Lily in Chicago

My son and I went to Chicago yesterday. I saw this beautiful lily blooming outside of the train station as we were waiting for our train that we were going to take to come home. There were quite a few flowers all around the outside of the train station. We sat along the lillies and drank our Starbucks. It was a nice, peaceful day.

Stitching or Reading

I was reading Tanya Anderson's blog at The Sampler Girl. She was writing about her goal of reading fifty books this year and how that has affected her stitching time. That got me to thinking. If you had a choice, would you stitch or read? Sometimes at my stitching nights with friends, we have table questions. One of the questions often asked is if you had to give up stitching or reading, which one would you give up? Most people at my stitching nights say reading. I have to say I would give up stitching. Reading is a passion that I don't think I could live without. Thankfully, I don't have to make this choice. What do you say?

Becky and Max Progress Update

I've worked a little more on Becky and Max. I have about two hours planned tonight for stitching. It's a simple little piece, but a lot of fun.

What's Old is New Again

These are some of the patterns that I have in my stitching library. I also rediscoverd a Judith Kirby Victorian Winter House (not pictured) as well as a great Liberty and Justice and Apple Annie by Imaginating.

I recently checked out a book from the library titled Howard's End is on the Landing by Susan Hill. It is a non-fiction book, and the premise behind the book is that the author was looking for a book, and in searching through all of her books (she couldn't find the one she wanted), she realized that she had so many books, and as she put it, "I wanted to repossess my books, to explore what I had accumulated over a lifetime of reading, and to map this house of many volumes." In other words, she decided that over the course of a year, she would only read books from her own library. She had two caveats to this. One was that she could borrow academic books from libraries, and the other was that she could read some of the books that literary editors sent her. This got me to thinking about my stitching. Now, I could never, ever, give up my weekly trips to my public library (I'm a library person and check out six to eight books a week, and I read most of them), or to Borders or Barnes and Noble (Sometimes I browze; sometimes I buy). However, in finding an old pattern last week, Becky and Max by Kindhearted Woman, I realized how many patterns I have, not to mention threads and fabric. I have decided, and I have given it some thought, that I will only stitch what I have for the next six months. At the end of six months, I will evaluate what I have accomplished and what I still have. I am then going to give away what I'm no longer interested in and continue to finish what I still have in my stash. In terms of threads and fabric, I will use what I have on hand except in the unusual case where they just won't work. Then I will allow myself a purchase to finish what I already have in terms of a pattern. I have three caveats to this decision. They are:

1. I have already signed up for With Thy Needle and Thread's Mystery Sampler, Birds of a Feather. I will of course purchase the remaining two patterns.

2. I will be attending a Weekend Stiching Event in August. I will work on two new projects for this week-end. I have already paid for this event, so it will not be a new purchase.

3. I will buy Primitive Betty's new Old Schoolhouse Sampler. I have been following her progress on this pattern. I am a teacher, so this pattern intrigues me.

Other than these three caveats, I am going full steam ahead with only patterns, fabric, and fibers I already own. I am not a super stitcher nor a super-fast stitcher. I have some friends who stitch more projects in a month than I do in a year, but I am going to try to do this, and I think it will be a motivating factor in enjoying the patterns I loved enough to buy and not adding to a stash that has become too intimidating to work on.

I know I will save quite a bit of money and also finish some beautiful patterns I already own. I'm sure this will not be attractive to many people, but I think it will be quite fun..

Jessie Rose Relaxes

My sweet Jessie Rose has a relaxing afternoon. She is such a baby and loves to have her belly rubbed. She is my youngest Maine Coon. She cries at the bottom of the stairs when everyone is upstairs, including her two brothers, Dasher and Snowball.

Becky and Max

Here is an update of my stitching project, Becky and Max, by Kindhearted Woman. I don't think she is designing anymore. I bought this pattern in 1996. Does anyone know anything about this designer?

These are my two pair of scissors. The scissors on the right are my favorite. My dear Mother bought those for me. I don't use them except in my own home because I am afraid I will loose them. The pair on the left are my stork scissors with a little red "jewel" for eyes.

Nostalgia

I often feel nostalgic for my hometown in West Virginia. A Facebook friend of mine posted this picture of the river park on the Ohio River in my hometown. My little town is on the Ohio River. You can see the bridge connecting West Virginia to Ohio. I always see myself there when I think about my hometown. I love Illinois, but I think a little part of your childhood follows you whereever you go. The river looks so peaceful and beautiful. It's nice to have friends who post beautiful pictures of my hometown so that I can enjoy the memories.

Snapping Turtle

I took this picture of a huge, snapping turtle in my yard. He had obviously come out of the nature area for some night-time foraging. I took this close-up picture of him before he made his way back to the nature area.

Night Reflections

I took this picture as it was getting dark. I love the reflections in the water. The beauty around me is amazing.

My Flowers

I always plant a lilac chiffon geranium. Lilac is my favorite color, so my garden is always heavy on the lilac and purple flowers.

This is a lilac Penta.

We had a heavy rain storm this afternoon. The rain looks cool on the leaves of my hosta.

My clematis blooms are almost ready to burst into flowers. They are so heavy this year that they almost touch my hosta plant.

A Rose

To A Friend Who Sent Me Some Roses by John Keats

As late I rambled in the happy fields,
What time the skylark shakes the tremulous dew
From his lush clover covert; -when anew
Adventurous knights take up their dinted shields;
I saw the sweetest flower wild nature yields,
A fresh-blown musk-rose; 'twas the first that threw
Its sweets upon the summer: graceful it grew
As is the wand that Queen Titania wields.
And, as I feasted on its fragrancy,
I thought the garden-rose it far excelled;
But when, O Wells! thy roses came to me,
My sense with their deliciousness was spelled:
Soft voices had they, that with tender plea
Whispered of peace, and truth, and friendliness
unquelled.

When You Live By the Bell

as I do for nine and a half months of the year, it takes some time to adjust to life without the bell. Yes, I'm a teacher, and I have my summers off. I love it; don't get me wrong, and I'm lucky, but it's a life I chose many years ago. I love teaching. It is a challenge and a joy. I never regret my decision to be a teacher. But sometimes living without the bell can be a challenge as well as a joy. The words summer vacation bring up memories and challenges. Summer is supposed to be a relaxing time where the days are endless and filled with summer breezes, summer heat, swimming pools; and the nights are long, lanquid, and spent around the porch sipping ice-cold lemonaide or tea. The realities of summer are often equaled to the other holidays where we are supposed to have perfect days just like the memories of our childhood and the images of greeting cards. I have to adjust to my summer life. I have many projects to do and books to read, but somewhere inbetween, I have at the side of my brain those three new classes I am going to teach; the textbook is in the spare bedroom. I can start my lesson plans now. But what about the self-imposed rule of not starting school lessons until after July fourth? But if it's self-imposed, I can break the rule, right? The plain fact is I love teaching and planning, so for me, summer is a time to reorganize for the fall. I still can work on those projects and read and enjoy summer days and summer nights, but maybe next week, I will look at that textbook and start reading and planning. And, yes, I will read Alias, Grace by Margaret Atwood, because I may add that book to my A.P. Class. It's sitting on the shelf and waiting for me. Right beside that book is A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. That is definitely a summer read for me. And, of course, I have my stitching. I always look forward to summer to stitch many projects, but I can't seem to get started. I think it's because I have too many, and I don't have a focus. My mind spins with all the pretty patterns and fibers and fabrics. I need to get back to the days of my stitching childhood, where I embroidered butterflies on my jeans and worked on one lovely project at a time, instead of creating a stash of projects I may never do. That is my goal. And with that in mind, I do have one that I plan to start to stitch tonight. What's old is often new again, and this is the case with my first project. I was going through some of my old projects and found one that I had always "meant" to do. I want something fun and simple without any letters or alphabets. I found Becky and Max by Kindhearted Woman. For me, this pattern is fresh and young and fun. I then want to stitch Finch Song by Shepherd's Bush. I have the fibers separated and labeled, thanks to my dear friend Barb. Perhaps those two projects and two books will take me through June. I always have my gardening. And that's where I'm headed right now. I need to work on my raspberry bushes. Some of them are quite out of control. Well, those are my ramblings for June 2, already.
Becky and Max by Kindhearted Woman is charming. I have decided to stitch this pattern on Silkweaver's 32. ct. Belfast Linen Meadow Mist.
I think this is a carefree and charming pattern to stitch in June.
Here are the lovely fibers that I get to stich with. I still need two more.
Finch Song by Shepherd's Bush is a beautiful sampler.
The fibers are really beautiful.
The button and charms that go on the chart are quite pretty.

Fascinated with Nature

I just love all the birds and other adorable animals that come out in the spring and summer. Right before dusk I took these pictures of a robin and a rabbit.
This robin was looking for a night time snack.


This rabbit appears to be listening for any untoward sounds in the approaching night.

Boy's Day Out . . .

"Where are all the girls"?


. . .and a little rabbit munching on some leaves.

Potpourri of Pictures

It has been such a cold, rainy, stormy, two days. Today it is 48 degrees, winter coat weather. The rocking chairs are moving on the porch. I thought since it is wintry and forbidding looking that I would post some pictures that will remind me that warmer and nicer weather is promised for the Memorial Day Week-end.



I'm not sure if this has anything to do with spring weather or cold weather, but here's a picture of my cat Dazzling Dasher, Dasher for short. He loves to be high above every person and every cat. I think he's an awesome cat.




This beautiful white crane is resting in the nature area behind my house.




I love my jonquils.




Today's a nice day to bake. How about a yellow, chocolate-swirl marble bundt cake?




This bunny is washing himself outside of my living-room window.

Mama Killdeer

I have a picture of a beautiful Mama Killdeer who is hiding her baby under her wings.

Lost My Followers (Edited)

I'm not sure if they're ever show up on my blog again. I lost all of my followers when the blog problems occurred this past week. Have any of you had this happen? I don't know if they will be recovered. I hope that people will follow my blog again.

Edited: I have my followers again. Of course, I would welcome any new follwers. I plan to post more often than before.

Stormy Sunset

We had a very stormy night here. I took this picture of a spooky-looking sunset. The sky was orange and yellow. The weather has moved from in the nineties for the last three days to the high fifties today. And, of course, the rain is here for the week-end.

Mother Duck and her Eggs

I have the most adorable mother duck beside of my front porch. She has a nest of eggs. I took a picture of her sitting on her nest while I was inside the house. I didn't want to bother her. When she went to eat, I took a picture of her nest and eggs. I counted eleven of them. Yesterday she covered her eggs up with her down. I can't wait until her ducks hatch.


.

Birds and a Gosling

I love spring. Today however was more like summer, 92 degrees. I'm not ready for that yet. It is so great seeing the birds. I also have a goose family with one gosling.

>