I'm here!!!

I have been so behind in EVERYTHING!  I really hate that my blog has suffered, but I'm back on it now and hope this much time won't pass between posts again!

Well, everyone has talked about the heat--and it's still hot here.  We haven't had rain since July 4th, so our yard is brown and crunchy.  But I do know it's that way in a lot of places.  Here's another photo of my dashboard temperature....wow!!

I have noticed the sweetest little birds with red heads out on my patio.  I haven't taken the time to look them up, but I think they are so cute!  Perhaps Beth will see this and can tell me what it is!

We went to the MS Gulf Coast for a couple of days this week--was nice to get away.  We stayed in Biloxi and relaxed and ate!!!  This weekend is the 10th anniversary of Katrina. Most people are aware that New Orleans suffered greatly.  However, the MS Gulf Coast was destroyed in many places--and hasn't all come back.  There are vacant lots all across from the beach.  Beautiful antebellum homes lined the beach.  I remember them from my childhood.  Now there are so many vacant lots with those historic markers that describe the home that used to be there.  So sad. Beauvoir, the home of Jefferson Davis, is there. It was heavily damaged, but has been repaired and is open again for tours and visits to the museum located there.  Here is the view from our hotel.

I have been stitching some and have done a little finishing.  I was supposed to get with my dear friend, Janie, to finish ornaments.  I had to cancel because I was having pain from my precious kidney issues.....I had to see the Doctor when I was supposed to visit with her.  He said I'd have to "tough it out" and gave me some rather effective pills!!!!  I slept for two days!  I wanted to blog but I couldn't focus my eyes or think straight!!  Oh my!!! But it's all fine now!!  Never a dull moment at our house!

In sorting through my mother's things, I found this blue jay cross stitch that my brother's ex wife had stitched for my father many years ago.  (My sweet Daddy has been gone for 29 years, so you know this is OLD!)  Anyway, it was framed in a very plain oak frame--nothing special.  I haven't seen her in almost that many years, but I just thought it would be wrong to throw away cross stitch.  I didn't want to hang it on my wall, so I decided to cut it up and make an ornament!  Yep!  I did!  And I actually like it very much!  I'm pleased with the outcome!

I also had this little pansy on some of that country-styled Aida with green designs around it.  It was large (probably intended for pillows) and I didn't want it hung up, either.  So I cut the printed border off and made another ornament.  Fun!!

 

I'm so glad to do something useful with these older pieces.  It's been fun to re-style them. I still have those three shells I showed earlier--they are next on the list to re-style.

I also stitched a cute little Halloween owl!  This is a cute freebie from Jacquie and I had such fun stitching it.  At first I really didn't like my thread choice...variegated orange. However, when I started putting the finishing fabrics with this, I think it turned out well! Jacquie is so talented!  She can stitch, quilt, and do all sorts of things--in addition to designing! She's not been feeling well lately, and I hope she improves soon!

I hope to be posting more finishes very soon!  I have a stack of things to finish, but I'm plodding through them!  I have missed blogging but I have tried to quickly check in on your blogs, to see what fun you've been having!

Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!

Frances

A Winner and a Project!!

Just a quick little post to let you know that the cute little Bent Creek Zippie Snowman is going to Beth of Garden Grumbles and Cross Stitch Fumbles!  If you haven't been to her wonderful blog, please click on her name and visit!  She has such fun stitching and some of the most beautiful bird and gardening photos ever!  When I get her address, I'll send her little chart right out to her!  Thank you to everyone who entered, and check back because I'll be doing some more small giveaways through the Summer!

From my mother's house, I brought back these three shells I had stitched probably back in the 80s--you can certainly tell that by the framing!  haha

My mother loved peach so that's why those peach mats are there.  I remember when I stitched them, thinking that the shell colors were so pretty on the brown fabric.  Then when the peach mats went on, the whole contrast changed and I didn't like them as much. But she did, and that was fine!!!
However, I will be taking them apart and making some Summer shell ornaments!!  I'm really excited about fixing these and I can envision them completed just like I want them! Stay tuned for that little project!

Thank you for visiting and come again soon!!
Frances

Finished!

This morning I got up and decided that I wanted to have one of the little ornaments I've stitched all finished and on the tree--today!  It was easy to pick this one, since Summer will soon be over and we'll move on to other times!
This was a quick little stitch, by Trail Creek Farm, and I changed the floss to brighter colors for the season!

Also, I found a lovely giveaway on the blog~Always Smiling!  Go check this out and see what loveliness Chris is planning for her giveaway!!  (hope I did this right--haven't done a link before!!)

http://alwayssmiling24.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/my-giveaway-for-my-6th-blogaversary.html

Thank you for visiting and please stop by again!

         Frances

FINALLY, some stitching to show!

This is a rather small piece of stitching, but I actually started AND finished something!!!  It is a very simple and fun little Trail Creek chart.  I will finish it into an ornament for the summer tree--better get to that pretty soon or I'll miss it for this year!!
This is on 30 ct. pale pink linen and I changed the floss colors to brighter reds, pinks and greens!  I couldn't get the photo colors exactly right, but this gives you the general idea!
I have the other 3 seasons, also, and I want to do those, too, because they work up fast and are cute!

Heartfelt Thanks

I am so very touched by the lovely comments and the kindness expressed to me!  I am so pleased to be part (a small part!) of the blogging world and it has been such a joy to get to know so many wonderful people!  It has been very sad and difficult to lose my darling cat, Violetta, but you all have made me feel so much better!  Thank you so much for everything!  You will never know how much you are appreciated!

I've had my patriotic tree up for a while now, so I changed it a little to have a Summer tree for the moment.  I left a few patriotic things and added some other summery items.  I'm particularly fond of the cute little "jeweled" bees and frogs I found in the sale bin yesterday!!!  They are too cute!!  I've been on a "bee kick" since I won the fabulous giveaway from Jacquie, which included two fabulous bee items--a precious pillow and a sweet little bee mini-pillow that is perched on this tree!!!  I was thrilled to find these sparkly bees and I've got a few bee patterns that I'm going to stitch myself!!  What fun!

As usual, my photography isn't too great, but in the right photo you can see the little bee and frog!!  I love them!!

I'm working on some stitching now and will have a photo very soon!     Thanks for stopping by, and do come again soon!    Frances