A TUSAL end & beginning and a Happy New Year

 It's that time again for Daffycat's TUSAL - Totally Useless Stitch A Long 2014.  You know, the bits of leftovers from stitching.  This is from 2013, it always looks like more in the glass!

As for my 2014 TUSAL... wow, it's already filled!  Ok I cheated, this is from all the floss for my HAED I've attempted to start started. 

Ready to start.  But wait, I did and I don't like the way it's going so far!  Any tips for those of you that have done them?  I'm using 27 count over one and think I should have used one strand of floss instead of two.

This is my first one, I have a bigger one to start after this is finished.

Despite being sick during Christmas, I'm on the mend and we celebrated New Year's with friends.  Pizza and chocolate fondue, can't go wrong!  They stayed the night and we continued our fun the following day.

Max and Ming must have partied too hard, they were exhausted New Year's Day.

Before I forget, look what DJ made for me for Christmas!  Isn't he awesome?  I love it and he'll always have a place on our tree.

And for the Saints fan in me, she made me this pin that now lives on my jacket.  I love it, thank you my chosen sister!

December TUSAL

 I have totally been slacking in my TUSAL reports this year, but here's December. 

 

Ok, here's a better picture - got a little goofy on the first one.

LOVE this pic!  I can't remember where I found it, but I think it could be a t-shirt and now I want one!

 

October TUSAL and a birthday

So much for posting any summer TUSALs, but here's October!  I really have been stitching, but for whatever reason it just doesn't look that way.

 

I found this pic on the internet, but couldn't find out where it originated from to give credit.  Nathan saw it and now wants one... we'll see!

 

Sunday was my Dad's birthday so we went to visit for the day.  I thought he was 74, but I gave him an extra year by mistake. 

 His friend gave him a garden gnome that has a motion sensor and speaks when activated.  Cute, but one can only hear it so many times!  Here's a few of the things he says -

"Let's shake hands... just kidding!"
"Hey you, no you're not crazy, I am talking to you"
"Psst... Is the coast clear? That flipping dog thinks I am a hydrant!"
"I see London, I see France, oh dear, I see someone's underpants"
"You know what they say? There's no place like gnome"

 

Here's our group family photo - we can't leave the house until Dad takes enough pictures to drive the boys crazy!

 

Celebration Sunday and a late TUSAL

We celebrated Father's Day and my birthday on Sunday - what a great day!

 

We were going to make breakfast together, but slept in instead.  After going to church, I started getting food ready for the mini bbq gathering we were having that afternoon.  My chosen sister, Cori, surprised me by showing up early.  She told me I had five minutes to finish up what I was doing and grab my purse.  I thought she was kidding, but no, she meant business!  Now I knew she had a date at the spa with a friend, but that friend was actually lucky me!  She had planned this with DH's approval and he insisted it be on my birthday, even though it was his day too.  He's that kind of guy, he's a keeper!
I was scheduled for a total body massage and a pedicure.  Wow, what a treat, it was WoNdErFuL!  I also got to enjoy a delicious warm brownie and a mimosa, can't go wrong there.

The Pearl Spa


Oldie Halloween pic 

 So Cori, if you ever read this, thank you so much for a absolutely wonderful birthday surprise.  I love surprising family and friends, so what a treat to receive it!  I love you, my sister!

As for some other goodies, my mil gave me a stand and a new light for stitching, thanks Gammy!  Maybe I'll actually get my act together and start my HAED - after the move.

 Oops, I totally forgot to post June's TUSAL, so here it is...

The travel mug and figures were from DH and the boys, perfect!!!

 

 

May TUSAL & more TARDIS fun

 

DJ came over on Friday to stitch... Ha!  Max decided he liked her lap and Nathan had to show her his Pokémon book.  But we did eventually get to stitch, even though she forgot her glasses.

 

I know it's hard to see, but I had to use Garrett's poster!  I promise I've been doing quite a bit of stitching, especially last weekend, but it just doesn't seem like very much.  

 

How cool is this dress?!  I love it!  Too bad I'm too old for proms and I don't think DH would like me wearing this to his company party.  Although it is an aerospace company, so it might just work!

 TARDIS dress

 

The Beauty of April and a TUSAL

 

Ah, the beauty of spring!  Our weeping cherry is blooming and the daffodils are glowing.  Hard to believe just over three weeks ago we had snow. 

Doesn't seem quite right working on January's Garden, I'm not thinking of snow at the moment!

It's kind of hard to see, but it's growing! 

 

If only I had long hair!

 

March TUSAL, TARDIS style

 Oops, late again.  So much for being on time!

I've added a bit more, but I'm hoping to do better next month. 

 



And hey, it's π day!  I made an apple crumble pie, yum.

 

 

February TUSAL

I saw no point in posting a January TUSAL since my glass was empty!  But I finally have something to show for this month, even if it is hard to see. 

 Here's my snuggle bunch, my spot is where the purple blankie is.

 

rachelle abellar, illustrator

 

December TUSAL (imagine, in January)

Since this is technically the TUSAL for 2012, does it really dash my "resolution" to be on time posting for 2013?! 

 

Before Christmas, DJ and I were in Michaels and I bought a clear ornament to fill with my TUSAL trash threads, like the one I bought last year.  I just spend an entire evening looking for it and couldn't find it anywhere.  So I went back to Michaels looking through all the Christmas leftovers and couldn't find a one, bummed!  Then I was in Target and found this instead.  The back is a solid colour, with a snowflake in front.  I know you can't see the threads very well, but I didn't have as many as last year anyway - oops!

 

So here it is next to last year's ornament, and the dragon, of course!

If you are interested in joining in on the TUSAL fun, check it out here - Daffycat's TUSAL. 

 

November TUSAL, Birthdays and a Give-a-Way

Sadly, I didn't add much to my TUSAL glass, so there isn't much to see.

But this picture IS something to see!  DH's Nana gave me this print from their printing company and I wanted to get it framed.  I love the nutcrackers and the colours are so bright.  So as a birthday present from DJ, she framed it for me - doesn't it look great?!  Thanks again DJ, I love it and I think it will be staying up year round because I don't want to take it down!

My "baby" Nathan just had his 6th birthday and it was Iron Man all the way!  He wanted an Iron Man cake and I thought I could make a full size one using my astronaut pan, but that just seemed like a lot of work really hard and I couldn't find any good pictures online.  So instead, I enlarged a picture of his head and made a template of it for the 11x15 cake.   

  Then I got to colour.  As long as you don't look too close, it looks great!

  But it really didn't matter because Nathan loved it!

Happy Birthday Nathan, we love you sooo much! 

Don't forget about the Bead Storage give-a-way, I'm planning on choosing the winner this evening with the help of my assistant.

But it won't be these guys, they're too busy snuggling.

October TUSAL and Hermitting

Not too much to add, I've been working slowing on my TOT Fairy. 

Hermitting this past weekend was a little difficult.  The boys and I went to visit my parents in western MD to celebrate Dad's belated birthday and to see the beautiful fall colours.  This took up most of our time...

Maryland and USA flag

Just walked ran across the bridge

Cemetery outside Cumberland

Ghoul in the woods!

That's what you have to wear for a rum cake

Sweet Halloween Treats!

Making friends

Colours of Cumberland

The Narrows (Lover's Leap)

Oma's chapel

Love my Mama!

What is it with boys and fire?

Roasting ghosts!

Halloween House

Saying goodbye to Oma

Bye, Opa

Last pic on our way home

 I might have an additional post about our weekend tomorrow, my Dad wrote to his friends about it and told them he couldn't believe everything we did!