A Birthday and Ornies!

Wow, my baby is five!  His birthday was on Thursday and to celebrate first thing in the morning, we went to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast.  He got two donuts and ate both of them - then said his stomach hurt and it was my fault for letting him!  Cheeky boy!


I love this time of year, I got my pumpkin muffin and my pumpkin coffee - double yum!

It's also my "other" baby's birthday, Maximus.  He was quite happy with Nathan's leftover wrappings!  






 


 He does a good job of making sure everything is out of the bag too.

For dinner, Nathan's choice of fine dining was  

 The gmen barely fit in the little hut and it was interesting to watch them get out!

Here's the birthday boy getting ready to blow out his candles.  His brothers are at the ready to help out!  His birthday party with friends is tomorrow and he'll get a Finn McMissile (Cars 2) cake that I decorated today.  Eh, I wasn't that happy with it, but he was and that's all the matters. 




Now for the ornament SAL that I joined with Julie - This is a collection of what I'd like to accomplish.  Not all of them, just bits and pieces.  I've started on one, but not really enough to show yet.  
This is what I like to make for friends or teachers as a little Christmas gift, something that is specific to what they like or collect.



Anyone else working on the A Challenge for You?

Paying it Forward, continued

I had a great morning today - I got a Pass it Forward, just for me!!!  I won a contest on DJ's blog and this it what she made for me!  I love dragons and this one is just adorable.  When I showed Nathan, he thought it was for him... not!  Then he said he wanted one and that I should copy it by taking a picture - sneaky boy!  Even the gmen were impressed.



 
  So now the "problem" is, where do I hang it?  I would love it in my bedroom, but then no one would see it.  The perfect room is in the dining room, near my dragon collection.  I'll need to reorganize a little, but I'll make it work!

Here's a close up of her, isn't she something?!
  
And DJ did the framing too... perks for working at a frame shop! 

Now comes the fun part - I get to choose the next person so I can PIF (Pass it forward).  I'll stitch something for the winner within the next year - BUT, if you win, you must be willing to have the same contest on your blog.



 So, please leave a comment on this post and I'll pick a winner on Saturday, November 19th.  And remember, you must be willing to stitch something for someone else in order to participate.

Don't forget about this one too, A Challenge for You.

 

This afternoon, I took Nathan to the grocery store to shop for our parish's monthly food drive.  We got one of those little basket you can pull along, but he wanted to push it instead.  He helped put everything in it, even tried to get a toy in there for himself!  He then scanned everything and helped bag it to take to school tomorrow.  Did he really understand what we were doing?  I don't know, but it will be a monthly event for us, so I hope it kicks in.

A Welcome & Extras

First things first - a very warm welcome to all my new followers.  And a thank you for the shout out, Lee @ Lake Stitcher!  I'm hoping to do a lot more stitching in the coming year, so hopefully I'll have more to show to keep you entertained!  I'll be checking out your blogs too, if I haven't already.


The next exciting thing that has happened is... DJ's a winner!  Well, I already knew that, but she really did win some ribbons at the Needleart Exhibit at Montpelier Mansion.  Please go take a look at what she did, very impressive!  This is one she did that I absolutely love, it's going to be on my "must do" list!  

While we were there we also found a pattern we both liked (One Nation) so we're going to do a little SAL together.

Tomorrow afternoon, I'm going to take Nathan to the grocery store to pick up things for our parish's monthly food drive.  His pre-k class will then deliver their items to the narthex and get to see all the food that's been donated so far.  I think this is a great way to show him how to help others - paying it forward!  
(See my previous post if you missed it)



On a more serious note, Nana's biopsy showed cancer in her good breast.  But luckily, she only needs a partial lumpectomy.  Unfortunately, her MRI showed something under her arm by the breast that was removed years ago.  No results yet on that biopsy.  So, prayers would be more that appreciated.  She's a feisty thing and is not happy that it came back!

A Challenge For You

It's November!  If you live in the states, you know what that means... Thanksgiving! 
Per Wikipedia, "The event that Americans commonly call the First Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks to God for guiding them safely to the New World."
I first arrived to the "New World" when I was two years old, and have celebrated many wonderful Thanksgivings with family and friends.

I don't know about you, but I'm not just thankful on that particular day, I'm thankful every day!  I feel so blessed and thank God every day for the people in my life and all that I have.  Because of that, I feel that I should be giving back.

My paying it forward can be many different things - donating clothes/toys to shelters or schools, donating to the food bank via church, helping out our neighbors, just to name a few.  Small things too - holding the door open for the next person, offering to take back a shopping cart for someone who just loaded their car, complimenting someone on an outfit or piece of clothing they're wearing, or maybe telling the manager when our waiter/waitress did a great job serving us.

A couple of years ago, my DH and I had a delayed flight due to bad weather.  We were given food coupons to use in the airport so went to see what there was.  Another passenger, a very young serviceman, was also delayed but didn't receive any coupons, I can't remember why.  Anyway, we decided to give our coupons to him.  He looked so lost and alone, I just wanted to hug him!  In fact, I'm sure I did. 

Another way we've helped out is filling a shoe box for Samaritan's Purse.  We haven't done that in a while, but I think that's something Nathan would have fun with - picking out goodies for another child.  Actually, all the boys would enjoy it!

We've done this twice when the gmen were younger, and I'm thinking of doing it again with Nathan.  Adopt a Troop was a fun thing to do, sending goodies, necessities and notes from the boys. 

And here's something I did today while at the local craft show with my MIL and DJ - One of the booths had this adorable stuffed puppy, Woofi, The Missionary Puppy.  Basically, with a $20 donation, you receive a Woofi to keep and one is given to a needy child - win win!  I'm happy to say that all three of us bought one, so three are being donated!  We even get to write a little something on a postcard that will go with it.  I also bought her book, The Key To A Christmas Miracle, which she signed for Nathan. 

SO, my challenge to you is... how have you or how will you pay it forward?  I'd love to hear what you do or even what's been done for you.  It doesn't even have to cost anything, maybe just a little bit of your time. 


Come Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow me.
Whither shall I follow, follow, follow,
Whither shall I follow, follow thee?
To the greenwood, to the greenwood, to the greenwood follow me.
Traditional English Round

 
And what's in it for you?  How about a gift certificate to a stitchy or craft store?! 

I'll wait until after Thanksgiving to pick a winner - so let me know what you've done by commenting on this post and have fun paying it forward!  If I get enough comments, I'm sure I'll get lots of comments so I'll post another blog showing what everyone's been doing.  Of course it would be nice to see it on your blog too!

Reliving Buzz & Woody, again!

 

Woody by day...

 

Buzz by night...

The above pictures are of Nathan at age four (10 days away from turning five!)

To the left are his brothers, at age 4 1/2.  Same costumes, so glad I kept them.  I think they have been used for at least four Halloweens and as much as I love Buzz, Woody & Jessie, I'm ready to try something new next year!

Can you believe that all this loot was from one house?!  This is in our friend's neighborhood and it has become quite popular - can't imagine why!

  

Not only do they give you a bag to put the candy in, but the first item is a toothbrush and toothpaste! 

 This is the set-up in their garage, quite a spread.

 

 

And here we have a well dressed morph man and quick dressed clown.  I think I like it better when I could see their cute little faces!  Oh, I'm so glad they don't read this blog or I'd be in "trouble".

I hope you all had a fun Halloween, with not so many tricks and lots of treats!

Give-a-way via Meagan/Brooke's Books

Before I forget, Meagan @ Crafty Lil' Witch is having a give-a-way, see it here - Give-A-Way Bonanza!  But hurry on over, it ends tomorrow!  

Here's what I'm working on for my grandnephew, I got it here at... Brooke's Book Publishing.  But I might have to put it aside for a little bit, I need to figure out what I'm making for Christmas pressies.

So I went to Joann's today with my MIL and had to buy the latest "Cross Stitch Crazy".  As I was looking through it, I saw this in the Ask the Angels section and had to post it!!!


And hey, Click here to sign up for Meagan's Brooke's Books Interactive yahoo! Group - I'm on there!

Finally... I Can Show You my Witches!

This has been finished for a while, but I wanted to wait until October to give it to Angie.  It was her belated birthday present from December, but I wasn't finished with it in time and then decided just before Halloween was the perfect time to give it to her.  I wasn't quite sure how I was going to finish it, but HJ made it helped me quilt around it - at least I picked out the material!  Not really happy about how it's hung, but Angie said she likes it.  If you look close, I added both our initials to it so she would never forget who it's for and who it's from... old age is a kicker!  (At least for me, my memory is shot!)

 

 

Here are some scenes of Halloween.

  

These pictures are various ones taken in and out of the house - I love this time of year!  Not just for Halloween, but all the beautiful colours of the trees and the coolness it brings.  Although tomorrow it may be too cool - we're supposed to be getting 1-3" of snow!

Tonight the gmen are in the playoffs for football - Go Warhawks!  I'm just hoping it doesn't rain, I think the cold will be enough for me.

New Moon TUSAL for October! Fall Fun too!

Even though it doesn't look like it, I have been stitching away. I tend to use up every last bit of floss so I don't really have a lot to add.  
I know it's a little hard to see, but I just had to put it in my little Halloween scene!




 
The boys and I went to see my parents earlier in the month.  Just a short visit, we went to Cumberland for a quick trip before picking up my Mom from a doctor's appointment.







 Luckily, the boys like antique shopping as much as my Dad and I.  I think we all found a little something that day.  Having a toy store next door and a bakery nearby didn't hurt either!








 
Of course we had to take a peek inside the bakery and ended up with a little treat for us all!

 

We also got to celebrate my Dad's birthday with a Bailey's Irish Cream cheese cake.  Next one to make... pumpkin! 



 

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

FYI...

...don't think about cross stitching while having margaritas with old friends!  Unless you're okay with frogging everything you worked on.  I'm such a lightweight, I didn't even have that much - it must have been the talking, reminiscing about growing up, and looking at our old class yearbooks! 


Please excuse the finger in the picture, and Jodi wasn't even drinking!

Okay, no more stitching - Nina and I will just look for old friends and smile for the camera instead!

On a more serious note, Nana does have cancer in her other breast.  She won't know until Monday what the treatment is, but we're hoping for a lumpectomy since it's so small and is supposed to be slow growing.  

She's a trooper and knowing Nana, she's pissed off it came back!  So please say your prayers for her to get through this.

Stash Shopping!

 Wow, I had a great day today!  It started out by meeting DJ at Barnes and Noble to do some stitching, but I twisted her arm ever so gently as she was almost running to the car and we went to the Stitching Post to do some shopping.  

I wanted to get my fabric and colours for my TOS, "Tree of Stitches", a SAL @ The Stitch Specialists.  You have to join to get the patterns and the TOS is closing at the end of the month.  There is another one starting, "The Great Escape", and I'd like to try that one after I tackle the TOS.  They are both designed by Abi Gurden and they are fantastic!  DJ finished hers and it looks amazing, she did a great job!  
The leaves on the bottom of the picture are ones I bought at a bead show and I might add them to the bottom of the design when I'm finished or to the frame, it depends on how it looks.

 

So I saw this Halloween fairy while searching on the internet for who knows what.  But, it's no longer for sale so I looked it up on ebay.  I found it alright, but ended up to be a ridiculous price - it sold for $43.95!  That was just the magazine, nothing else... that's just crazy.  I searched some more and found the magazine at Herrschners for $4.95!  With shipping, it came to $8.90 - what a deal!  Now even though I know I'm not stitching this for this Halloween, I couldn't resist buying the fabric and getting some of the seed beads.

 I also found these pieces, a beautiful purple and a fun candy corn!  Do I know what I'm going to use them for?  No, not yet, but I couldn't resist.

Another nice surprise while we were there was running into Danielle!  I wasn't quite sure, but stalked looked at her a litle bit before I decided it had to be her!  I guess it had been a while since the last time. ; )

Then to totally top off the afternoon, DJ and I went to celebrate her birthday at Pizzeria Uno.  Great lunch and we even treated ourselves to a mini version of dessert.  We could really get into trouble together if we keep this up!  
Hugs to you, DJ, Happy Birthday!

Check Those Ta-tas!

So my dear friend, DJ, is having a giveaway on her blog in support of breast cancer awareness.  Please check it out here - Tickled Pink in Stitches.

  




My husband's Nana had breast cancer about eight years ago and had a mastectomy.  She was about 80 at the time.  Not only did she have an implant afterwards, but also had the other one lifted!  Go Nana!  Luckily, that was all it took, she didn't need any chemo or radiation.  BUT, she just had her other breast checked out, hopefully it's nothing but we're saying our prayers. 

     

 

 

 

 

 

I've had my squeeze, have you?!