I Love To Read and Other Excuses

I know, you thought that I would be posting more now that tax season is over.  Well, I did too.  However I find myself enthralled each morning by my Nook instead of by my needle.  Then, when I come home each night, I find that Hubby has things that he wants to do together......like take the dog for a walk or make a trip to Lowes for some tomato plants.  Of course, there is also my constant struggle with the normal cleaning of the kitchen and the washing of clothes.  Its a wonder I have even made it to work some days!

I admit, that while I've made plenty of excuses, I have managed to get a needle in.  However, I can't show my finish quite yet.  First of all it is not "finished" and second of all it is for my BBD exchange.  I need to hurry up and get moving since I have to send it off by Saturday.

Hey.......wait.......listen.......do you hear that?  My Nook is calling my name again!

Until next time, Happy Stitching!

Oops, I Did It Again!

Yes, I'm feeling a little like Brittany Spears today because "I did it again".  What did I do you ask?

Well, as if I don't have enough to do this year with the Crazy January Challenge and my various exchanges, I've gone and joined another club.......

"Birds of a Feather" Mystery Sampler Club

 (Maggee, it was all your fault....I wasn't going to join until you said that you joined.  I mean really, I have to blame it on someone!)

Oh, yes, I caved.  I joined in on the With Thy Needle & Thread summer stitch-a-long.........check it out here if you haven't seen it already.  It was way too easy.  I just called my favorite shop, The Attic, and placed my order.  I hate it when things are that easy!

Happy Stitching!

TKO

I know it has been awhile since you have seen any productive stitching from me.  So, here's my technical knock out........

Lizzie*Kate's 2008 Flip It Series

After all, I'm technically past the halfway point and well on my way to another 2011 Crazy January Challenge finish.

Happy Stitching!

Coming Up For Air

I have to say, this has been quite a tax season.  I was busy from mid-January right down to the extended deadline of April 18th.  It is amazing how "normal life" tends to get put on hold for those three months.  There is so much that I need to catch up on.  However, I'm not rushing into anything........if it waited three months, it can wait a few more days!

Our office closed on Tuesday to give us a break, so I spent the well deserved day off with my husband.  We decided to make a short trip to Chincoteague Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  I had such a nice time!  We got to visit several Antique Stores along the way before we made it to the Wildlife Refuge on the island.  Unfortunately, it was quite overcast, so these are very crappy snappies.....

This was my very first visit to Chincoteague.  It is something I've been wanting to do for quite awhile.  The island was pretty much in the preparation stage for the summer tourists, so there wasn't much open.  That didn't matter to me.  I just loved being able to head to the refuge in search of the famous Chincoteague Ponies.

Each year, sometime in July, healthy ponies are selected to swim across the Assateague Channel and are auctioned off.  The proceeds from the sales go to the local fire department.  This event is quite famous and has been going on since 1925.  You can read all about it here.  Maybe one day I will brave the crowds......or maybe I will just head back on a sunnier day.

Of course, now that things have calmed down, I'll get back to stitching and blogging on a more regular basis.  Stay tuned.........I've got my needle revved up and it should be smoking in no time!

Happy Stitching!

iPhone or Droid

That is the question that I've been asking myself lately.  You see, my Verizon account is up for its two year renewal.  I always said that once I was up for renewal that I was going to get an iPhone.  Of course, that was before the Droid craze came on strong.  I've been questioning everyone AND my brother. (He is a techie, but without the formal education.)  Would you believe that the consensus pointed to a new Droid instead of the iPhone?  I knew this was going to be tough!

So, yesterday afternoon Hubby and I headed to Best Buy to ask the gurus the ultimate question.  Mind you, I was just looking and had now intentions of buying any phone until next week.  Long story endless, we ended up at the Verizon store.  (Afterall, I had a $30 credit that I didn't want to waste.)  Now I'm blogging to you from my new HTC Thunderbolt! (Guess I will have to wait a little longer for my sewing machine now.....oh well!)

Yes, I know......but it was Hubby's fault.  He sucked me into the excitement of a new phone.  Boy, I'm glad he did.  I think I'm going to LOVE this thing!

Oh,  and to make this girl even happier........only one more week of tax season!   Woo hoo!

Happy sitching everyone!  Have a great week!

Two More Weeks and CJC #2

That's right fellow stitchers.....only two more weeks until I am free for another year.  Yes, I know that I've been griping about it constantly this year, but this just seems to have been an odd year.  So many issues and so little time to deal with them all! 

Too boot, today is going to be in the low 80's with about 45% humidity!  (This is about 20 degrees warmer than the usual average this time of year.)  I think that mother nature is teasing all of us today with a taste of early summer.  This is one of those days that I wish the office had windows that opened.

In other news, I finished my second piece in the 2011 Crazy January Challenge.  (Now there is only thirteen more to go!)

Rose Garden by BBD
28 ct Lt. Examplar by Lakeside Linen
Belle Soie Rosebud by Crescent Colours

A close up....

This one was a fun stitch and I will be stitching it again.....in the same color.  I had intended this one for another purpose, but as I began stitching on it I realized that I must do it again in honor of my Grandmother.  So, after I finish up some exchange stitching, this bad boy is going back into this summer's rotation!

Happy Stitching!

Exchange Stitching and a Thank You

Well, it's another gloomy rainy Saturday filled with tax returns........YUCK!  My only saving grace is that I will get to spend tomorrow with a couple of my stitching buddies instead of being stuck at work.  Boy, April 18th can't get here soon enough!

In other good news, my exchange from Friends Stitching Through the Seasons arrived.  I was so anxious to find out who my partner would be for the year.  I was so excited to get this wonderful package from Diane over at Nan's Needlework Notions.  She blessed me with a wonderful assortment of goodies.....and this is just the first one of the year.  I can't wait for the summer exchange!

Isn't this just the cutest little chic that you have ever seen?

You've got to love the bunny too.....

For my part of the Friends Exchange, I sent a little something over to Faye at Carolina Stitcher.  She was so sweet to say that it was finished perfectly.  Compared to her finishing, I've got a long way to go.  But, a girl has to start somewhere!  Anyway, here's a picture of what I sent her.....(you can also check out her post as well.)

Needles & Pins by Raise the Roof

Lastly, I would like to extend the biggest, most heartfelt thank you to a fellow blogger and wonderful lady........Ma Teakettle.  Remember a few posts ago when I was whining about not having any WDW Collards for my L*K Flip It and that I would have to wait until after April 18th to go to the Needlework Shop?  Well, Ma, being the generous person that she is, emailed me to let me know that she had not one, but all three skeins of Collards in the same dye lot and that they had my name on them!  They arrived the day before yesterday accompanied by three cute little gummy bunnies.  Boy, am I a lucky girl.  This means that I can continue sooner rather than later.  Now I won't have to try to come up with something else to work on tomorrow.  Thanks again Ma!  You are the best!

Happy Stitching!