Friday's Stitching Ground... a little late 🧟‍♂️

Oh my, seems like my Friday went until today!

Friday was a quiet one, I was working on other things (you'll see another time) but I did pick up The Haunted Mansion again and worked on finishing the door, lights, and back stitching the steps.

I decided on adding a zombie at the door instead of the skeleton, but I think it needs more gore! I'm going to try and dangle an eyeball, we'll see. Any other suggestions? Are you a zombie "fan"?

I also spent some time outside with Chewie, he loved running through the leaves and being chased.

The update on him is that he's not throwing up anymore, but now has issues at the other end. In the middle of the night last night, he cried four times to go outside. I think that's worse than any of the boys were as babies!

Tonight's dinner was rice and pumpkin, I read that was a good thing to try. Poor pup can't catch a break.

And then before I knew it, it was Saturday evening and I got a few more stitches in before the festivities began.

It was finally ghoulfriend time and Kerri made a Hello Kitty Zombie cake for Cori, I think I suggested the zombie knowing how much Cori "loves" them... not! 

We enjoyed grilled cheese sandwiches on the fire, some s'mores, and even some toasted Peeps, delicious. And don't forget the wine!

Luckily it wasn't too cold and we had was a lovely evening together.

Unlike Sunday morning, which became cold and rainy.

Baseball hadn't been cancelled yet, so we went to the field early since DH is the coach and the boys were supposed to arrive before the game. Just after we parked, the email came to notify that all games were cancelled, go figure. The empty parking lot should have been a big clue!

This evening I had Ming with me since Chewie was in the basement with the guys. I started the zombie, but only one shoe so far!

Well shoot, that didn't last long.

Friday's Stitching Ground 🦌

Thankfully we didn't get the rain like we were supposed to today, instead it was a beautiful cool day with stunning colours in the evening.

Even though I still have Halloween pieces to get back to, I though I would put a few more stitches in this one. I have a tiny bit of frogging to do, which is a super PITA since I'm doing this over one.

I thought I would give you a view of what's behind me this time, just a little something new.

In Chewie news, things could be better. Earlier in the week, he got sick and included in the disgusting mess were a few small pieces of chewed hard plastic. They might have been Legos, I'm not quite sure. He got sick again the next afternoon, and I noticed it was after he drank water. I ended up taking him to the er-vet, since our vet wasn't in, and his vitals were fine and nothing was showing in the xray. They gave him some anti-nausea medication and also a couple cans of wet food to hopefully help his stomach. Yesterday he ate and then had some water with ice cubes and promptly got sick again! Back to the vet to get some anti-nausea pills, and then only let him have a little bit of water at a time. He did well today, although he only drank a tiny bit of water until this evening when DH gave him a couple ice cubes. That was a mistake, he got sick again, but not as much this time. So maybe it's the ice? How weird is that?! Any dog lovers out there with any idea what's going on? I will be calling the vet again tomorrow, but even they are stumped. This stinks, I feel so bad for him.

Happy 80th to my Dad! 🎉

On October 6th, my Dad celebrated his 80th birthday!

Growing up, he never had many photos taken of him, but here are a couple. He says that's why he is always ready with his camera and tripod... say cheese!

He had plenty of curls, but when they were cut they never came back.

He sure was a cutie!

His turn for the birthday flag, Happy 80th!

Although it was a small celebration, with just Mom, their friend Kay, and myself. He requested chili for his meal, and it's something Mom enjoys even though it gets pureed.

Thank you to my blogging friends (Jo, Christine, Vickie, Dianna, Faith & Debbie) who sent a card to him, he was pleasantly surprised! And with one more on the way. Also the email and Instagram greetings.

He honestly doesn't need anything, and it's getting harder to find room for things to display in the house. So I thought I would get him a couple more mugs for tea, he drinks plenty of it! I also got him another Welsh flag to fly, they certainly wear out quickly flying on the flagpole in ALL types of weather. Oh, and a Welsh flag mask is coming too.

I sort of finished the Welsh Santa for him, but I'm just have to figure out the moustache and beard. I'm not really sure I like the beard, and I still need to add the moustache. I could cut the bottom of the beard so it wasn't so loopy, or maybe use beads instead? I might also tent stitch the background since he would like it in a frame. 

Thoughts, suggestions for either one?

Now that he's been diagnosed as a diabetic, I couldn't make a regular cake for him, so I made him a sugar-free cheesecake instead. I made it before for another friend, so I knew it wouldn't taste terrible! He enjoyed it and even my Momma could eat the cheesecake part, just not the crust. Poor Addie got nothing but some loving!

It was a beautiful day for a birthday.

This is the driveway to their house, with the chapel straight ahead.

Addie enjoys our walks, I let her sniff and pull me along where she wants to go, for the most part.

I ended up spending the night, an additional little birthday present! Nathan didn't have school the next day so it made it easier not to worry about getting him there.

I think Dad had a good day, in spite of this crazy year. Let's hope next year is better for us all!

Friday's Stitching Ground 🚗

 Waiting to pick up Nathan at school has some stitching benefits, but unfortunately I didn't finish this for my Dad on his birthday. Although I did show him what he what he would be getting. And it's a good thing I asked him about how he'd like it finished, he said a gold frame which I hadn't even though of. It shouldn't take me that much longer, I didn't add as many beads as the pattern calls for.

His birthday mini celebration will be coming up in the next post.

I've been decorating outside a little and had some more spiders help me, how nice!

I added this guy to our Weeping Cherry, it looks like he fits right in!

His eyes were a little dark so I used some glow in the dark spray paint to try and brighten them up, but it didn't work well at all. Next try will be using some glow in the dark paint.

I found another pumpkin beer, or rather Paul or Gman1 did!

Yum, just the right amount of pumpkin and spices.

I'm still enjoying my pumpkin coffee and today treated myself to a pumpkin donut after taking Nathan for an orthodontist appointment. He chose a strawberry and a chocolate, he doesn't take after me in the pumpkin loving! I then made a pumpkin cheesecake this evening for tomorrow's dessert with friends coming over.

Have you gotten in the pumpkin kick yet? 

Friday's Stitching Ground 🧡

Happy October! 🍁🎃🍂🧡

Oh, that beautiful moon! Now I didn't see it this clearly from where I was sitting, but my camera helped.

This was my stitching spot this evening and I was enjoying a couple Downeast Pumpkin Blend Ciders, it's my new favourite drink!

Tonight's stitching is brought to you by Wentworth, Season 8. It's a Australian prison drama and this is the latest season. I had to watch the last episode of season 7 to remember what the heck was going on!

As for stitching, I'm trying to get this Welsh Santa finished in time for my Dad's birthday next Tuesday, I think I can do it.

I have received some cards for my Dad for his 80th birthday, thanks to those who sent them! I was also thinking emails might be nice too. I'd say send them to him directly, but it might go to his spam and I'm not sure he checks that regularly. If you're interested, please just send it to me and I can forward it, or maybe print it out for him.

Does anyone have a good sugar free/diabetic recipe for a cake? I want to make my Dad one, but I would like it to be one that someone has actually made and LIKED!

Friday's Stitching Ground 🎃

 This evening was spend in the Gartenhaus, with company! I headed out there by myself after getting my Mom to bed, but Miss Addie wasn't happy that I left her in the house so my Dad brought her out to keep me company.

The windows were open with the cool air coming in, it was wonderful! I had the "fire" on, but only the lights not the heat.

 I joined in on the Halloween 2020 SAL, created by Alyssa Westhoek, and finally started stitching the border on the material I had ice dyed earlier. It's just counting right now, easy peasy. I know I'll change some of the pattern on the border, but I won't figure that out until I see what's coming. Is anyone else stitching this?

So Addie and I saw this while walking today and seeing that big black band is supposed to mean we'll be having a hard winter. We'll see, but snow please! Have you heard what your weather is going to be like this winter?

Scavenger Photo Hunt, September 📷

Finally, it's beginning to feel like fall! I'm so looking forward to seeing all those beautiful colours in the falling leaves. And now it's time for Katie and her I live, I love, I craft, I am me ... scavenger photo hunt.

The words for September are...

Seasonal...

Although you might not recognize this from last month's photo, this is our old house at Halloween, several years before the tear down. I love all the leaves in the front, but DH not so much! 

Favourite seat/place to sit...

I have plenty of places I enjoy sitting, but since I'm back helping out my parents this week, this is my favourite spot while here. Their Gartenhaus is the perfect place for stitching.

Comforting/cosy...

I know this is a cosy spot I really enjoy being next to, Ming and Maximus too!

Delight/ed/ful...

Since it's officially fall, I'm all in for pumpkins, especially the coffee.. and muffins... and donuts... and ice cream... and cheesecake... you get the idea.

Micro/mini/teeny tiny...

This is sweet little Addie, my parents pup. She was certainly a tiny one when we picked her up for them last summer, she fit in Nathan's hat!

My own choice...

And another view of the Gartenhaus, I took this today while in my Mom's chapel. Can you see tree on the left is showing some colour? Yay!

And there you have September, be sure to take at look at what the others have posted.

See you next month! 🎃👻🦇

Friday's Stitching Ground ⛟

 Today was spent helping one of my chosen sisters move from West Virginia back to Maryland. Luckily, it was DH's day off so he was able to help too. Which also meant he drove us to pick up the truck near the house, so I was able to do some stitching on the way. I'm now working on the headless Indian couple.

This barn was on the way to the house and I liked it so I had to take a photo of it!

When we were finally done and back home, it was time to relax and do some more stitching in the enclosed porch. No real progress from the car stitching so nothing to really show.

And since it's finally been on the cooler side, it was tea time while stitching. Are you a tea drinker? If so, what is your favourite? I prefer PG Tips, but I also have plenty of flavoured tea that I enjoy, including a pumpkin one.

Friday's Stitching Ground 🐝

Today I had several stitching spots. This morning it was with Ming since Chewie was in his crate. I really miss this!

Then I thought I would stitch while waiting to pick up Nathan at school, although it was a little stop and go.

And hey, a beer delivery came this afternoon and DH ordered a few pumpkin ones for me! I'm hoping the other two are better, I wasn't that fond of this one.

And this is how far I got today, Mr. Pilgrim is almost finished. I guess I didn't make as much progress as I thought I would/should.

Just a heads up, put your thinking caps on for turkey. More info coming soon... 🦃

A Birthday Wish for my Dad 🎉

On October 6th, my Dad will be 80 years old!

For my Mom's 80th, so many of you were kind enough to send her a birthday card or birthday wishes and I was hoping to do the same for my Dad. A couple of weeks ago I posted about staying with my parents when Dad had his hand surgery and how much he does for my Mom. I think this would really be special for him, especially since it doesn't look like we'll really be able to have a big celebration.

He says he still has his scooter license... somewhere in the house!

Guy Fawkes Night in Wales

Dad's "Sun In" phase one summer which made his hair white with a tint of orange!

Hartland, Devon. One of my favourite places too.

And he still has that jacket too!

Having fun on his birthday a few years back.

My Dad really does everything for my Mom - even trying on her clothes to see what fits and what needs to be donated! 😆

So if you're interested in sending a card (via post or email) please let me know. I'll give you my address instead of his, that way he'll have no idea it's coming. I'm going to try and go see him on his actual birthday, although it might just be on my own. Also, please make sure I have an email address for you to respond.

And once again, I'm way behind on responding to your comments and reading blogs. And just when I thought I was almost caught up, I'll get there!