first post of the new year, I cannot tell a lie TUSAL

I haven't kicked off the new year yet. How can that be? It's only the 23rd, new moon (not FULL moon as I called it all last year. Right date, wrong name. oh well.
Herman's official retirement date is February 1st and we're babies at this and learning as we go. I'm so used to him coming and going I'm still in "he's just home for a visit" phase and not doing anything productive. But I'm trying to get there. The lie I can't tell? Would you show these orts for a whole month of stitching?

Whatcha" think about all these orts? I'm so ashamed :(

I've been unable to go through ufo's or decide what to choose to sal along with everyone in the "crazy" things. So rather than get in a hurry like last year, I've been thinking a lot about it and taking my time.

Without saying specifics, I will say that I'd love to finish a few of the beautiful pieces I started last year like "Apple Tree Sampler" by Hawkins House; "Jane Atkinson" by The Scarlet letter; maybe PS ABC piece which I started with many and just fell by the wayside.

New for this year, hence all those many orts, I did start three. This first is a sal with my stitching buddy group.

Quaker Christmas II

ByGone Stitches

32 ct. lambswool

threadworx overdyed floss

Red Finch's Winter Song

Tempting Tangles Designs

friendship blue 30 ct

dinky dyes

Elizabeth Hancock Sampler

Little House Needleworks

30 ct weeks straw

cc cottons and silks

upside down

And so the only other thing I know for sure I want to work on is Anniversaries of the Heart by Blackbird. Started once in 2010, once in 2011 and hate the fabric so the third start should be the charm, huh?

Also want to do Country Couttage monthly cottages.  Don't even have the first one so behind I will be. I know no other way. Someone's got to bring up the rear.

This little chart by Little by Little is dated 2003 so not new. I wonder if any of you stitched this? It calls for dmc but wondered if anyone changed that if you stitched it. I saw it a long time ago and have been looking for it diligently until now I own it. Couldn't remember the designer. I love the little rose added to the simple quaker.
bye for now!
Babs



No-Finish Friday...but when I mow

I've managed to do some stitching this week, but I just can't seem to stay on course. I did get a few stitches done on CCN's Liberty Lane, should definitely be done by next Friday :) Looks like this may be my 4th of July piece this year...I hope.

Because I grew up on the gulf coast, the story down there is breaking my heart. I know you don't have to have grown up down there for your heart to be breaking. Anyway I thought of the beautiful piece by Blackbird designs, Under the Sunlit sky and thought I'd work on it; can't find it right now so pulled By the Bay's Tidal River #1 which will be combined with 2 and 3...something about the shore and birds.

Ah, but when I mow...I pray. No headphones for me. It's always been the place I can escape to when all else fails. That's when I pray for my husband who just underwent chemo #4 out of 12. He started going down hill much sooner and so many symptoms all at once. I think they've always been there in a small way, but he manages not to complain about it until now.

I pray for my friend Earlene who has a terminal illness of her own at age 60 and whose husband has early onset alzhiemers at 62 and hasn't been able to go back to work. Medical bills had already taken their toll when he was diagnosed. Retirement already gone for the most part, and on and on...
My family, a niece in the navy, a granddaughter in the navy, my daughter in law's brother who flies black hawks headed for Afghanistan in July, all the military where ever they may be, their families.

All those people at the cancer center, their care-givers there and the ones at home. I wonder if there is a family in this country that isn't touched by cancer in some way...

But above all of these, I pray for those who don't know one called Jesus as their personal Savior. If I did not have the peace He provides, I don't think I could endure this world another day...why would I want to anyway.

"For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to do that which I've committed unto Him against that day."

The last picture? Think Gift of Stitching cover this month...Tropical Quaker and I've chosen some Dinky Dyes thread to stitch it in instead of the called for which I would have to wait on.

Hugs,

Babs

Some UFO's on UFO Tuesday

I'm gonna' share something that I should be ashamed of, but maybe it will motivate me to do something about it.

I love Little House Needleworks and Country Cottage Needleworks. I think I own or have purshased every chart, including Diane's first before becoming LHN. I don't have all the new releases of the last few months.

First up is Strawberry House...won't this be pretty when it's done?

Then, there is the Necessities Sampler...it's almost there, so why don't I finish it? Maybe I will this week....you think?

Or what about the special edition of Thread Gathering that came with beautiful mother of pearl thread keep and the seven skeins of Cresent Colors thread needed to complete it??!!

And, last, but certainly not least is Country Cottage Needleworks Liberty Lane. I loved this piece when I first saw it on her web sight, bought it as soon as it was available, and these stitches were done very quickly.

Me-thinks one can have so much to enjoy that one can't stop to really enjoy anything. My goal is to finish these pieces and then all the others from other designers...well some of the others anyway...over these next five chemo months.

I think I can. I think I can. I think....

Hugs to all and love your comments,

Babs