Stitch A While

Floss of the red variety

Red threads from Nancy Belgian, originally uploaded by nkuelbs.

I ordered some red threads from Nancy Belgian, and I really love the color depth of them. They range from deep red to burgundy to a rusty red. I think all of these combined would look amazing on a large Quaker, and her skeins are so generous!

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

As I sit here, knowing I need to get some sleep before early morning softball games take over our day, I came across this meme on another blog. I just couldn’t resist compiling my own list to see what I would include in my favorite 7 songs. As I can imagine it is for many others, this is a very difficult thing to do – the first couple of songs popped into my head without much thought at all, as they have been a part of my soul for so many years, I then started wondering how I could leave out this song or that one when I love them all. But this is what came to me first, and as I know from experience, it’s always good to go with the first answer (at least that is what I’ve always told myself when taking a test):

Stairway to Heaven Led Zepplin – ah, the memory of high school dances ending with this song – a long slow dance!

Fluff Black Sabbath – in the midst of some very heavy metal, this beautiful, delicate instrumental that begs for headphones and darkness to let it surround me.

Blowin’ In The Wind Peter, Paul and Mary – a song whose message carries over the years.

Japan Kenny G – we played this song at our wedding, it’s what I walked with my dad down the aisle to meet the love of my life. It brings to mind the beach at sunset, times spent talking for many long hours, so many of the good things our life together has been.

Call to Worship – Mercy Me – this song has me ready to lift my hands to heaven in praise.

You Are So Good to Me – Third Day – a song of pure love and ultimate sacrifice.

Rocky Mountain High – John Denver – yes, I do want to move to Colorado, and this song has a lot to do with that desire!

So many others that would make it on this list – my IPod is a testimony to that fact. Memories are conjured, feelings and dreams come to mind as these songs play. The radio constantly plays when I’m driving, and my IPod when I’m walking, between Christian, classic rock and country most days. A little jazz, Celtic and New Age find their way in, too. I would love to know your favorites.

I took part in a needlecase exchange through the Prairie Schooler Fans Yahoo group, and I was partnered with Georgie P in Australia. I received the most wonderful package from her today – a beautiful needlecase, along with a skein of Dinky Dyes silk in Mango Tango, and a bag of assorted Cadbury eggs (Australian candy), and a postcard of the Victorian Goldfields. Australia is one of my dream country’s to visit. I’m going to try posting a picture – I’m spotty at best with my success doing this!

Georgie’s PS needlecase exchange for me

Well, I can get a title, but not the picture. I should find a class somewhere to make this clear to me LOL! I even tried to upload a picture as an avatar, and it seemed to work, but I have NO idea where it would show. There is probably a picture of my cat Earl floating around somewhere in cyberspace. I need a program ‘WordPress/Blogging for Dummies’, although knowing how popular those books are there is probably one already on the market.

I’m keeping my goals simple this year:

1. Stitch through my basket of UFO’s, to stitch as many as I can by year’s end. I hope to take pictures of them all at this point, so I can see my progress at the end of 2007. I’ll post those pictures here as I get them taken.
2. Stitch ornaments for my tree. I have so many ornaments marked off in the JCS Ornament issues, and I have ordered all three of my kid’s names from M Designs. I want to stop wishing to have them stitched, and actually do them.
3. Find ways to display as many of my finished stitchings as possible – framing, cube-it’s, banners, pinkeeps, stitching smalls, ornaments, and any other ways I can find.
4. Finish the two RR’s I’m in, one is in the middle and one is just starting, and the one starting up helps to fulfill goal #2!

That’s it – I like the fact that stitching ornaments helps to fulfill that start-itis that hits regularly, and I really like all of my UFO’s, so having them finished and displayed will strengthen my sense of accomplishment and love I have for this art.

The new year dawned bright, sunny and cool here. It’s funny how it’s really just another day, but it feels so full of possibilities. I would love to live each day that way. A fresh place to start, every morning, putting behind regrets from the day before. Knowing that I am the person I am at that very moment, someone to be proud of, and that I’m where I’m supposed to be. Take account of all my accomplishments, don’t dwell on those things that have not been realized. This is how I would like to look at this year. There are many days where I’m looking forward to what the future will bring, overlooking what is happening in the now. God is working miracles each day, little ones, bit ones – I would love to recognize them.

I want to love my life as it is at this very moment. These are what I would like to promise to myself.

Drawn Thread’s Mini Teaching Sampler

May peace and joy be with you tonight, as you reflect on all this year has meant to you, and you look ahead to all the coming year will be.

Marry Garry’s PEACE Quaker

Wishing everyone a very blessed Christmas. May you all have joy and peace, and a little bit of stitching time.

It’s the afternoon of Christmas Eve, and I’m just getting ready to head out for a bit of a walk. The presents are pretty much wrapped, just a couple more to do. Chex mix is made for snacking. Tonight we have our evening church service, then it’s home for our traditional taco dinner, and then out for a drive to look at lights. Tomorrow will be dinner at my mother-in-law’s house, and we’re bringing the ham.

I lifted this from Darla at – darn, I don’t know how to make those great links where their highlighted name shows, and you click on it to visit their blog!

48 Things You Could NOT Care Less About
1. FIRST NAME? Nancy
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My aunt.
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Tonight, listening to a Christmas song.
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, mostly.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Thanksgiving turkey on sourdough with mayo and lettuce.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Most of the time.
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Just my blog, but I would love to keep one.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No, although I thought I did for the longest time.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I hate heights, so a resounding NO.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I like granola with my yogurt.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Definitely.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Baskin Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge.
14. SHOE SIZE? Seven and a half.
15. RED OR PINK? I love red for Christmas and fall leaves.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I’d love to be more sure of myself.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Both my mom and dad.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? No necessary to.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Pink and blue plaid flannel pants, and a comfy red sweatshirt. My Lands End slippers.
20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Salad with chicken, avo and parmesan cheese.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Miami CSI, but have been really enjoying Mannheim Steamroller and Mercy Me’s Christmas songs.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple.
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Sugared spruce candle, fresh pine, baking Chex mix, patchouli.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My husband.
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Their smile.
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? Most definitely.
27. FAVORITE DRINK? Fresh sqeezed orange juice.
28. FAVORITE SPORT? Girls fastpitch softball.
29. EYE COLOR? Green.
30. HAT SIZE? Do not like hat hair!
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Used too, would like to again, but not now.
32. FAVORITE FOOD? Fresh crab meat sandwiches.
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Fall.
36. HUGS OR KISSES? Both, but also love chocolate kisses.
37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Ice cream.
38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? No idea.
39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Again, no one to name.
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Diana Gabaldon’s “Voyager”.
41. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Just a simple grey one.
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? World Trade Center on DVD.
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Wind through the pines, my kid’s pure giggles.
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.
45. THE FARTHEST YOU’VE BEEN FROM HOME? Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.
46. WHAT’S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Being a warm lap for my kitten, raising my kids.
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Pomona, California.
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? No one – I read Darla’s blog and borrowed it.

I guess I reached my blog’s limit of three pictures with the last post, so I’m adding some more here:

I don’t have a traditional tree topper – I place these knee-hugger elves at the top. These are from my mom’s tree, and I used to play with them every year. So they get a place of honor on the top.

My mom made these wonderful Christmas shadow boxes for each of the girls in the family. I love putting this up each year.

These are some of the Christmas exchanges I’ve received

I’ll end this with a couple of PS designs I’ve received. The quilt cube is from an exchange earlier this year. The Santa was a gift from a stitcher I met long ago on the old Compuserve crafts forum.

Thank you for spending time with my Christmas decorations. Christmas is just three days away, and my wish for everyone is a very blessed Christmas, and special times spent with family and friends.