The Needle in a Haystack

Jan 6&7, 2012

So it really did seem like a good idea to give our old lab, Raven, a beanie baby to keep her company while we were at work now that she is an only dog....

           bad idea

..what you can not see in this picture are the 200billion gazillion small plastic pellets that now cover every inch of our living room rug.... they are like Christmas tree tinsel.....or Easter grass....we'll pretty much be cleaning them up for the next 10 years

  We worked the last two days at the shop.  despite that I was able to do a bit of stitching...a couple smalls. The first is almost done despite the short amount of time I had to work on it.

... this is from Sprite stitch

AND today was simply two little snowmen to go on the tree at the shoppe... We decided to do a season tree all year...

.. And keeping up with Pammy Sue's CAL

I was able to finally get to the next color in my ripple.  I have plans for this ripple I do believe a upcoming birthday in the next couple of months... 

Horrible picture... but its late and I am cleaning up plastic pellets..

So, I was able to finish up Mourning Gloria

This is a China Bayless book and I loved it as much as the others I have read...

In my read through the Bible in a year I am up to Genesis 20 and Matthew 6:18

  .One of the great things about our shoppe is the wonderful deputies that do off duty on Sat. afternoons.  They are all friends of our LEO son and we appreciate getting to know each of them better. Craig and I were having a discussion about this verse today... and I thought I would share ( he preaches at his church from time to timeand I know he is a blessing to them, he was to me!)

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

– 2 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)

Very fitting for police officers I think.. and for all of us!

Hope and pray you all ahve a fine day.................all day Long!

Jan 4, 2011

 Today was the day we finally ventured out a bit.  Yep the car has sat in the drive way since New Years Eve.  I can't say we were doing this formal plan for the new year sort of thing, but that is what it worked out to be.  Our business is now  15 months and it has been such a learning process for us. So,  there were business meetings.... the kind where you are reading and suddenly an idea pops in your head and you discuss it... and then either scrap it or talk a bit more about it.... and the same went for the house, and the gardens, and well, just about everything....

   But today, the grocery, the post office... and even though we live in a small laid back town.... it required actual clothes and not jammies...

Anyhow, Bible reading did get done...Gen 10-12 and Matt 4

A little bit was read in Mourning Gloria

Nothing fancy came out of the kitchen today ( having to don real clothes today was exhausting)

 I did manage my day 4 Crazy January Challenge with this little pillow from Pine Mountain

 I have several but for some reason Feb never was stitched...

AND, because I couldn't help myself...I joined Pammy Sue's  ripple along.   I mean I HAD too... I love a good ripple and the textures in this one are beautiful I think... lots and lots of ftpc and fdpc.... There is a Flicker group  here  I If you want to join I know Pammy Sue would love to have you!!

 .. so, I am off to ripple some more... and hopefully tomorrow I can post some pictures of my ripple so it looks like a ripple... I had to frog a few times  but I do belive it is all good now... and if its not I am rolling with the mistakes...

   Here are a few interesting articles I read today while I was crocheting ( no wonder there are mistakes)

Susan Weed on hot colds and cold colds

Free Audible Books  ( I love these things)

Making your own dough enhancer

 AND I need to say hello to a very very special new reader of my blog....My Nannie

Love you!!

Thy hands made me and fashioned me . . . Psalms 119:73

... you all ahve a fine day......all day long!

 

 

Jan 1, 2012

 We just finished up the dishes from our annual New Years Day feast of pork roast, sauerkraut, collards and blackeyed peas. Usually we have several folks for dinner but this year it was just Chris, Christopher, Daniel and I.  We have had such a great holiday but boy are we tired!

  Chris spent the day doing inventory for the business and besides doing a bit of laundry and cooking this is what I did most of the day...

  Each year I decide on a reading plan or study guide for my Bible time.  This year I will read the Bible through again using Bible Gateway Reading Plan . This will come to my kindle to read everyday.

 so today was Genesis 1-3 and Matthew Chapter 1.

No secret I am a HUGE China Bayles fan. I am finishing up another one in the series this week. I have a few copies signed by the author and am looking forward to the new one coming out in April.

   So for some crazy reason I decided to join the cross stitch Crazy January Challenge 2012 (a yahoo group). The concept is to start 15 new projects for each of the first 15 days of Jan. Then stitch at will until they are finished. Some ladies are going for 31... but I am at least a semi realist... It is fun to see what others are doing and share stitching stories from lovely ladies from all over the world.

 I decided on Bernard a Wee One: from Heart in Hand  stitched on linen

    I think if I continue to work on linen I will need a stitching magnifier....but I love the look!

and finally, I couldn't go the day with out a little crochet.  Chris and I decided to keep the tree up at the shoppe and just change out the decoration according to the season.  We are going with snowmen and snowflakes for Jan.  I thought a herd ( gaggle) of these little fellas were in order.

 

This is a free pattern from DapperToad

 we decided to keep our tree up just a few more days... its so pretty and we all enjoy it.

 Chris and I want to pray a most blessed New Year for each of you..

There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:

 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecc 3 1-8

..have a fine year...all year long!

Crocheted Mouse and This weeks goals.

I spent what little free time I had today crocheting this cute little mouse as a gift for my neice Violet.

Very quick and easy pattern and you can find it @ Crochetville   I have used it several times for baby and toddler gifts. Something small they can hold in their hands.

  So, here it is Monday . The day we set our goals for hte week and make a menu.   I don't always post but we do always do this on Monday around here. I thought I would share since life has pretty much been work.. although I do need to mention that one of the new ladies at church came up to Chris and asked if she could share a song at the end of service.  WOW, she was wonderful.  We really enjoyed it. Thank you Miss Patricia for sharing!

 So, here we go

Weekly Goals Oct 10-16th

1.Finish Halloween goodie bag for my nephew Evan

2. Finish first color of a christmas present ghan

3. Crochet a nice winter scarf for a friend

4. Finish a cross stich piece that is a Christmas present.

5. Check the water storage and replenish if necessary

6.  Make another batch of applesauce

7. Make a double batch of muffins for breakfast and snacks

8. Transplant aloe plant

9. Get the car inspected

10. Begin walking in the mornings or evenings again at least a mile a day to start

 

Bathroom remodel Goals

Chris and I gutted the guest bath and this week we begin the rebuilding. we hope to at lest get the floor but in.

Bible Goals

Chisel out some time to finish the Bible Study Kristy and I started ( we have one more chapter)

Read the book of Philippians .

 

Menu Plan

Breakfast:

Ham and Egg sand.

pancakes

muffins

 

Lunches

soup

grilled cheese

leftovers

Dinner

Monday : speghetti/salads

Tuesday: Baked Potato Soup and Dill Bread

Wednesday: Homemade Pizza

Thursday: Chicken pot pie/salad

Friday : Family dinner at my inlaws . The word on the street is meatloaf (yum)

Sat.  Soup/ grilled cheese

Sunday: Probably take out as this is an extremely busy day for us.

How about this little gem I read today during my morning study time:

And He shall be the stability of your times . . .Isaiah 33:6

  Good stuff!

Have a fine day......all day long!

 

Monday.. Scarves and Coupons...

 

 Well, I hurried this morning and washed two loads of towels and sheets to get them out in the sunshine... sho nuf it rained buckets while we were out doing errands  so I drug them sopping back in the house and will spin them out and try again tomorrow... grr...

  The doctor visit went well, he released my meds and our conversation went something like this..

Doc:  How are you

Me. I'm good, how are you?

Doc: Where are you from?

Me: Ohio

Doc: you sound like Dr #### , he is from Ohio I dated a girl from Ohio once... Medina .... where do you work?

Me: We own our own computer business, repairs and refurb sales..

Doc:  I have a huge old monitor I can't get rid of ... took four people to move it to the garage... you want it?

Me: No thank you..

Doc: where do you want your meds sent?

Me... Umm.. walmart

Doc... come see if you can fix this screen on my lap top

.. walk down long hall....

Me: I think we can..

Doc:  Take it with you and call me and let me know...

Me : Ok.. See ya

I walk back up the long hall

 Receptionist:  105.00 for todays visit and I am faxing your prescription over now...

~sigh~

 

Anyhow, speaking of DOC appts. Becky's seems to have gone very well! I was glad for the update!

When we were out we made a couple of stops with coupons in hand... Walgreens was a bust ( as always). They just never seem to have their sale items in stock... The grocery was far better.. The total before coupons 72.00 plus change... total after was 49.00 plus change...We still have our local produce money for strawberries for tomorrow  and I am so happy that we have been able to cut our food budget each week!

 So, except for weaving ends I finished the first of my Special Olympic scarves

I decided I will do 6 in honor of Elizabeth who will be 6 on her birthday this year... these are really fun to make!

I sometimes sit and look at my day and realize it has gone NOTHING like the list I had written in the morning.... but I realize also...

 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5

..and have a fine day..all day long!

 

JodyDesigns, Teddy Bear Hats, and washing it all away....

...Recently Ms Stitchy McFloss had a bloggy give away sponsered by Ms Jody  with one of her designs from Jodydesigns.  I love her work... she has such whimsey  and fun things... I can't wait to get started on this little project!

  In between outside day things, and evening night things ( it IS that planting season), I have been stitching on a SAl, a lighhouse and the Mitchie Tavern  kit I got on our last get away.. BUT, I have also been making a few things for my annual NICU donation and decided my new little neice who will make her grand entrance in May needed a few things too...

  Like a teddy bear hat....

The pattern is one of Kristie's wonderful patterns. I ahve mde several of hers... always easy to follow... this little freebie can be found  @this link on Crochetville

 we are having a bit of a thunder storm here right now.... I am so thankful!  The pollen has been making Christopher a bit sneezy  and hanging clothes  a bit tiresome when you have to shake the pollen off....the trees are doing their  thing....

..and the rain is doing its thing :)

It never fails when I see this year after year that I think of the old hymn

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

 

 

we use to sing it in church all the time, but today you hardly hear it with the new music out.  I do love new praise songs but  I miss the old hymns . I wonder  if the author was watching a spring rain when he wrote the words...

Or maybe King David....

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin Psalm 51:2

Have a fine day...all day long!

A Great Day In Durham....

 It was such a great day today that we packed a lunch and headed out to see the crochet garffiti bull in Durham when I read about it on Leslie's blog

The exhibit was to run through March 30th... but I am guessing because of the rain I missed it..

..I did find evidence that there HAD been crochet there..

  Even with out the crochet.. we had a great time....

  I am not sure I have laughed that hard in awhile.....

So, after the bull we headed up the street to the Scrap Exchange  This place is an artist dream come true.. tons of just stuff.. waiting to be turned into more stuff..

A few of my favorites from the "Green" room

 a lamp from scrap wood and blue prints..

 and this one from cd cases and old cds

spool chair

 recycled plastic mat....

.. A quick trip to Whole Foods for some tahini and our favorite sesame snacks and we headed north again to have dinner with dear friends....

   Just a wonderful day....

" In the begining God created".. Genesis 1:1..

Have a fine day....all day long!

Chicken Florentine, a bit of hooking..and some interesting websites.....

. Recently Kraft sent me somethings to try out their new cooking cream  I do use cream cheese in a few dishes and was willing to give it a try to see if there was really a difference between cream cheese and "cooking cream"

 With spinach coming into season I thought a chicken florentine would be perfect for a meal.

Chicken Florentine

1lb  chicken

6oz fresh spinach

1 tub garlic Cooking Cream

12oz angel hair pasta ( or pasta of choice)

Cut chicken in bite size pieces and cook through.  Add spinach and cook down until wilted ( about 2 minutes) drain all but 1T liquid.  Add one tub of cooking cream and stir mixute until blended cooking about 3 minutes on low. pour over hot cooked and drained pasta..

  I have to tell you this stuff was so yummy. The cooking cream is so much lighter then regular cream cheese.  I have a couple other recipes to share using different flavors of Kraft Cooking Cream. This is such a quick and easy ..delicious meal.  We all gave it 2 thumbs up.

  I am continuing my Preemie project for Wake Med hospital in honor of my sons 3oth birthday... 30 little hats and stuffies will make their way to the NICU unit . Many of the nurses there were the ones that treated my boy 30 years ago.  They do such great work and I can never say thatnk you enough. This is just a way of bringing cheer to the parents who sit by the incubators holding tiny hands and praying...

 I ran across 2 different websites that I thought were interesting today.  One is a garden planner/timetable for Piedmont Region, NC where I live... If you're reading this from AK this probably won't interest you ~smile~

Home Vegetable Garden

 With new radiation leaks in Japan a friend suggested this radiaon map for the US.  Its in real time...I didn't know there were so many power plants all over the place! This is in real time.

Radiation Network

 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” 1 Corinthians 10:26

Continue to pray....

Chunky Button Bag

I finished the purse I have been working on this week.. I found hte pattern @ Vegan Craftastic this pattern is so easy and I really like the look of the bag for summer.

I used Lily Sonora Cotton, I used a random print from my fabric stash and buttons from the button jar.  The ribbon is offray, picked up on a whim this afternoon while we were running errands.

 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.
The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Have a great day!...All Day Long!

A Quickie Update

This weekends goal was to finish the crocheted socks with the self striping yarn... I had plenty of time Friday to work on them. Chris was at a hockey game with his dad and Christopher was at a basketball game,  Sat. was a very very long but good day at the "shoppe" but I managed to do a bit on them last night.  Today was full  complete with a non planned trip to friends in Holly Springs, NC ( more on that later)... but no matter how tired I really really wanted to finish up the heel of the last sock and give them a try.

 I used Sonny's Sock Pattern which I found easy to follow since I was a bit intimidated to try socks..

The yarn was Deborah Norville Serenity Sock in Merino/Bamboo/Nylon. It was the least expensive of the sock yarns I looked at ( I wanted self striping) and I was pleased at the feel and fiber content for the price.

..and finally..the tada!

They feel wonderful!

I'm leaving you with our family Bible memory verse for  the week

"Come to me all who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28

Rest....and have a fine day...all day long