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

More Finishes!

Dear Fellow Bloggers:

Thank you for your wonderful comments on my last post.  I have been so inconsistent with my blog.  I am so pleased that I still have a few readers!!

I think I have the no-reply blogger fixed.  I'm certainly not sure!!  But I worked on it a long time!  At one point, I had it fixed to where no one could comment!  hahaha  I can't believe these settings are so difficult to deal with!

I told you earlier that I had a wonderful finishing day with my dear friend Janie, when she was down for a visit with her mother.  We did many things, and I was so pleased to get a few totally completed.  Below are two cute St. Patrick's Day finishes.  One from Lizzie Kate and one from Blackbird Designs.  I love both of these, and I am pleased with how they turned out!  It's hard to see, but I have little beads around the edge of the Luck to You! and I like the fluffy ribbon on the stocking.  I will enjoy these on next year's St. Patrick's tree!

As always, I have to post a cute photo of baby Zoe! She is a happy baby!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend and your summer.  It's been so very hot here, but we had a little break with some slightly cooler weather this week!  It was great!

I still have another finish to show, so stay tuned for that!

Frances

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! (late!)

Dear Friends,

I am late in posting this, but I'm going to go ahead and post it because I had a nice tree fixed for the holiday!  I think I've told you before that we have an annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and we always have tons of green beads!  I actually didn't attend the parade this year, but I understand it was a fun time and rather lively!!

Here are two views of my tree, full of fun green things!  I have two other pieces stitched, and I hope to get those totally finished, but of course that will be for next year, now!!
haha     I always think this is such a fun holiday!

 

Spring has finally sprung around here, I think!!  Our weather has been so strange.  It's been really cold (for us) and down around freezing at night and highs in the low 50s.  This week should have highs in the 70s-low 80s and lows in the 50s!  If only it would stay that way!!!  I took this photo a couple or three weeks ago.  This Japanese Magnolia is now all green leaves.  I started not to post it because it's not current, but I thought I would anyway since it's pretty.  This is beside the Cathedral.

We had an ordination over the weekend.  A seminarian became a transitional deacon.  He will become a priest next summer.  These are always such joyous events.  I played the organ, of course, and the singing was really lovely!  A glorious evening!  The other seminarians are seated in the pews on the left side.  It's so nice to know that so many young men will become priests.

You know I have to give a quick update on my granddaughter!!!  She is smiling and being silly!

 

Thank you for visiting and come back soon!

Frances

St. Paddy's is coming soon!

Dear Blogging Friends:

I have taken down the Valentine Tree and now have the St. Patrick's tree up!

 

This green tree always makes me happy!  I don't have any new cross stitched ornaments, but I do have a sweet little Lizzie Kate kitted up to do--hopefully before the holiday is over!!!

St. Patrick's Day is such a fun day here.  Jackson has the St. Paddy's Day Parade, and it is so much fun!  Everyone wears green and throws beads and dyed green potatoes!  (not sure about that, but it's always done!).  Many of you may have seen the books about the Sweet Potato Queens.  They were always in the St. Paddy's Day parade, until recently!
They are so funny!  Google them if you aren't familiar!!  A Riot!
Anyway, a local shopping mall used to have a Miss St. Paddy's Day Pageant.  It was a farce--not a real one!  Everyone was silly and dressed up funny!  To make a long story short, a friend of mine posted on Facebook a photo of me from like 1995, when I was Miss St. Paddy's!!!  In the parade, I rode in a golf cart driven by an Elvis Impersonator!  It is such a highlight of my life!  hahaha
My name was Miss Kitty from the City and I wore leopard and tiger print, with large fuzzy tiger slippers with plastic claws!  I teased my hair and wore a Burger King crown!!

Our weather has been so wonderful lately...except for the horrible storms a couple of days ago!  ha
The Canada Geese love to come in our yard and visit.  Here is a sweet couple, just waltzing and honking through the yard!  Look at all those sweet gum balls on the ground! They make such a mess!

I had a wonderful trip to Louisiana last week.  I accompany a friend of mine from when we studied for our Masters Degrees.  She is a wonderful singer.  We presented a program on music from the Harlem Renaissance and it was such a delight!  It was at an art museum--a beautiful setting!

I even have a tiny bit of stitching to show!!!  It's a very tiny bit, but some, at least!  And one is not quite completed!!  I stitched these with some wonderful floss that was sent to me by our sweet friend Annette.  This floss is Cosmo Seasons floss.  It is wonderful!  Egyptian cotton and glides beautifully!  I didn't know about it--we have no local stores--only Michael's and Hobby Lobby, and they only carry DMC.  Thank you again, so much, Annette!!!  I will make these into two sweet little ornaments!  I am getting a bit of a stack for finishing.  I will have to take a day and get it all done!

 

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

Was I AWOL??

It seems like the past few days/weeks have flown by and were busier than usual!  I have missed blogging and am glad to finally take the time to make a post!

I have been checking your blogs, and it seems like everyone is moving along, having good days!

Much has been going on and I have tons to tell!  I even have stitching to show!!!

But first, I am so sad to read that Prairie Schooler is closing up--they are retiring!!!  I just caught a glimpse of the the final charts they've released--lovely, of course, but I hate to see them leave!  I think they're my favorites!

I've had a foot in the road recently--I already told about my trip to Fargo for my Music Convention!!  Here are a few photos I never shared.  I'd never been there before, so we took a tour and got to see a few sights around the city. We visited The Heritage Hiemkomst Interpretive Center, where we saw a Stave Church and a replica Viking Ship.

 

We also attended a wonderful piano recital at the Presbyterian Church.

My favorite was probably the Fargo Theatre, complete with the Mighty Wurlitzer.  A lovely man demonstrated the organ, and then accompanied a silent movie--one with Buster Keaton!!!  It was so silly but very funny!

I guess I never said that I was elected to national First Vice President, and will serve that for four years.  Then I'll step up into the National Presidency!  A big honor!!

Here is a poor photo of part of the installation, and also the lovely roses from my state, that were left in my hotel room!!!  So sweet!

I headed back to Memphis for a quick trip, and did my fun visit to Stichers Inc!!  I always pick up a few things, but didn't get them photographed yet!  I bought a few lovely threads from a friend on Facebook.....

And, I went into a wonderful fabric store, that had little shopping bags full of fabric scraps for $6.50!!  Well, I have never been one to walk away from a bargain!  There was one full pound of fabric in the bag!  I couldn't see in the bag, so that made it even more enticing!! THEN, when I got home I grabbed it and I LOVE my new fabrics!!  These are perfect sizes for little ornaments.  Most were Moda Fabrics--so cute!

 

My husband had an annual meeting in Destin, FL. It was at the SanDestin Golf & Beach Resort.  We drive there almost every year.  It's so pretty there--we love the place--but it was terribly hot!!  Oh well, it was a nice change of scenery.  Now he had a Saturday night meeting.  I needed to get back home so I didn't have to miss church because I'm the organist and it's hard to get a sub!  Our city has just gotten an air service--I mistakenly thought it was jet service.  I really did!!  So my husband took me to the airport in Destin to fly back alone to Madison MS.  Can you imagine the look on my face when I was told to get in this contraption????

It was an 8 passenger prop plane, and we had nine passengers, so a cute little 9 year old girl sat in the co-pilot seat and off we went!!!  What an experience!!!!  Very loud.  Very not luxurious!  Very much NOT what I was expecting!  It did bring back many memories of flying with my father in a 4 person plane--as a child!  Well, the good thing was that it took 1 hour/20 minutes to get home, and it takes about 6 to drive because the traffic is so bad!! Below is a photo of the pilot flying....this was my view!  You can barely see a little hair bow in the co pilot seat!!!

I just got back last night from Brevard Music Center in Brevard, NC.  It's about 30 minutes from Asheville.  We flew on Delta--not the above-mentioned air service!!  LOL!!!
We spent one night at the Grove Park Inn--one of my favorites!!  So beautiful and up in the moutains!  The left photo is the Inn--the right photo is my view from my breakfast table!  Gorgeous!

 

I found this so unique--the various donut flavors are on dowels, stuck in a section of a cut tree!  Isn't that different??

Then it was on to Brevard Music Center.  They have an open-air amphitheater and the music just flows around the mountains....so lovely!  This photo shows the orchestra getting ready for a performance.

We had our meetings and meals in a lovely room, overlooking trees and a lake with geese!  They had  beautiful Steinway in there!

I've gotten quite a bit of stitching done!  I will have to show more as I can get it collected up!  I desperately need a finishing day!!!  I don't want to ever have a stack as tall as one I had about a year ago!!  I stitched this sweet little BBD St Patrick's stocking on the plane. Isn't it cute??  It's on a hand dyed 30 ct. linen.  So fun!  I will show more finishes later--and I did stitch all 3 of the Lizzie Kate Sled Dudes!  I showed a finished one previously, and I've got to finish the other 2 on the sleds!  I really like those!

When I got home from Brevard, there was a wonderful envelope from England waiting for me!!  It was from sweet, sweet Jacquie, and I just knew I would love whatever it was!!  She sent a precious note to me, written on this beautiful lavender-themed note card.  A little package wrapped in pink tissue was in there--and it contained a wonderful handmade lavender sachet!  I LOVE IT!!!  Jacquie stitched some pretty lavender on it--TINY count--very lovely!!  And it just smells divine!  Thank you so much for thinking of me, Jacquie!  I have enjoyed our friendship so much!  I think of you when I walk by and catch a delightful whiff!!  I will put it somewhere that I want to smell sweet, but right now I have to leave it where I can enjoy looking at it!!!  Many thanks, friend!

Well, this was a LONG post, but I have been out of pocket!  I will post some finishing soon, I hope!!  I really want to jump into that stack of fabulosity!!!!  

I started stitching another of the St Patrick's stockings, because it was the most convenient thing to start then!  I am going to recycle some old stitching, and I have some great ideas for those things.  So, keep in touch and I will share all of that soon!

Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon!

Frances

St. Paddy's & Giveaways!

I cannot believe we are already into the month of March!!!  This year is flying by!  I guess you know that means it's time for my St. Patrick's Tree!!!

I have several cross stitched ornaments, as well as an assortment of bought cuties!  I even have green beads from Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade, that is held annually in Jackson, MS.  I have a few Irish trinkets from that parade, as well.  One interesting tid-bit about the parade: some of you are readers--and if you like hilarious books, you will be familiar with the Sweet Potato Queens!  Jill Conner Brown is the originator of The Sweet Potato Queens, and they originally marched in the Mal's Parade.  (They've had a parting of ways and now march in another parade....but still in Jackson!)

Anyway, sorry for that little tangent!!!!

This sweet little freebie was from Sylvia.  I changed it just a little bit but I think it's so cute!

This is a cute freebie from Plum Street Samplers.  I really love the colors!

This is a sweet Prairie Schooler from Prairie Year Rounds.  (No, I didn't make it round!!!)

I got this precious freebie from Feathers in the Nest.  I can't find it on her blog at the moment. Jennifer suggested pinks and greens, so that's what I used.  It's really a fun one!

This was a tiny little free design that I just kept adding stuff to--ribbon, buttons, etc.  I don't know where I found this, but you could do something similar with any shamrock pattern.

I made this little pillow to display a very old family piece...this little pin belonged to my great aunt--we were very close to her.  We called her "Nannie" and my cousin recently gave me this little pin, to fashion into an ornament.  It has 3 little wire "leaves" and there was fine green thread woven on those leaves.  Only a small portion of the green thread is left.  I thought it was really sweet, so I decided this would be a way to preserve it. The little "bisque" pipe is sewed on and is labeled "Japan".  I liked the plaid blue and green ribbon and the green buttons to finish it.

You may remember that I participated in the Grow Your Blog event this year, and had so much fun visiting other blogs and seeing all the lovelies that people are creating!  I found the cutest blog, The Lady of the House Speaking.  Pamela is an Anglophile and she had the funniest post about Hyacinth Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances!!  I love that show! Anyway, Pamela's husband is in the Navy and they live in Washington state now.  She put together a lovely box of local treats and I was lucky enough to be the winner!!!  She included Seattle chocolate, Marionberry Jam, wonderfully scented handmade soap, and a precious heart ornament! (That heart will have a place of honor on one (or more) of my trees!!  She also included a sweet note on a postcard of her city, which looks like a wonderful place to live.  I just love everything!  Thank you so much!!  I linked her blog above--please check it out!  She is very creative and interesting!!!  I have really enjoyed following her blog!

OK...speaking of Giveaways...my blogoversary is March 22nd!  I cannot believe that I have had my blog for a year!!!  In ways this year has flown by!  There have been ups and downs, BUT, all is great and I have really enjoyed my blogging!  Thank you to those who read my blog.  I guess I was nervous that no one would really want to hear what goes on here in MS, but it's been such a lovely experience.  I feel like I know so many of you and I really enjoy hearing from you and seeing what you're doing!  

All of this is leading to a Blogoversary Giveaway!  I've got my thinking cap on and will announce the Giveaway on my next post!  So check back and take advantage of it, whatever it may be!! HAHA

**I also need to mention that Nancy of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a wonderful giveaway, too!  Be sure to check it out!  Look at her gorgeous floss colors!!

Thank you for stopping by and come back soon!

Frances