Night of Knights Mardi Gras!

Nathan's school had a FUNdraiser on Saturday night which DH and I attended.

I went in the afternoon to help set up. Most of the hard work had been done already, just moving some tables around and setting up displays.

This was great - you pull a cork, which has a number on the bottom, and that's the bottle of wine you get to bring home. But you don't find out until the end of the evening because one bottle had a gift card with it and another had a electric bottle opener. Darn, I didn't win either! 

 Fun at the photo booth...

They boys even got festive!

Girls just wanna have fun!

In stitching news, I went to a bead show over the weekend and bought these to use for stitching. The beads were only $1 a bag, I think I should have bought more colours!

And tomorrow, I'm going to teach my fun girl ☝ how to stitch! Such fun!

"Teasing" the cats?

DH says I'm teasing them, but really I'm just entertaining them!

Ming watching her first show.

Ming taking a close-up view, Max is uninterested.

Trying to find that darn bird.

 I was at the computer and she kept staring at my ipad until I let her watch her channel.

Even Max joined in this time.

He's hit or miss, but he liked it that night!

I really should be stitching, but I've lost my mojo.
Please feel free to send any extras my way!

TH THursday

THinking, THinking, THinking...

THinking THoughts, and being THankful on THursdays.

Who in your life are you grateful for?

Um, how much time do you have?!

I'm going to answer this for today - I am grateful for these two wonderful coaches of Nathan's basketball team at school. Their last game was on Sunday and tonight we had a pizza party and acknowledgements. This year they actually won six games out of ten, which was a big improvement from last year's 0/10 record!

As coaches, they encouraged these boys to do their best, encouraged teamwork, AND to have fun. Each player tonight was recognized for their participation in the game and how they did their best.

And who says our getting together has to end after the season? We're talking about getting together for fish fry Fridays during Lent!

So today or everyday, who are you grateful for?

Spring tease

Ah yes, 60-70 degrees in February, crazy weather!

Our neighbour's Winter Aconite looks so lovely and colourful. She has offered to share some with me, so I think I'll take her up on that tomorrow.

Someone thinks it's spring already.

Our Snowdrops look beautiful, even though they haven't seen any snow this year.

I hear tales of snow in March, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Max and Ming are enjoying being outside, they love the sunshine and rolling around out there.

But even with the nice weather, I'm dreading the water with the lighthouse. I'm using Kreinik... I think all of the water is Kreinik, ugh.

Luckily/unluckily, I didn't go away this weekend to the party for this special someone, so at least I have some more time to look for my stitching mojo and finish this!

TH Thursday

THinking, THinking, THinking...

THinking THoughts, and being THankful on THursdays.

What season are you grateful for?

I like them all at some point - Winter, when the snow covers everything and makes it look beautiful (not that we've seen that this year... yet!)

Spring, when flowers are blooming and trees are coming to life.

Summer, with the warmth of the sun on you, and being near the water.

But I'm most grateful for the fall. The beauty of colours in the leaves🍁, cool evenings🍃, bonfires🔥, snuggles🤗, football🏈, walking through fallen leaves🍂, and pumpkin🎃 everything!

Which one are you grateful for and why?

Valentine's Day love

Yesterday, Nathan had his last Valentine's Day exchange in school. 😭

We did both classes this year and gave gummy hearts and made bookmarks.

DH and I don't really do Valentine's Day, but I do receive flowers. I love carnations because they last such a long time, but this year I was treated with roses. The only thing I ask for is a homemade card, which we exchanged last night.

 Nathan gave us a card and I received a heart necklace and a wooden heart, he made both in Scouts.

DH was the recipient of yesterday's post, this is in our little coffee nook.

Nathan was my breakfast date, spoiled with donuts!

 And the Gmen were my lunch dates!

I know I've posted this before, but I couldn't resist!

Maximus and Ming showing the love.

And for the first time in a long time, I made cards and sent them to some friends. Of course I didn't post them until the 13th, so they'll feel the love a little late!

I plan on showing a lot more love this year, not just on Valentine's Day. I hope your day was lovely and your year is even better!

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

Here's another fun year of the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop organized by Sweetheart Jo.
(I think this is my fourth one?)
Hop on over to her blog to follow all the love and figure out who sent who what stitched picture.

This is the photo I received, how adorable! For some reason, I'm in the mood for some chocolate! 🍫
I wonder who my secret stitcher could be?

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. ~ Charles M. Schulz

TH Thursday

THinking, THinking, THinking...

THinking THoughts, and being THankful on THursdays.

Who did something nice for you, or for others, this past week?
Nathan was at a birthday party while we were out gallivanting this past Saturday, and this was the goodie bag he received - not for himself, but to give to someone who needs it. I love it!

In case you can't read it, it says - 

💕💕💕💕💕💕
"We are the world, we are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving."

"Sometimes, because we are kids we feel like we can't help or don't know how to help others. We don't have money and we don't drive. We can help with a blessing bag!" ~ Ana and Zoe

Ana and Zoe have assembled "Blessing Bags" for all of their friends in place of the traditional party favour bags. They have asked that you keep this bag in your car or backback (if traveling in a city). When you see someone in need, please pass along the "Blessing Bag". Inside you will find a number of handy items that might help someone in need get through the day a little easier. Be sure to make more bags with your family once you have given this one out to continue the blessings!
💕💕💕💕💕💕

How awesome is this? How many times do you come across someone asking for money or food? I see it in our area and I think this is a wonderful thing to give them. This bag is still in our car, because I would like Nathan to be with me when we hand it out. He "needs" to use a gift card this weekend, so while we're out, I have a feeling we'll be getting some supplies! 
BTW, these precious sisters probably made at least 50 bags since they celebrated their birthdays together - WOW!


Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. ~ Author Unknown

Brews and beads

Great way to start FeBREWary!

Even better, a birthday!

I'm thinking a wine tour in the spring would be really nice too.

I've been working on a Mill Hill kit and finally got to use a Christmas gift I asked for, a Sticky Bead Mat. It's great, I love it! I took it to school yesterday while at lunch duty to stitch in-between lunches. No lost beads and so easy to pick up with the needle. Now for some reason, the needle I have is bent and I didn't have another one with me. I found that I actually like it better that way, it's easier to pick the beads up.

And on the weather front, it's spring in February! At least it was yesterday and today... tomorrow we're getting snow!

It was nice enough that Nathan did his homework outside with some kitty company. Even today he'll be able to sit outside and enjoy it. But tomorrow we're expecting 1-3", finally! I hate to say it, but I'll believe it when I see it.

TH Thursday...

THinking, THinking, THinking...

THinking THoughts, and being THankful on THursdays.

What technology are you grateful for?

I could generalize - computer or phone - but I'm going to be more specific and say texting.

Years ago before I had a smart phone, I didn't get the texting thing. I would rant, "Just call, why do you need to text?!"

Hello smart phone and hello texting! I love that if I'm thinking of a friend or family member and really don't have time to talk, I can send a text and let them know I'm thinking of them. I can send an "I love you" to my DH privately. I can check on my boys anytime (and they know they'd better answer me!) Nathan doesn't have a phone so he's lucky enough to hear me yell for him.

So what would you say is your tech gadget you're grateful for?

An Easter Exchange - Down under!

Are you looking for something fun to do for Easter/Spring?
Kaye at Kitten Stitching is hosting an Easter Exchange - from Australia! It's nothing big, just a stitched piece and an Easter treat, wrapped in Easter or Spring fabric. I'm willing to to post there, are you?!

Take a look here - Kaye's Easter Exchange

Organized? Ha!

I thought I was organized.
My floss has been put away in boxes, my table is was actually uncluttered and clean, and all my Christmas kits put away in a box.

But then when you open these doors...
 
At least I know where everything is, sort of!

This isn't too bad, it holds most of my individual patterns and booklets. I do have some that need to find their way in there though.

Now this on the other hand, there's no rhyme nor reason sorting this mess.

I can group them together by magazine and separate the Christmas/Halloween ones on their own, but how the heck do I remember what's where?! I have post-it notes stuck on patterns I'd like to stitch, but then what? Most of the mags have a little bit of everything, what to do with them?!
I'm not sure I want to write it all down or put it in the computer. I guess I could take a picture and sort it that way. 

Do any of you have this issue?
Any thoughts or suggestions on how to organize them?
And this is why I don't by magazines anymore! (Unless I see something I really like)

Progress!

So nice to have company while stitching... but not so much on a big piece!

A lighthouse!

And Max notices a mistake in the rocks, dang it!

Frogs shouldn't be allowed at a lighthouse! But now it's corrected and I'm moving on.

TH Thursday...

THinking, THinking, THinking...

THinking THoughts, and being THankful on THursdays.

After my post last week, this one is easy.

Not really a question, but a statement.

I am thankful for all the people who are loving and kind to me.

Thank you so much for the supportive comments I received on my previous post, it truly means so much to me. And Nathan's got some new Aunties, I love it!

Have you told someone you're thankful for them?

TH Thursday...

THinking, THinking, THinking...

THinking THoughts, and being THankful on THursdays.

Wishing this was easier today, but here goes.

What is something that was hard to do but you did it anyway?

Oh boy, this one's a zinger, where to start?

First, I have so many friends who have either lost one of their parents, or both, and would do anything to see them and be with them again. I've got both my parents and we're not speaking. It feels like they're gone already.

The reason on my part - I'm tired of them disrespecting my DH and now our three boys. Making up stories and telling me that the boys and I can come visit them, but don't bring DH. Taking the phone off the hook for several days so the Gmen couldn't thank them for the birthday gift they received, and not responding to their email when that was the only way to get a hold of them. Having a friend from out of the country come pay them a visit and encouraging her not to contact me even though they're only two hours away. The final kicker was not acknowledging Nathan's 10th birthday. Their grandson's 10th birthday, what the heck did he do to them? There are so many other things that have happened throughout the years, but basically adds up to the control they (really, he) tries to have over me and others.

I've tried to separate my disassociation with them from the boys, asking them if they'd like to call or send an email for birthdays or holidays, and they all say, no. How sad. Nathan said they probably have the phone off the hook anyway. (This is not a new thing.)

So the hardest thing I had to do but did it anyway? Deciding not having any contract with my parents. I Know that I don't deserve to be treated like that and neither does my family.

On a positive note, I am thankful for my friends, who I consider my other family. The ones who are there for me, no matter what.