask, and directly above it is my little voodoo doll!  She has a blue feather on her head!  It's so cute--I bought it in New Orleans several years ago.  Of course, I've never tried to use it!  haha

These are two fun ornaments I stitched.  I especially like the comedy/tragedy masks, because I put vintage Mardi Gras beads across the very bottom of it.  And I like the plaid ribbon hanger.  Such fun!

This is a fleur de lis and I like the Mardi Gras colors.  You can't see it well, but there's a little matching charm and black tassel at the top left of it, where the hanger attaches. My mother loved New Orleans and went there often when SHE was growing up.  When I cleaned out her apartment after she died, there were many, many beads and she had 4 or 5 pieces of paper with the Mardi Gras colors on them--I guess she didn't want to forget!!!  If you aren't familiar, I'll share them:

GOLD for power, PURPLE for justice, GREEN for faith

I have described this one before, but for those who might be new, I have feathers at the top left and bottom right that belonged to my mother's friend's bird named Joe!  He was an Amazon Blue Front Parrot and regularly dropped feathers, so his owner saved them for me because I like feathers!!!  I have all colors and sizes.  They are so sweet!

Speaking of birds, we have had white pelicans in the bay of my neighborhood lately.  It was so exciting and we all would walk or drive by, just to admire them.  It seems that they were migrating back to Manitoba from the Gulf of Mexico.  I guess they liked the looks of things here, and stopped in mid-Mississippi for a little break so they could entertain us!  Aren't they wonderful??  They've moved on now, but we will never forget the excitement they brought!

 

Aren't they beautiful??  There were so many and we all loved watching them.

This photo was taken from the bridge, right by my house.  For some odd reason, they all were gathering in the narrow part of the bay.  It looks like they're on top of each other!  If you look closely, you can see more of them swimming toward the big group, in a line.  They stayed, for the most part, in a line.  Fascinating.  Also, you can see some egrets on the bank, just checking things out!

In addition, these ducks came through, too.  Lesser Scaup--I've not seen those and they are so lovely.

Speaking of egrets, you might remember the photo on my last post about them being everywhere.  They were here a little before the pelicans.  Later, I took this behind my house.  They were all gathered together, having a nice visit.  Some were even in the trees!  So funny!  Egrets are here all the time, but just not so many!

My "regular" birds are here, as usual, and are still being enjoyed.  I feed them all the time and wish the squirrels would get out of my feeders!!!  Oh well, they have to eat, too!

I'll leave you with another photo from Zoe's birthday.  She's my sweet girl!

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

Another Tree!

Valentine's Day is over and the tree must come down!  I have the boxes out and will put everything up tomorrow.  It was actually a pretty good day.  Of course, my first one without my husband, so that was different.  It was also his birthday....he was a Valentine Baby!  I managed without a cry or a meltdown, so I guess I'm doing ok!  Omar was my Valentine!! He's a pretty boy!

Mardi Gras is a pretty big deal here in the Deep South!  I have my Mardi Gras tree up and it's so fun and festive!!!  I need to stitch a few new ornaments.  I have TONS of beads on there!  And my fun parasol from a convention we attended at some point.  (I don't even remember when!) Omar had to check it out!!

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I got the pin removed from my poor finger!  I am having to do exercises and try to make it more limber and not so tight.  This whole freaky thing is such a pain.  But, I am doing it and playing a little bit with it and typing on the computer.  Also, I have it wrapped because it was swelling at first!  This has really been unbelievable!  This photo was taken right after it was removed.  Now my little wrapping is beige and very thin.

You know that I can't sign off without a Zoe photo or two!  She is trying to smile now!  The first photo was taken by my daughter-in-law and the second was taken by me!

 

Thank you for visiting and I hope you come back soon!  I appreciate all your wonderful and sweet comments!

Frances

Mardi Gras!!

Well, Mardi Gras is just now over!  And I am just now showing my tree!  haha
This year, I used my super skinny tree, and I think I really prefer a fatter tree for all of my "loot"!!!!  But, this tree had New Years on it, and after I took that stuff off, I just grabbed Mardi Gras and started on that!  I have Valentines on the shorter, fatter tree, which I will show tomorrow!
I have used a parasol on top before, but the skinny little top couldn't handle the parasol, so I just plopped a crown on top and continued to decorate!  It has some cross stitched ornaments, masks, and feathers, as well as several things I have bought through the years when visiting New Orleans.  It also has beads from parades!

Here are a few close up photos!  I like the bright happy colors!

Last year I bought a pack of plastic Mardi Gras ornaments on the deep sale aisle at Walmart! About four or five of them were cracked, so they were pitched a few weeks ago! (maybe a sign that I don't need to buy any!!)   Skinny tree couldn't hold them all, so I put some around the house in jars and bowls.  It spreads the fun and color!

I am so pleased with my sweet cat, Omar!  He has been such a joy!  Here is a photo of me with him, and you can tell that he's really not wanting his photo made!  (yes, that is our Christmas tree, but this was taken a while back...our tree is not still up!!)

He is a mix breed, with Turkish Angora being prominent in his appearance.  I wasn't familiar with the breed, but they have a big mane and chiseled facial bone structure.  I'd say that's a good description!

Lastly, cats do what they do, when they want to!  He knows he's not supposed to get on the kitchen table (or any table) but I caught him in the act!

This was my mother's oak dining set.  She liked antiques and had rust velvet chair bottoms in this.  I selected the leopard with silver piping, and my curtains were finally installed!  They are a silver linen with square silver studs.  The color is off in this photo. The walls are taupe.  But I'm happy with how things are turning out!

Thanks for reading this post, and I hope to have my Valentine tree posted very, very soon!  I also have a few little completed stitches to show!  I've been running around doing all sorts of stuff.  My poor blog has suffered again, but I also have tried to look over yours when I can!  Some of you are stitching such beautiful things!  I am so envious!  I must catch up with you!  haha

Please stop by again soon!
Frances

A Finish!!

Well, I just barely made it for this year!!!  Today is Fat Tuesday, so this is the end of this year's Mardi Gras season!
I have finished the cute little mask ornament I stitched on the way to New Orleans a couple of weeks ago!   It was a simple little mask, in Mardi Gras colors, but I tried to "fancy it up" with finishing and trims.

This little mask was stitched on a scrap of Aida cloth and I used some purple/gold metallic fabric, and fleur de lis fabric in Mardi Gras colors.  I added purple/gold metallic trim beside the stitching.

I used gold wired ribbon for the hanger.  I had bought a little packet of Mardi Gras buttons at Hancock's several weeks ago.  These two little purple glitter mask buttons were in there, and I thought they were perfect to attach the ribbon!  Doesn't it look cute beside my Voodoo Doll?!?!

This was a really fun ornament, and looks festive on the tree!

Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!  Now I will have to take down BOTH the Mardi Gras and Valentine's trees!  Then it will be time for St. Patrick's Day tree, so come check it out!

Frances

A Last Bit about New Orleans!!

Well, I know I need to talk about something else, but I have one other little bit of fun to show about New Orleans!
On my last post, you saw the adorable yellow-wrapped chart package from The Quarter Stitch.  I also visited the Needlework Vault near Magazine Street.

These are the New Orleans/Mardi Gras charts I purchased!

I do have one very small finish that I stitched in the car and a little bit in the hotel.  It's a little freebie from Talons Aiguilles and located here.   I only stitched the little mask and not the whole chart.  I must get this one finished up quickly so I can enjoy it this year!

As part of the Grow Your Blog Party, I've been enjoying visits from other bloggers, and visiting their blogs, too!  This has been so much fun!  Don't forget to comment here to be entered in my mystery cross stitch giveaway!  *It's a mystery because I don't know what I'm giving away yet--but it'll be fun!

Since I haven't mentioned my sweet kitty, Dolce, lately I'm going to close with a cute photo of her!

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

Mardi Gras!!

I am originally from Southwest Mississippi, not far from New Orleans...and we used to go to Mardi Gras parades every year!  This was a very long time ago, when I was very young, back in the 1960s! I haven't been since that time.  I'd love to go back one day!
If you aren't familiar with Mardi Gras, it is called Carnival in other countries...it's a time of parties and fun from the Twelfth Day of Christmas until the season of Lent.  The grandest parade in New Orleans is Rex, which is on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday--the beginning of Lent.  The floats are elaborate and they throw beads and doubloons and all kinds of fun trinkets.  The Mardi Gras colors are Green, Gold, and Purple--for Faith, Power, and Justice.

In that spirit, I have a Mardi Gras tree!!!  I have stitched a few ornaments, getting the patterns from a freebie search online.  There are several more I'd like to add!  I used many strings of beads--some are new and some are vintage, from the days of my childhood!  At the top of the tree is a parasol, which was a favor at a convention we attended at some point.  Parasols are carried and twirled in jazz funerals, and at events throughout New Orleans.  There are also several masks--some with feathers, and ornaments with the fleur de lis.

It's such a fun time at Mardi Gras!  Everything is so bright and cheerful! Music is playing and everyone seems happy!  There's always too much to eat, but all of it is wonderful!

This ornament is the comedy/tragedy masks and has a beaded bottom made from vintage Mardi Gras beads.  The pattern came from here and is by BD Coture.

You see the fleur de lis all over New Orleans, all the time, because of the French influence.  Even the Saints football team has one for their logo!  I stitched this one in Mardi Gras colors.  I found it here and it's by Penelopis.  I had a fleur de lis charm I put on the top left side, over a black tassel.  I was able to find many cute Mardi Gras fabrics in stores locally.

This freebie, located here, is "Let the Good Times Roll" in French--a common saying during this time of year!  Again, I used some really cute Mardi Gras fabric, and I added a black bead edge (more vintage beads), feathers, and a button with a crown charm. Those feathers came from my mother--her friend has a blue front Amazon parrot named Joe!! Joe drops feathers all the time and one day my mother mentioned that I love pretty feathers.  Now his owner sends me feathers every so often! It's amazing that Joe is not totally bald!!!  But she assures me that it is normal for feathers to fall!  I was so pleased to use them and when I showed her the ornament, she teared up!  Joe is her "baby" and she has had him for 30 years!!!!!  They live to be very old, and she has already lined up who will take him when she passes!  (people love their pets!!  sweet!!)

This cute Mardi Gras freebie sampler is from The Sampler Girl, but I cannot locate it online!!   I added a crown charm and put a very glittery edging on it!  These are so much fun to make!!

The last little ornament I made is just a little pillow from Mardi Gras fabric, but I included a little purple crown with a King Cake baby on it!  King Cakes are popular and you probably know the story--a little baby, said to represent the Baby Jesus, is baked in the cake, and the person who finds the baby in their slice of cake is supposed to receive luck and prosperity AND host the next party!

It has been easy to locate Mardi Gras fabrics, and Wal Mart and Party City carry Mardi Gras items.  Michael's has some, too, but I realize that it might not be so plentiful in other parts of the country.  I try to be thrifty (ha) and I used up some small scraps of purple and gold Aida on these ornaments.  I want to use some more neutral fabrics on some others--for a different effect.  I intend to add a few more to the group, but you can fill in with lots of beads so the tree isn't empty!  

I also have my Valentine Tree up, and I'll show that one shortly!  The calendar made these two close together...Valentine's is February 14 and Mardi Gras is over February 18 this year!!!  So, I just put both of them up, in separate rooms!

Thank you for visiting, and please stop by again soon!

Frances