The People Chose ...💎

Head over to Jo @ Serendipitous Stitching to see what I'm talking about.

I was born in June, and have only ever used Alexandrite as my birthstone. My class ring from High School is Alexandrite and I love how it changes colours depending on the light.

There are several June birthstones, depending on the actual birthstone interpretation chart. Some authors enumerate as many as 10 stones that correspond to this month. The modern interpretation of birthstones includes Pearls, Moonstone and Alexandrite as the stones characteristic for month June. The second most popular interpretation, the traditional chart, speaks of Cat’s eye, Turquoise, Agate, and Alexandrite. Here, we will focus our attention to Alexandrite, Pearls, and Moonstone, as the modern classification suggests.

The color changing Alexandrite is certainly the most expensive of the three, and even more so if you want to possess a gem-quality specimen. Pearls are also expensive, especially if you are looking for a genuine, non-cultivated gem. Moonstone is least expensive, but it doesn’t mean that you have to settle for an inferior birthstone. Some Moonstones can look fantastic, and be equally desirable as the most desirable precious stones.

As for stitching birthstones, I've got nothing, nada, zilch, zero!
But I do have a couple for my birth month.

And like Jo, I've got my eye on this one too!

And it would be perfect for next month... Dragons!

Halloween has Gone to the Dogs!

This Halloween Nathan didn't want to go Trick or Treating, he wanted to hand out candy instead. We couldn't do it at our house since we don't get any kids, so we went to the doghouse... Karen's new house! Although he did wear a skeleton shirt and cap, so he sort of dressed up.

And Karen's babies were ready for action!

Emily (aka Darla), with her new do.

Karen's front window, looking good.

Her monsters, Henry and Emily.

Poor Emmie, "Really, Mom?"

Now it's Henry's turn.

And Henry getting ready for Thanksgiving, silly turkey boy.

Not too many kids came to her house, a little disappointing but we still had fun.

November 1st was a beautiful day to sit outside and enjoy the colours that finally decided to come out.

Oh boy, DH's favourite... leaves!

Even more colourful today.

In stitching news, I'm almost done with this one! After changing some of the pumpkin colours, now I'm going to change the bottom. I don't really care for the checkered part, but I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do instead. Maybe grassy or pumpkin patchy (is there such a thing?!) Any ideas?

Trick or Treat Blog Hop 🦇 2018

Happy Halloween!
You know what that means, it's time for Jo's Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop!
Be sure to begin there to start collecting the letters for the Halloween phrase she's chosen this year.


This is Cottage Garden's Halloween Sampler, with some tweaks. I added several mini icons and changed others. I could have added more, but made myself stop so it could finally be done!

This year, I was able to spread out the decorations with the bookshelves we added.

The mini shelf was my purchase from St. Micheal's in May, I love it! I would have added more on top, but even DH had a hard time reaching up there.

Here's a clue for your letter, so many...

's!

Your next clue can be found at Jeremiah's Mom, (Katie's) blog, my fellow dragon lover!



Our mantel with Halloween stitching goodies.

Maximus and Ming just love their bling, maybe not?

Thanks Jo, for another frightfully fun hop, you are a fantastic host!
I hope you all receive more treats than tricks this year, hop on.

Geaux Saints 🏈 ⚜

My gf invited me to the Ravens/Saints game with her last Sunday and I needed to do some shopping!
I have Saints sweatshirts and tshirts, but no jackets. I looked online and found this on QVC of all places. Not just a jacket, but a vest too, I love it.

 So even though she's a true Ravens fan, she "allowed" me to wear my Saints gear (shirt, jacket, vest, scarf, necklace, bracelet, earrings, nail polish, and face tattoos!) What a great friend!

Drew!

Way too much purple.

Check out that moon.

I had to change my hot chocolate cup to support my team.

While we were there, I was able to witness Drew Brees throwing his 500th touchdown pass! The sad part? Nothing was said in the stadium about it.

Just before the game ended, this was our view.

Apparently mumbling voodoo juju at their kicker while he attempted to even the score worked... oops, who knew! Poor guy, he's never missed an extra point in his seven year history... until now.

But I did promise that if I went with her to watch them play against any other team, I would cheer with her. I'll even wear my Laps for Lexi purple!


And oldie but a goodie, the Saints ornament I made for my big brother.

Today I get to watch football with all my guys when the Gmen come over, they'll be cheering for the Redskins. But later tonight, the Saints play and I'll be able to watch it!

Mom's Home Again! 👍

Last Friday, this trio was waiting for me when I surprised my parents with a visit. Two of them got up when I opened my car door, but didn't run away.

Here's Momma!

She's back from rehab and so very happy to be home. Her last stay there was not a good experience so let's hope that was her last. She lost three pounds while there because the pureed food was so bad and they didn't notice her not eating. At least Dad knows how to make it tasty for her!

And Dad got a selfie too!

 This is their front room/dining room... filled with Dad's treasures! Can you find the Welsh Dragon I gave him for his birthday? And several Christmas stitching too!

Here it is, above what a friend send him for his birthday. Great minds think alike!

I had made this earlier in the year, but it had a black border around it. I frogged it because I didn't like the way it looked. It's not the best frame for it, but better than any I had seen. He was thrilled with it, so that's all that matters.

Words from my Dad when Mom came home,

Ulrike went to bed smiling and is so very excited to be worshiping in her chapel tomorrow morning and I shall surprise her with coffee in the gartenhaus on her way back to the house!

Life will be worth living again for both of us and I shall move mountains to make up for all my old love has suffered.

Kitties and some Beer 🍺

Ming "helping" me finish BOO.

Gman1's gf, C, with her new baby, Finn!

Such a sweet boy. Too bad Ming and Maximus don't think so!

Relaxing in Gman1's room.

Getting his veggies.

Attack kitty, he's not afraid of no Zombies!

A short visit from Gman2 last weekend, checking out Dad's brewing station.

And now they wait!

The People's Choice SAL Oct 2018 🎃

Go Jo! She's got a new SAL starting this month and it's changing every month according to what WE choose! It's The People's Choice SAL.
Per Jo, "Regular followers will be aware that for over 3 years now I have run a themed SAL on the first Saturday of each month.  First we spent 26 months doing The Alphabet Club and then 12 months of the Zodiac.  Now I have decided to listen to the People and post about your choice of theme.  In September I asked for suggestions on the blog and then made a poll in the IHSW Facebook Group from those suggestions.

The top three choices were:
Hallowe'en

Birthstones

Dragons

So I will do one for the next three months.  At the end of this post I will ask again for your suggestions and one of those will become the theme for January.  In November, we choose February's theme and so on.  I will post the results in my sidebar so you have plenty of time to decide what to show."

Did you see that... DRAGONS!

So here's my spin on Halloween for October.

No where near as many as Jo, but I like what I've done so far.

I haven't quite figured out how I'm going to finish this one yet.

My favourite stitched piece, love her!

Still working on this one.

And this one just needs a little bit more.

I doubt I'll get this done in time for Halloween, but at least for next year!

And all these goodies to be stitched.

So are you in? I wonder what we'll choose in the New Year?!