New Moon TUSAL for September!

Yeah, my mojo's back and I've been filling my glass!  Not as much as I'd like to, but it's a start.  I started another project, although it's time consuming and slow moving!  Pics later, I'm trying to finish this one section before post anything.
 

I took the boys to visit Nana today since they had off and Nathan was showing her how to play "Operation", Shrek style!

He saw a commercial this morning for another type of Operation, not sure which one.  After saying he wanted one, I opened my big mouth and told him I thought we had one in the basement.  Oh, we're in for a fun filled weekend - I hope it doesn't rain!







 
2011 New Moon Dates: January 4th, February 3rd, March 4th, April 3rd, May 3rd, June 1st, July 1st, July 30th, August 29th, September 27th, October 26, November 25th, December 24th

2nd Annual Laps for Lexi

 So Nathan and I went to the 2nd annual Laps for Lexi today with some friends I grew up with.  There was a 5K cross country fun run, 1 mile cross country walk and children's bike/scooter parade.  Well-trained, child-friendly dogs on leashes were also included on the walk!  

"Lexi was a beautiful 8 year old with an infectious smile and a twinkle in her eye. Lexi showed her zest for life - and speed - everytime she rode her purple bike. Lexi was a wonderful daughter, little sister and friend who thoroughly enjoyed life and who was taken from us much too soon. Come honor Lexi’s legacy and help us raise money to fight childhood cancer!"

 Purple balloons were everywhere!  

  

Before the run, the 5th grade class sent off some balloons to Lexi.

There were at least 50 signs that kids had made and placed along the paths.

   

 

 Since it had rained hard the day before and with the threat of rain today, I bought Nathan some new rain boots to wear for the walk.  He loved them and they worked perfectly on the very muddy trail we went on.  He actually avoided the puddles, lucky me!

 We were only supposed to walk a mile, but somehow missed the sign showing us the mile marker, so we kept on walking.  Nathan really did great, he didn't complain too much - I kept distracting him by asking him to help me look for signs and look at all the wonders of the woods.

Another incentive for him was cookies and cupcakes afterwards!  I also ended up throwing in some lollipops and he got a couple tattoos.

   

  Here's our elementary/jr high group in support of Petr and his family.  Hopefully next year it will be bigger!

 

And look at how much they raised for CNMC!  I'm not sure that that included the money from the goodies that were sold, so it could be a little bit more.

  

So this is where the cross stitch comes in.  Last year, I wanted to make Lexi's sister, Sammy, a cross stitched piece - see Cross stitch for Sammy.  I'm embarrassed to write that I still haven't made it.  I did buy a pattern book, but it didn't have the pattern with the cloud in it.  I still need to get that pattern, BUT,  I did see another picture I like.  This one would be more work since I don't think it's a cross stitch pattern so I would have to convert it and also change it to the Funshine bear.  I really like this one though, especially hanging from the star.  Arggg, I can't decide!  Once again, any thoughts, ideas?

Mermaids Finished, Clean up & Bird Feeders

Well, so much for the mermaids wearing pearl necklaces - I give up!  I tried smaller french knots and then dangling beads, but it just didn't look right.  Even Angie and her Mom thought they looked like big teeth!  I even tried adding a mouth, but it didn't help.  Oh well, maybe I'll try stitching something else or just let them go "naked"!

So as of right now, I'm done with the mermaids.  I'm not sure I like not having them outlined, maybe I'll do it to mine when I make it again.  I still need to frame it, but I haven't decided how I going to do it yet.

Now I need to decide what I'm going to work on next.  Christmas is coming - do I work on ornaments, start my TOS (tree of stitches), stitch my witches, or start making Christmas cards.  I know what Angie would say! 

 

Earlier this week, my bff, Tara (way back from elementary school) came over to help me organize my house.  I wasn't sure what we were going to work on first since my whole house is a mess!  We ended up in the cedar closet and went through my clothes that have been down there for almost 13 years and before that, moved from place to place.  We got four bags worth - I had things down there from high school, you know, over 25 years ago!   She said she has a bag that she keeps out all of the time for her family to add clothes to.  I don't know if I'll do that, but this was a great donation.  Now if only I can get my husband to do the same - he has more clothes than me, even before I got rid of this!  Next clean up - toys.

 

I received two "squirrel proof" bird feeders for my birthday, and so far one is working!  Mary Kay gave me this one, I had picked it out and thought it would work.  As you can see, this little guy is having no trouble getting the goodies, he's just hanging out.  At least he can't get too much at once.

This is the one Angie gave me.  She has one and said it works great.  Well, I haven't even seen a squirrel attempt to get any of goodies from this one!  The birds love it, so I'm filling it every 3 days or so.  It even spins around sometimes when they get on it, so they're getting a ride to boot!

Mermaids Mishap

Meeting with DJ today was great, we actually found time to stitch while talking!  

All I have to do is add the bubbles and I think I'm done.  There is an upper and lower border, but I decided I'm not going to include it.  I also added yellow beads to the flowers and changed the "Mermaids" to glittery purple.  The problem I'm having is....

the pearl necklaces.  I don't like the way they look on the girls - it looks like they have white beards or a huge toothy smile!  
I'm thinking of taking them out and either making more, smaller french knots or maybe adding white beads instead.  Thoughts?  Suggestions? 

Pre-K and Belated Goodies

Here's Nathan, on his first day of Pre-K.  He was so excited to be going to school with his big brothers!  He's not old enough to ride the bus, he has to wait until kindergarten for that.  Luckily, it isn't that far to drive him there.  

Here he is with Garrett... 

 and Griffin

This is his "desk" area and he still had a big smile on his face when I picked him up that afternoon.  He scared me when he said he had a couple of accidents - he meant he spilled yogurt and chocolate milk on his shirt!  Although nothing would surprise me with this kid.

Friday morning after I dropped Nathan off at school, I stopped by Angie's house to say hello and get some yummy pumpkin coffee.  I also got my belated birthday pressies from June, she/we kept on forgetting - what a treat!  She gave me a squirrel proof bird feeder, which she says works for her so I'm crossing my fingers, and this cute cat kit!  As you can see, it quite suits our house and I'm looking forward to making this one.

As an added bonus, she also gave me some of her duplicate magazines for making cards and a scor-pal for folding cards, yeah!  You can see her blog here - Angie's Creative Inkspirations  for ideas and "inkspirations"!  We have a date next week to make Christmas cards, hopefully her Mom will join us so we can also have a nice chit chat session!

Picture "Published"! Mermaids

How cool is this... way back in March, I posted about some quilts made by my friend in PA - Amish and More Quilts.  She is totally amazing and has made some beautiful quilts.  Well, I received an email about it - 

Dear Astrid,
I write to you on behalf of the International Menno Simons Center Foundation at Witmarsum, Frysl n, The Netherlands.
We have seen this picture in your blog and would like to use it on the front cover of a little recipe book on Mennonite historical traditional food. The year 2011 is a special year for the Mennonites, because Menno Simons died 450 years ago and more commemorations in the Dutch Mennonite Conference take place. The International Menno Simons Center is organizing the reflection Path from Pingjum to Witmarsum, where Menno Simons was born and left the Roman Catholic Church in 1534.
One of the projects is 'Doperse diaspora', (Mennonite diaspora) for what we would like to publish this small recipe booklet. My question for you is: would you permit us to use the picture for the recipe booklet?

Of course I had to check with HJ, and she said no problem - but wanted them to know she didn't design it, she used a pattern.  She did ask for a copy if they used it and so they sent us BOTH one!

So even though I don't know any Dutch, some of these recipes might be worth translating! 

On another note, the mermaids are pretty much done, I just have to accessorize them and then finish the borders and "fluff".

We were at the lake this weekend so I also took some time out to read.   Oh well, back to the real world.

Some of the tree have already started to change colour, can't wait to go back!

New Moon TUSAL for August! School started!

 

 
This doesn't look like much, but considering I just got my mojo back, it will have to do!  I missed last month, we were at the beach and I wasn't stitching.


These are only SOME of the acorns that we got from our front yard after Hurricane Irene.  Nathan was my big helper picking them up, he didn't complain TOO much.  I'm hoping these will keep the squirrels happy and away from the bird feeders this winter.  Wishful thinking, I know.

The gmen started 8th grade this week, I can't even believe it!  They weren't very happy when I told them I was coming to school to take their picture in the classroom too.  I told them I'd try and restrain myself when they head to high school next year!


 Garrett / Griffin

 Gotta love the uniforms, no worry of what they are going to wear - kind of dreading HS.  Nathan starts pre-k next week and he gets to wear the gym uniform, easy peasy!

 2011 New Moon Dates: January 4th, February 3rd, March 4th, April 3rd, May 3rd, June 1st, July 1st, July 30th, August 29th, September 27th, October 26, November 25th, December 24th