what it is.....

Pumpkin Pie, mmmmm........

I felt so bad about wanting to use up the ingredients (the evaporated milk, pumpkin and crust) before they expired. Plus who bakes at high heat for over an hour during the summer anyway?

Mmmm, my favorite dessert in the whole world! Yes- even more than chocolate.

I detest making pie crust from scratch. I would rather watch grass grow. But I make the filling that way.

What I can't figure out is how sometimes it cracks in the middle and other times it doesn't. *shrug

It was good.

name this pic

I am in a weird mood. I had my first happy dance and since it's an exchange item, I can't post pics or yack about it. So, I think I'll do this.

Do you know what this is? I used that handy macro button on my camera.

******************************
Oh I nearly forgot! I bought both sets of Satin floss, the boxed sets I mean, at AC Moore yesterday. They are nice and bright. I haven't taken them out of the boxes yet to see what patterns came with them. I think they were $9.99 a box.

We (Knitty Kitty) and I popped in to Michaels after leaving AC Moore and they didn't have any of the Satins. Just rayons in their plastic covers. I walked out of Michaels with a "25% off your entire order "coupon. Unused. Nothing spoke to me.

Plus I had the satins, a smaller crochet hook, a thingie for my sister, Thread Heaven ( been wanting that too), and the shadow box frame (40%off on sale) from AC Moore.

Yes!

Technically, it's Thursday.

Just a note about the Flossmoms essay for all you flosskids out there. Don't let the word "essay" scare you. Think from the heart and write accordingly...... ;) It's not the length or fancy wording that's being judged. If it's one line, that's okay. If it's more, even better. What ever you need to use to say what you feel.



Spring time! I forgot to write down the exact date I heard the lovely music of those little spring peepers but they have been singing their little hearts out.


And about those darn birds...
I sent another email and got a response. Not the one I wanted naturally, but a polite response:

Dear Angela,

Thank you for your inquiry. However, I have checked our records and find the item you are requesting has been discontinued and is no longer available. Our records also indicate that our stock has been depleted. I'm sorry, but we do not maintain a referral list for other sources.

Thank you for your understanding.

*name removed* then the contact info.

Looks as if I am at the mercy of eBay.

Flosskids Contest!

This came as a surprise to me, but there is an essay contest for flosskids to enter and write about their flossmoms. The lucky entry gets a gift certificate for their mom and themselves! So, flosskids you can Enter here!

Some of the details:

"Here in the US, Mother's Day is celebrated on Sunday, May 11th.

Take a moment and enter your FlossMom for a chance to win a $15 gift certificate at PatternsOnline.com for her - and a $10 gift certificate for yourself!

Email us at flossmoms@gmail.com with subject "Mother's Day Entry."
Include the following information:
1. Your EMS Name and your email address
2. Your FLOSSMOM's EMS Name
3. Why you think YOUR FlossMom should be our winner.

Note: Only ONE email accepted per match up. (so 1 per child) If a mom has multiple children they each can send in an entry. (So if a mom has five floss kids, they can each submit one entry for a total of 5 entries for the one mom - so get your siblings to enter as well!)

All entries must be received by Midnight, CST on Friday, May 9th. Winner will be chosen by my husband, someone who knows noone and will not be biased. The better the "essay" - the better your chances. The winning "essay" WILL be posted so keep that in mind when entering. "

interesting take

DMC's newsletters might be getting a little more interesting.
There was a free pattern of one of the squares of the Stitchopoly Game they have put out. The "Stitch-opoly Diva of Stitching, Emma Broidery™" is mentioned (news to me!) and the design tied in to the game, being one of the squares you can land on. It's cute. A butterfly design.

I think I need to see first hand how those Satin threads feel.
You believe me, don't you?
Looks as though they may have just renamed the rayons, which I love, though they jump while you stitch with them if you go too fast, but they feel like heaven through your fingers. Pretty.

It's a sickness. Has to be!

I had won a special drawing (also a great tutorial) over to Outi's site for a Pendibulle.

I pulled the puffy envelope (have I mentioned how much I LOVE puffy envelopes?) from the mail box and brought it inside, setting in on the kitchen table.
I didn't open it for hours.
Yes, hours!
I have realized this system for getting things done. You know: bills need to be paid, dinner made, laundry folded, blah blah blah.. and the only way I can get these things done when fun stuff come in the mail (this includes my issues of World of Cross Stitch and Cross Stitcher) is not opening them until such-and-such is completed. Then I sit in a comfy place, this time being right at the table, and open those lovely treats.

I took the pictures right away but didn't take them out of the camera until just now. Sorry for the delay.


The Pendibulle is so nice. :) And look, what is that? A pattern too! "Tribe #1" -from Lady P of Periphaeria Designs herself! And a stunning post card with a snowy scene of Finland.


Thank you Outi!

new!

We have a new Blogger! AnnieB, or AnnieBebop, has a new blog called, "Annie Bebop's Coloring Book". She has loaded pics and everything, including one of her latest Comfort Dolls, and an exchange needlebook and goodies she had sent out.

seeing double

Thank you so much, Aury! I couldn't believe you even found the picture! I was even thrilled at seeing the red print stating that it was out of stock. That's what "contact us" is for! hee hee!
When I went to the site I thought how cool it was set up just like Herrshner's. Then I clicked the "contact us". Um, the phone number, address... yup, it's the same info! *chuckles.
Guess the quest for the cute little red birds is not done!

It's sad I guess. Having this "thing" for cute, little fat birds.

Jingle Birds hunt

Okay, I have posted at EMS and a friend posted for me at 123 Stitch.....

I am on a mission to get this chart (pictured)

Jingle Birds

Seems it was at Herrschner's but they no longer carry it. It was a kit on plastic canvas. I plan to do it on fabric I think, but anywho....
The only other source or name we have been able to come up with is Jingle Birds.
A UK site has a larger pattern, but it's a bit more than I would like to pay. (below)
I was hoping a US source, of either, would be doable.
So, if anyone knows of any shop or person willing to part with this design, either of them really, give me a holler. We'll talk. I have a considerable stash of things I could trade.

yes I have a thing for fat little birds

show time?

I got to talk with Michelle Lutzen, the designer and owner of Stitchy Kitty today! Honestly, I don't know what possessed me to pick up the phone and call, but, I did! I was expecting to get the answering machine. Then I would have left a nice, "I bought your Snowman Trio design and just love it", message. But I got to talk with her about everything wonderful in cross stitching.

Ms. Lutzen mentioned the Celebration of Needlework Show in Nashua, New Hampshire. She said she signs all of the charts she sells there. (She'll be there Friday and Saturday.) I had heard a smidge about the show but hadn't paid much attention to it since I thought it would be too far away.
It's not.

*gears are turning*

I think I might try to ask Knitty Kitty if she'd like to go on a little day trip!

To see stacks of goodies, from shops... the threads.... the fabric... Mmmmmm....

? Quin's

Has anyone ever used Quin's? If so, what did you think?
I am looking to shed some stash but keep hearing worse and worse things about eBay. Had thought about posting a Market Booth at SanMan Originals, but I want to do this is simply as possible, hopefully not losing any money, and reducing stash.
I have a stack of very nice patterns I just will not do.
Any thoughts?

Stitch'n... Eat?

We had our Stitch'n Bitch last night. I had planned on working on a project- with everything I needed in hand, those soft pretzels with cheddar cheese (*drooling, one of my all time bad-for-me-snack), a couple of "cool beverages" and off I went to the neighbor's. I walked up , it felt wonderful. The snow is melting quite well in most places. Still some areas in people's yards with two feet or so, but in my yard we just have a "lake".
Anyways- I was the second person to arrive at S.'s house and the other girls came along after. What a spread of food we had! I think we all over did it a bit, it's just been so long since we've had a stitch night. We had it covered: veggies with dip, chips with dip, mozzarella cheese sticks (YUM!), strawberries, grapes, potato skins.... I know I am missing a few things.
For me it was Stitch'n Eat. I never touched my project. The other girls noticed. But I was having a great time talking, catching up really. We haven't seen one of our "members" since just after Christmas. So many things can happen in such a short time!


Oh how my brain and body needed that.
We are set up for next Tuesday at B.'s house.
Can't wait.

button, button, I didn't order the buttons....

I didn't know that the Snowman Trio uses buttons for the design. Sheesh, how did I miss that? So I should have ordered this set. I think I will wait and see if the mittens are charted in stitches, if they are, I'll just stitch them; otherwise I will have to order them. Grrrr.

(I woke up at 6am. Who does that without an alarm clock on a Sunday morning?)

I have my seed tray. Soil. My "Spring Fever brain".... I am going to start some veggies (I'll list those in detail later), geraniums and some sunflowers. Sunflowers really have a wow factor, don't you think? It's worth seeing the kids' faces. I keep wanting to do snapdragons, maybe I will this year. Not sure when those can go outdoors here in Maine.
I love starting seeds, even if I end of giving everything away! It's the sprout popping through the soil that makes me so happy. If we were rich I would have a greenhouse and a large sun room filled with plants. Maybe if I save my pennies I could do that around retirement ;) .
The tomatoes are a first for me to start. Each year our friend R. has an organic garden. It's his most favorite hobby. He shares the cucumbers, tomatoes,lettuce, cantaloupes, beets and tons of other things with us. We help in giving him our compost year round (an intricate set up utilizing the freezer and buckets-with lids). Plus, last year I started some seeds for him- just sunflowers- nothing carrying real importance in our stomachs. This year I am turning it up a notch. Though I think he understands that I don't want to waste any of those expensive seeds. So what I am doing is still going to help him out, plus we'll have some tomatoes for us to grow in containers this year. We are up to our ears in clay here, so containers are the way to go for us.
~I will probably take progress pics. :)

nothing like stash to cheer a person up.

Not that I needed the cheering, but excuses are that. Excuses.
Guess what I ordered? Yup. Some adorable, fat little birds. Pamela always sends a nice confirmation email. It's great to know the order was received and it will be on its way, soon.

I also ordered a few other things at 1-2-3 Stitch!

• Poppy, by Nora Corbett, for my Flosskid Val aka "Poppy"
• a nice 30 x 36 piece of White Monaco, also for Val. According to 123 Stitch they are selling huge pieces of the stuff. People ordering 5 yards at a time, then calling and asking if they have two more! So she may end up sending out the other items and then the fabric later, once it's in.
• Mill Hill Snowflake charms, for me. (They might work with the next item I had been watching come to life on Kim's blog.)
• Snowman Trio
• and another thing I can't mention here, because she reads my blog. Just a little something-something. May be an out-of-the-blue RAK, or a birthday present. We'll see....

I keep thinking I want to have a stash exchange. Will have to think on it.

Excedrin update

Thank you for such nice comments and well wishes. It really has helped. :) I have only a dull headache now, and no fever. I think I managed to fight off whatever was getting to me.

but to backtrack:
Once DH had gotten home later that afternoon, I ran out to Hannaford to get some much needed Excedrin (generic this time) and return the recalled yogurt. Too bad too, it is one of my favorite flavors of yogurt. Even in the store I was a locked up mess from the neck up. I was speaking softly, or at least as softly as I could in a loud environment. As soon as I got home I took the excedrin and laid low. I was fever free the remainder of the day too, which helped a great deal. Otherwise DH would have gone to the store for me. (It was partly guilt too, just a few days before I had him return the cantaloupes which were recalled. Feel sort of bad having him do that again.)

The reason why I waited= we are down to one car. DH's car is eating coolant so he's been taking the van to work and I have been carless. Just need to drop the car off at the garage and find out what's happening. I think that's why it has sat in the driveway so long- over a week. We both have a hunch it's big and expensive. And we don't live in an area that's handy to public transportation.

Some more good news. I have been watching the change in the yard. Snow slowly melting away. Birds moving about with more energy, singing like crazy.
Did I mention the pie on my table cooling? Yes, there's a pumpkin pie on my table. Once it has cooled enough I will devour it. If the kids are lucky, I may share a little.

I am in dire need of ink and paper. I must print off the The First Robin Of Spring (SAL) from Pamela Kellogg, and the crazy quilting seam treatment book that I already bought too. ASAP! Naturally I spotted something else there that I want. I loves the fat birds! Yup, "I needs this".

Ouch!

I am battling "something" right now. I have had an off and on headache for a couple weeks now, the kind that feels like a cold is coming on. I'd get the tickley scratch in the throat, sneeze a bit, then feel better.
Well last night the headache went beyond what I could cope with. I had been able to deal with it all day, but after dinner I was beaten. I was a heap on the couch with hot packs on my head and neck, the ibuprofen wasn't touching it. I hadn't made the connection then that I think I had a fever too- I had the teeth chattering shivers. That's where I stayed all night. This morning I woke up with it. The same intense headache and a low fever. Luckily Excedrin took care of it. Bad news. I took the last of it. Right now I feel pretty good. I can look, walk around and move. Keep me in your thoughts..... so if you don't hear from me again for a little while, you'll know why.
*grumble