A Little Christmas Decorating Going On Here In Alabama!

 The ceramic tree is out for Christmas!  My grandmother made this years ago. I love it.  It was the first thing I got out and sat up in the craft room.

 Next tree put out is the cross stitch tree. I always put it on the table. No one eats at our table. It is only DH and me so, we eat in the living room in front of the TV. The place mats my mom made back in the late 70's or early 80's. The crystal is from Princess House. I have had them for about 28 years. It is the Fantasia Christmas sets. They used to be in the china cabinet that now holds fabric..

 Next tree is the Christmas Tree. I have downsized my tree this year. I needed a smaller tree, but the rats in the shed decided this for me. They made my old lighted tree into a condo home to raise their young. They had moved in through the bags and made their nest with insulation we also had stored in the shed. The tree had its own pink snow all over it. So, it is now in the pile to go to the dump. This tree above is just fine.. I made the Santa and Mrs Claus back into 1996 and gave to my mom. They have come back home...

 Just a close up of the Ornament Tree. Ornaments that were made by me and many of internet friends.

 I just threw this together. I had 2 large twigs and the can I bought at the end of last year. The letter A came from Wally World.  I little bit of a snowy look for Alabama.

 Garland I got last year. Still working on the craft room.

Kitchen area is next. I am laughing as I look at this picture and type this post.  See the tree on the right? The one on the bar... There is usually two. I have lost a tree!  How do you lose a tree?  They are usually stored together.. I don't know how the 2 foot one got lost! Has anyone else ever had something stored and it just disappeared?  So the tree and mister reindeer are all along for Christmas. I hope 2 foot tree shows back up...
I love my lighted garland. My favorite thing to put up at Christmas.
 

 This is Baby kitty under/in the Christmas Tree.  He is such a little guy. I say guy... I am still checking him/she.  I have not idea.. he is still so little.  He only has 4 teeth... Willie Loomis is growing so much. I will get a picture of him soon. He is kind of put out by the new baby. I have to love and pet him a lot.  These cold nights we have been letting Willie stay inside.. We have a full size bed. I have not slept in about 4 nights. I ended up getting up last night putting them both out of the bedroom and closing the door.  Baby Kitty found the laundry basket and Willie went to his chair.  When I got up this morning, my lamp was turned over on the end table, one picture was in the floor, the other was turned over.. I think they had a party while we slept. 
I am not going to put all my Christmas decorations out this year. I am still having shoulder and elbow pain. Moving all those tubs out from Halloween and Thanksgiving and then moving all the Christmas into the house. Pain and stiffness has set in.
I am about finished with Donna's model. It is so great!  I can't wait till she shows it!!!  I should be sending it to her tomorrow or Friday.  I am waiting to stitch something from Michelle at Raspberry Rabbits. I can't wait to see what she has designed!!!

That is enough for today. Till Later.... while putting on shoes to go met hubby to eat Bar-B-Q!!!

Tap Tap Tap (pause) Is Anyone Here? (echo)

Just making sure someone is around to read my blog.  I figure everyone is out buying everything on their Christmas List.               I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Eve with the grands. Joshua loves Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. He made us a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Feast. We had popcorn, pretzels, buttered toast, and jelly beans, just like Charlie Brown did. We also watched the movie.

 Joshua preparing our plates for us. He would fix each one and bring it to the table, to us..

 Poppa showing off his plate of goodies. Yummy!

 Popcorn, Jelly Beans, Pretzels, and Buttered Toast.  Yum Yum!

 Zoe was so glad to get her plate. She loved the popcorn and jelly beans. 

And finally our chef Snoopy (aka) Josh !  He is so sweet!!

After that great CB Feast we met at my Aunt Judy's home on Thanksgiving. Uncle Don had the trailer hooked up behind the tractor. The kids all got to take a ride!

 Little kids and big kids!  You bring a tractor and trailer out and they pile on to ride!  They rode through all the pastures. This was the highlight of Thanksgiving!

Farmer Greene (aka) cousin Toby drove the tractor. Uncle Don is the farmer, Toby is a high school football coach.. But I think he looks natural on that tractor!!  lol
We had wonderful food prepared by all the family and a beautiful day to be thankful for, and for being together another year!  All I will say now is, where did I put that last piece of Butter Nut Cake... I know it's in that refrigerator somewhere..

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY

I hope everyone has a very blessed day!

I am very thankful for my family and my friends!



Just Call me .. That Old Cat Lady!!!

 Number two Kitty added to our home.  I don't know if it is a girl or boy yet.. It is so little.  I think it is a boy... but, I am not going to even call it yet..   After Willie Loomis being called a girl for a while and getting a complex about it.  Willie Loomis is the best hunter we have ever had. After 3 weeks of catching and releasing chipmunks in the house.. We have been chipmunk free for about 2 weeks now.. Gives a new meaning to the phase Catch and Release!
Baby Kitty is another rescued furbaby. It's mother had been walking about town with kittens following her.  My mom pulls up Monday at work and hears a kitten meowing in the bushes. She of course, has a tender heart like me. It's mother is nowhere around.... She finally gets someone to catch it for her. Takes it home with her overnight. Brings it to my house the next morning.. This is where the story gets funny.. On Baby Kitty's ride to it's new home.. He breaks free of his box.. (He is so tiny)  She gets to my house.. I go out to meet her to see the Baby.. Well, Baby is nowhere to be found.. What!  Then we hear it meow.. Guess where Baby Kitty decided to sit on his ride to his new home?  Did anyone guess the DASH?   Yep, Baby Kitty decided it would ride in the dash. It is so little, just climbed up in the dash. We called kitty, kitty till we were about to leave for mom's appointment.  I had taken a couple of pieces of the dash out.. Still could not find it.. I happen to see a panel that you can remove on the driver's side of the dash.. Fuse box is behind the panel. I popped it off and I got a look for the first time at our new family member... It happened to be his butt end.  I reached in a pulled him out and welcomed him home.... He then went to his room aka bathroom till we got back..
So, I am having to ate my words about not getting any more pets after Rebel died.. So far.... 2 cats and 0 dogs.  I forgot to tell y'all  that our Sli baby cat, who's picture is on the sidebar. She was 19 years old when she passed away.. She came from the same place. Mom heard her meowing from a work truck.. Someone had put her in the back in a box and left her..

I have been cooking for Thanksgiving today.. Baby Kitty has adopted me as MOTHER.. Anytime I get out of it's sight.. All kinds of louding meowing starts up.. Mom told me to put it in the pocket of my apron and go about my cleaning and cooking.. lol  Right now as I am typing this, It is sound asleep on my chest. It wants to hear my heartbeat I think.. It will only lay on my chest..
Baby Kitty is fluffy.. I think it's mom didn't get around to showing how to wash him fur.. lol  He washes his feet all the time.. I told him that he needed to wash his face and other body parts.. That they are looking fly away furry,or he is just having a bad hair day...
Back to Willie Loomis.. he is trying so hard to be friends with Baby Kitty.  He touches Baby Kitty paws so sweetly.. I think he just wants a friend to play with.. Baby Kitty does the sideways jumping. They did play together for awhile this morning.. Then Willie Loomis wanted back outside.
Well, back to cooking some Thanksgiving items.. Hard to get in the mood here in Alabama. In the mid 70's today.  I had to open the door earlier to cool off.  It is to be in the 70's again tomorrow. But, the day of the Alabama and Auburn game they are saying at half time it will be in the 40's with wind blowing at 15 to 20 miles an hour.. I will watch from the recliner with stitching in my hand! 

Everyone have a wonderful, safe and blessed Thanksgiving!

 

Nothing Much Going On......

I just wanted to thank everyone for the kind comments on the Prairie Moon I stitched. I have the other in a box ready for next year. I have not been doing much stitching. I spent all last week getting ready for the garage sale we had Friday and yesterday. It was a great success!  I have some money for new stitching supplies!! 

I have been stitching on a model for Donna at By The Bay. It is so great!!!  Should have it done soon..

Well, as I said... Not much

Till Later.....

Christmas Music and Thanksgiving

I am sitting in my stitching chair. Needle is flying through fabric. The temperature is dropping outside. Skies are gray from the rain this morning. I am listening to Sounds Of The Season channel on my TV. They play holiday music 24-7. Christmas Music at its finest! 
I was reading the 123 Stitching Message Board and someone had asked what everyone was doing for the Thanksgiving Holiday. I was reading some answers. Some are staying at home by themselves. Some are going out to eat. Some have their kids come in and bring friends from college. Some get together with their grown children and grand kids.  Then, you have my family.....
I think we are an unusual bunch. We have a get together at my aunt's beautifully decorated home. When I say WE... I mean around 40 of us. Mom, brother and his family, daughter and her family, my grand kids, aunts, uncles, cousins, cousin's kids, and anyone else that shows up.... One big Clark Griswold Family!  lol 
We only get this many together one time a year.  I think I have discovered why... LOUD!  lol 
But I love it! My aunt Judy is the Martha Stewart of Festive Holidays. Everything is beautiful and I know she wears herself out getting everything ready for us!  Thank You Aunt Judy! 
I was thinking about some that have no one to enjoy the holidays with.  Our family used to get together for all Holidays.  We no longer get together for The 4th, Easter, and Christmas. Everyone gets together with there own families for these holidays.  
I have been sitting here thinking what my little family will be doing for Christmas. My daughter will be at her home with the babies for Santa morning. I will stop thinking about it and first enjoy Thanksgiving. 
Just got off the phone with Mom.. We will be going to Cracker Barrel to eat Christmas Day. Sounds like a plan to me. No cooking and no mess!  Problem solved.
I need to get back to stitching. Till Later.... 

Framed Picture!

This is the framed PM - House That Jacks Built II.  I hand painted the mat. I bought it at Wally World. It was one that was for a 11 x 14 frame and the mat was for 8 x 10. I kind of mixed a lavender with a darker purple. Kind of washed the mat. Then I painted the other one under it around the edge with black paint.  Sorry for the glare, I took the picture last night. It is in the tub packed up today. 
I forgot to mention I was at the eye doctor Tuesday with a messed up eye ball. Red and scratchy. I couldn't blink at all, it was hurting so bad. I thought I had something in it. Felt like sand.. Dr Robby said I had a bacterial infection in my eye. They put some deaden drops in the eye and gave me a prescription for eye drops.  I tell you those eye drops for the pain are wonderful, the instant they put them in, No Pain!  The eye is alot better today but the other is starting to hurt. I will put some drops in it too. He said that might happen.  I have done more stitching and finishing with a bloodshot eyeball then I do normally.  lol 
I did finish the Fall Squared as a stand up cube. I just have not taken a picture of it.. I will try to do that tomorrow.  Till Later....

Brrrrrrrrr and Crafting!

 Brrrrrr, It was cold this morning!  I have been in the Sun room/Craft room all day. This is what I have been doing! I stitched the Lizzie Kate - Fall Squared and now I am making it into a stand up cube.  That print is the backing and I am still changing the trim colors around.

 This chart is from Brenda/With Thy Needle and Thread. It is called Woodland Frosty. I stitched it on 22 Count Ariosa fabric using the DMC colors.

He has the cutest smile!   I just put that trim around his neck to keep him warm till I get some wool to make him a scarf.

This is my pile of stitching to make into something on the sewing machine. My goal is to empty the tub of finished stitching and do something with it! I still have more in the tub to frame.

This is what I am stitching now. Pineberry Lane - Beloved Companion Sampler. I am stitching it for Hubby for Christmas. It will be to remember Rebel by. Not that we have forgot her. She is still missed everyday. I think it is a good start. Just started stitching last night. I think it will be fast, expect maybe for that over one line I am working on now... lol This is what it will look like finished.

I hope everyone is staying warm!  I hope to have some stuff finished to show tomorrow.  I also got a project to stitch for Donna at By The Bay Designs.. I will start on that tonight!  It is a great one!  That is all I can say!!! 
Till Later....

The Big Finish!!!

 Prairie Moon - House That Jack Built II

Linen - 40 ct Silkweaver Heritage

Floss - Sullivan's 45432,45174, and Black

 

I added my initials in between the 2 roof lines (AT). I also added the date completed above beside the two pumpkins.  I have yet to decide if I will frame or make it into a quilted piece for my stand.
I will be going through the frame tub tonight...
I have so enjoyed stitching this with Denise. This was my first SAL, it will not be my last... Thank you Denise for a wonderful experience, for the friendship and for inviting me to stitching along with you!
I have started a new project. It should be a fast one... I started the Lizzie Kate Fall Squared that I bought on my shopping with Pam.
I am not using the called for colors. Why?  I didn't have them.. I am trying to use up GA and Weeks that I have had for a while.. Pam, I am using some of that Dried Thyme!   lol  I have about 4 cards of Dried Thyme..
I will close for now... Till Later....
 

MEETING A GREAT FELLOW BLOGGER AND SHOPPING, WHAT COULD BE BETTER!

We have been trying to get together for a while now.. and we finally did Friday!  That would be me and Pam of http://confessionsofasouthernstitcher.blogspot.com/
Pam was nice enough to let me leave my car at her house.  She is so nice and welcoming. Her home is full of cross stitch. Beautiful each one of them. I was drooling while looking... lol  We headed up to Decatur Alabama to The Cross Stitch Peddler. I have not been to a cross stitch shop since Thread Bear closed in Vestavia-Birmingham about 15 years ago. I have been ordering online since then. I did make it to Dixie Darling in Pigeon Forge on vacation a couple of years ago.  I was in Heaven in the Cross Stitch Peddle!  lol  Thank You Pam so much for inviting me!  I forgot to get a picture of us!!!
I came away with some great charts and linen. I told myself that I was only going to buy Christmas designs. I did great sticking to that... I did buy one fall.  But... boy, could I have blown some major bucks on Halloween. This is what I got....

 Pam had stitched the Heart In Hand Spring Fobs. Instead of a needle row, she stitched hers as a needle book. To Cute!! I just had to buy that pattern, after I seen hers.  lol  I got Lizzie Kate's - Joy To The World, CCN - Ornamental Joy, Scarlett House - No Quitter, Heartstring Samplery - Baby It's Cold Outside, Bent Creek's Bucky The Snowman, and Lizzie Kate's Fall Squared. I bought the Gingham for that chart in Pigeon Forge years ago. They did not have the chart at that time..

 I got that brownish linen called Milk Chocolate for the Lizzie Kate ornaments of 2011 & 2012. The raw linen on the right has sparkles in it. I am going to stitch Bucky on it. They had the model in the store and it was so cute!!! Of course.. I had to get the buttons for the 2010 snowman by LK.  That gingham piece was calling my name!  I was asked what is am going to stitch on it.. I don't know I said, I just like it!!  You, stitchers know what I am talking about. We like it, we buy it! Don't have to have anything to stitch on it at the moment... lol

I had stitched this Be Mine about 10 years ago. I took it out of it's frame. I think I will make a pillow out of it. I stored it in a box and somehow, the original button was broken and I now find a new one!  Have I sewn it on yet? nope.. I have been looking at my stash all night, last night!  I think Pam got tickled at me in the car, when I told her How excited I was to be going to a shop!!  lol I was like a child in a Toy Store!
After shopping we stopped in this neat coffee shop that had a great Chicken Salad sandwich!  I don't think I stopped talking the whole time.
Pam, I want you to know I really had a great time and thank you for showing this shop to me!  If she will ride with me.. (after I talked her ears off...) We can go back for their Super Bowl Sunday Sale. By then, I know I will be buying some Halloween!!!
I did have a great Friday. I have been stitching on PM - Jacks House. I am stitching down the home stretch!!!  Should have a finished picture for Monday! 

PRAYERS still going out for my friends that were effected by Sandy!