Wednesday 30 November 2011

New Moon TUSAL for November! Ornie SAL too!


Just a little bit late, but here's my TUSAL glass, filled up a little more since last month!  Nathan wanted all MY Fisher Price Christmas toys put out for him to play with, so I added it to the scene.  He doesn't like that fact that all these goodies are mine, but he's happy that I'm willing to share.  You should see my Christmas list - I want more!  I also have the Manger and Wise Men, but they'll go upstairs later.  What can I say, I'm still a kid at heart.

 
 
Ornie SAL so far - The ladybug bear is for Nathan's teacher since they are in the ladybug room.  Nathan seems to have claimed the reindeer and I'm not sure about Mr. Snowman, I just thought he was cute.  I still have many more in mind and then will have to make them all into ornaments!




  
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

A Whirlwind Thanksgiving, A Challenge and PIF

Thanksgiving was a whirlwind of family, food and fun!  My younger brother Uwe, and kids arrived at my parents house Wednesday evening, and my older brother Peter, SIL and nephew came from Baton Rouge, LA, on Thursday afternoon.  Everyone had to make at least one "turkey feather" for Tom, but the younger ones did about four!

Dinner was fantastic, turkey with all the fixins!  I made fresh cranberry sauce for the first time and will continue forever more - delish!  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and apfelkuchen for dessert, more yum.  I was able to make cranberry scones on Monday, but didn't get to the Welsh cakes.  Oh well, plenty of time before Christmas! 

On Friday afternoon, all 16 of us took the Santa Express on the Western Maryland Railroad.  It took us to Frostburg, my old stomping ground, and we got to walk around there for a bit - enough for Peter and Paul to find a bar for wings and beer!  All in all, a fantastic day, the weather couldn't have been better and all nine kids had a blast.

 On Saturday, my SIL, Cathy, and I went to Cumberland to shop and support local businesses.  We stopped by the bakery, but just to take pics.  We found a book store I didn't know was there and got some treasures!  Not only did I find The World of Cross Stitching, but the Woody "frame" was still with it.  Even better, there was a mermaid in there!  I also found a couple L*K and some fabric and floss.  I think I paid under $10, what a deal!  Cathy found about 25 Doctor Who books for my nephew, so we were both happy.








  
 Cathy found some yarn she wanted and made me this fun scarf - I love it!



On another note, I was so busy over the weekend that I didn't pick a name for the Challenge I put out there, so I'm going to extend it until Saturday evening.  It will be a $25 gift card to whatever stitchy/craft store you'd like!  I also have the Pass it Forward that needs to be given out.  Please comment on the post you're interested in.
Nathan picked a name from a tree at school for a four year old who wants clothes.  Well, we're going to find some fun ones today!  We are also picking a toy for a child his age and the gmen need to find toys for two children their age.  DH picked names at work for two children - their number one item is a bike, I think I need to look at what's on sale!  Can you imagine their faces if they get what they asked for?!

Sunday 20 November 2011

Daffycat's TUSAL - come join the fun!

MY collage for 2011, not enough ORTs in there!

The 2012 Totally Useless Stitch-a-long is launched for sign-ups!
If you would like to join the SAL for 2012 leave a comment on THIS POST.   The rules are simple:
1. Get a glass container and save your thread clippings or ORTs (Old Ratty Threads!) Some stitchers include fabric trimmings, thread bands or any other stitching cast-offs they gather. You may continue filling this jar throughout the year OR you may empty the jar and start over each month ~ no firm rules here!
2. On (or about) each New Moon take a picture of the ORTs in your jar and post it to your blog. Yes, you MUST have a blog to be included. Reasonably "late" posts will be accepted, but posting several updates at once is cheating!
3. Yes, you can use your current ORT jar or jars. This is no contest...the stitcher with the most ORTs doesn't win!
4. You must post a picture each New Moon, even if there has been no "progress" to show.
5. Label your Totally Useless posts with "TUSAL" to make it easier for me to find your posts at the end. If you don't know how to "label" your posts email me.
Please DON'T comment on this post if you are not joining the stitch-a-long! Since some of you have multiple blogs, please tell me the name of the blog you will be posting your updates to. I will add your name & blog link to the list in this post. If you have commented and you have not been added to the list within a few days...I may have overlooked you...email me! Questions? Feel free to email me! International bloggers are welcome! 

Some changes to the SAL from last year:
1. New participants are welcome to join at any time, yes, even in December of 2012!
2. I am not accepting stash donations for a prize this year but there will be prizes ~ probably something stitched by me.
There are 12 2012 New Moon Dates:
January 23, February 21, March 22, April 21, May 20, June 19, July 19, August 17, September 16, October 15, November 13,December 13

Friday 18 November 2011

Jackpot!

 I met my friend, Tara, today after getting my haircut this morning.  We've been friends since elementary school and lived on the same street all those years ago.  My Mother used to call us the terrible twins growing up and enough people think we're sisters now, so I guess it worked - it's those darn noses!
Anyway, we shopped, shopped and shopped some more... Christmas is coming, you know!


 Well, the Roses didn't come in a tin, but the Quality Street did!  The only thing I needed more of was Mom's German coffee, maybe next time.  I know I probably shouldn't have bought the mince pies since my parents make them for Christmas, but I couldn't wait that long!  I didn't find any Pfeffernüsse, so I'll have to add that to my baking.


  

I also found some Christmas crackers, it's not Christmas without them in our house!  Ming & Max are keeping watch over them because you never who will get into to get the goodies.  When my little brother and I were younger, we found a huge box full of crackers and took out every single prize - my parents couldn't understand why there wasn't anything in them come Christmas time!

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Secret Pal Goodie & Ornie SAL

 Lookie what I received on Saturday from my Secret Pen Pal!  Thank you, thank you!  It's always nice to receive a card in the mail, especially when it has a goodie inside.

 

 My buppa tea in my Father Christmas mug was lovely and warm thanks to my coffee cozy!  She made it for me and it's perfect, I love it!
In case you're wondering, when I was little I couldn't say "cuppa" tea, I said "buppa" tea and it stuck.  My Dad said there was also a song to go with it that we/he made up, " a buppa tea for you and me ".  There was more, but he couldn't remember it.
 
  I had to include my Quality Street in the pic, they actually sell it here!  I haven't seen any Cadbury Roses, but that was always a treat too.  Growing up, we always had two huge tins of both for Christmas and they didn't last very long in our house!  
 
 
 
I'm going out tomorrow to a shop that might sell some, so we'll see.  I'll also look for some Pfeffernüsse for my Mom, but I think I should be able to make some if I can't find any.
 
 
I haven't gotten as far along as I would like with this ornament.  I'm making it for Nathan's pre-k teacher.  Their class is the "Ladybugs", so it's perfect for her.  Well, I now see I need to frog a little bit, so off I go!

Sunday 13 November 2011

Cool Beans, a Firehouse Birthday Party!

 Nathan had a great birthday party this afternoon!  He got to be an honorary fireman for his party and he loved it - can you tell?!




So who is this "glowing" person?  Well, the woman who was supposed to wear this fashionable outfit had to go out on a call, so yours truly was volunteered.  I can't even imagine wearing this on a hot summer's day, let alone in a fire!  





Here he is with his Finn McMissile cake, can't imagine what he'll want next year.               
 And here are his brothers when they had their fourth birthday party at the firehouse.  Unlike their brother, neither one of them would wear the fireman outfit!





Okay, finally I can get to my stitching and watch "Once Upon a Time" and "The Walking Dead".  Anyone else???

Saturday 12 November 2011

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?

Wednesday 9 November 2011

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.

Tuesday 8 November 2011

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 StitcherI'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!

Friday 4 November 2011

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 PuppyBasically, 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!