delta sucks

Sorry, but I’m just so upset!! Niek and I booked our vacation to Maine awhile ago and have made all the arrangements that go with it (lodging for the dog, care for the other pets, etc.) and my family in the US has been busy making their plans to fit with our schedule … and today the travel agency informed us that Delta had cancelled our flight. It was a fully-booked flight, for heaven’s sake, how can they cancel it? Well, they have. And there’s nothing else in our original time frame that isn’t a king’s ransom more in costs than our original flight (which was already more expensive than buying a car!). We’re now trying to see if we can’t get something earlier, but it doesn’t look promising. I’m so upset, I could just cry. I haven’t seen my parents in two years!!

But to try to give a positive spin to today’s entry, I can happily announce that two more unbirthday gifts arrived today.

Lesley’s Hush Little Bunny doorknocker arrived:

And Tanya’s sampler-style pincushion arrived:

I was pretty happy with how the finishing turned out on both of these.

I’ll keep you posted regarding our hoped-for trip to Maine.

strolling through the flowers

Since it’s too darn cold for real flowers to grow right now, I’m stitching some. This is a progress picture of Santa’s Winter Garden, by Schoolroom Samplings, stitched on a mystery evenweave from Silkweaver using my choice of fibers. It’s a fun stitch so far.

This has been a quiet weekend. We drove by a few houses yesterday to see them from the outside and get an idea of the neighborhood. Encountered one instance of seriously creative photography on the part of the listing real estate agency – if the online pictures were taken more recently than 2 years ago, I will eat my hat. The kids just played and had fun today while Niek and I kind of rattled around. I’ve been battling a head cold and sinus infection for several days now, and today I felt like a boxer who was resting between rounds. LOL.

Arden and Spin know how to spend a Sunday evening, don’t you agree?

lookin’ good!

I talked to Oma today! And I’m so glad to say she’s sounding a lot better then she has been. Hooray!! Thank you all so very, very much for your sympathy and support. I hope she’ll be home soon, and that she’ll be well ready to care for herself as well as she has done for all these many years.

And thanks for the great comments about Rowen’s stage debut! She absolutely loved it, and went around reciting her line and humming the song all day. We’ve got a little actress on our hands – although we’ve suspected as much for some time!

I finished my heart this morning. And I stitched exactly one tiny tree on my newest project, but you’ll have to wait to see that till there’s a bit more to show. I’m pretty happy with the heart, though.

This is “Valentine’s Heart 2008″ from Kristen Herbert’s group Dragonfly Dreams sitched on a mystery piece of linen using HDF 1339. It was a fun stitch! I’m counting it as my February Bride’s Tree SAL submission.

Wishing you a great weekend!!

the beauty of small things

There is something so poignant and fleeting about the beauty of small things, isn’t there? Today’s small things are my kids and a couple of stitching projects …

Rowen took part in her first school play today. She was a crocus. She started off as a bulb, laying on the stage, and as the kids sang a song about springtime flowers, she ‘grew’ as you can see in this picture. To paraphrase Dr. Seuss, my heart grew three sizes this day.

Once home, the kids alternated between fighting like two cats in a bag, and being the ultimate cuddle bunnies. They’re still trying to work out the arrangement as I type this. Here they are in a peaceful moment.

Arden has almost only peaceful moments, thank the heavens. I keep thinking he cannot possibly get any more cute than he is, and then … he does!

I finished my wee angel and stuffed her with lavender and sent her to her real mama. Hopefully Cathi’s mom will find some comfort and strength in this tiny angel … I certainly tried to fill her to the brim with all things good. Cathi, best wishes for your mom’s full recovery! (The pattern is from Victoria’s Sampler, the fabric is 32 ct. Blue Spruce, and I used my own choice of fibers and beads.)

And lastly, a beautiful heart offered for free in February by Kristine Herber from the Dragonfly Stitches group. I actually started this in February for the Bride’s Tree SAL, but then I got very (very!) busy with my unbirthday gifts. It’s nice to pick this up again. I’m stitching it on a mystery linen that I liked the color of, using HDF Phlox 1339.

Thank you so much for the wonderfully kind things you’ve said about the unbirthday gifts that have been received so far. I was a bit proud of myself for stitching and finishing all 13 in just about 6 weeks’ time – and getting them all posted (always a difficult part of the process for me). Hopefully the rest of the gifts will arrive at their new homes very soon, and hopefully everyone will like them.

Several people have asked about Niek’s Oma, and I’m sorry to say she’s not doing well. In addition to being on oxygen, she’s also on a liquid diet and is quite weak. Please think good thoughts for her.

Wishing one and all a lovely weekend!!

going postal

It would seem that my luck with the post has turned the corner - although Coral in South Africa still hasn’t received the birthday gift I mailed to her ages ago (hopefully her unbirthday gift will fare better), other items have been turning up in different parts of the world in a more timely fashion. Phew!

Cathy received her seasonal exchange/birthday greeting packet. Becasue I goofed and sent her “spring” for two exchanges in a row, this time she got summer and autumn in one. LOL! I’ve stitched part of Song of Solomon from Midsummer Night Designs over one for the wee summer fob, and I’ve stitched a squirrel from The Needle’s Content for the autumn fob. The finishing for the squirrel was suggested by Annemiek, the designer, and without the instructions on her chart, I wouldn’t have been able to figure this out. I’ve seen this finish turning up on some French blogs lately – it must be suddenly in vogue.

Outi’s unbirthday gift has arrived. I was very intimidated about making something for a designer, but we’re both cat lovers so I hoped my little kitty & birdie cushion, done in a prim style, would give her a smile. Luckily, it did. The design is from The Drawn Thread. This was one of the ones I didn’t photograph before sending out, so I’ve stolen Outi’s picture. It was also the only unbirthday gift that Niek really wanted to keep.

Helen’s unbirthday gift arrived and fortunately she liked it as much as I’d hoped. The delicacy of this design by Indigo Rose just said “Helen!” to me. Helen, Su, and their mum Veronica are such talented ladies that I was a little insecure about my finishing, but Helen assures me that her little floss fob is fine.

Chiloe’s unbirthday gift arrived. I wanted to make her something as cheery and bright as I imagine her to be. A Glory Bee design just hollered her name … but I have to admit that this was the design that met with my sewing machine mini-disaster (when I sewed and then cut through part of the design). I saved what could be saved, however, and made what I thought was quite the cute little door hanger from it, and was very pleased by the finished product. Again, this one got away without being photographed, but Chiloe got some nice pictures of it (and I borrowed one!).

Willeke’s was actually the first unbirthday gift to arrive and not only did I fail to photograph it, it was an original design by yours truly so it exists nowhere but in my drafty head. I’d noticed, while doing detective work in everyone’s blogs for the ‘ideal gift’ that Willeke also likes primitive stitchery. So I made her a hanging bird pinkeep. The finish was different-but-similar to that of Rachael’s.

For Rachael’s unbirthday gift, I had to go with a peacock, because I know how much she loves them. That purple linen was just irresistable! The peacock is from Peacocks 2, by The Workbasket. I had fun making a rather silly, colorful, mess of the finishing in hopes that it would make Rachael smile. It did, she tells me.

Although Annemarie had not received her unbirthday gift when we emailed last night, I know it must arrive today because of the reliability of the Dutch post within the country. Annemarie has a thing for mermaids, and I bet she thought I’d make her one – but I decided to veer off the path of predictability this time and instead made her this heart ornament, Friendship Sampler designed by The Needle’s Content. A Dutch design for a Dutch stitcher – now that’s got to be unexpected! LOL! My heart finishing is still not perfect, but … gosh, I sure try to make it perfect! I love this design, btw, and want to make it again to keep!

Yesterday wasn’t much to write home about when it comes to stitching. Niek and I took a peek at a much larger house over in his hometown, and after that appointment it was time to pick the kids up, and I was busy with them for the rest of the day. It is nice to have all the stitchy stuff organized and tidy (except those odd fibers that are still waiting to be put in their rightful place). I’ve enjoyed looking at all the lovely things that you’ve been stitching, though! What an industrious, talented bunch!

this snow bird is nesting

Well, the weird weather may have thrown everyone off balance, but I’ve discovered that in lieu of spring cleaning, I’m rather partial to winter nesting. Yesterday I was busy hauling furniture away from walls and out of corners and sticking the vacuum cleaner attachment into places it hasn’t seen in many a moon. When I’d licked the living room into shape (having done the kitchen just before Easter), I turned a critical eye to the mess of my ‘hobby corner’ where I store my patterns, floss, and fabrics downstairs. I did not take a before picture because that would’ve just been too humiliating. Suffice to say that the corner looked more like the end result of an avalanche. I couldn’t find anything and I was really out of sorts over the mess. There are still some flosses to be put away, but the patterns are once again all alphabetized, the freebies and working copies are over in their own place, and the linens are easy to access. I even spent a couple of hours last night sorting the freebies out according to subject/designer. Whew! Well worth the effort now to know where everything is. And speaking of freebies: Does anyone have the Workbasket Quaker monthly freebies for the months of June(thanks Karen!!), October and November?

(If anyone is wondering why I have a shocking nine folders full of freebies, it’s because my stash of them doubled when Ash gave me hers during one of her downsizing purges.) 

The weather continued to behave erratically. Here’s a picture snapped at the kids’ bedtime.

Now that the downstairs is reasonably tidy, perhaps I can settle into some stitching. A promising new start may be this design from Midsummer Night Designs, appearing in the current JCS issue. If I changed the colors a bit, it would be perfect for my mom. A big thank you to Sara for sending this to me!

Edited to add: We’ve heard that Niek’s Oma has been returned to the hospital, where she is on oxygen. Your positive thoughts for this remarkable woman are deeply appreciated.

the weather outside is frightful

But in here it’s so delightful. Well, that may be an exaggeration, but I did actually do some housework first thing this morning, so it’s at least a little closer to delightful. As soon as I’d beaten the dust bunnies into submission, I finished the stitching this bookmark for the Nordic Needle literacy action. The design is from a 1978 Danish magazine that Niek’s mom gave me awhile ago, and I’ve stitched it using DMC 4065 on a scrap of R&R Linen.

I think it’s the weather that’s been prompting me to try a bit harder to keep up with the housework. All that wintery whiteness makes me want to nest. LOL! Here’s the view up my street at 7 am this morning. Who’d ever guess it’s the end of March??

Thank you for your kind comments about Niek’s Oma. I’m afraid she really isn’t doing well. I’m very glad that we were able to spend a bit of time with her yesterday and I wish we lived close enough that I could go in regularly to chat and help her with her meals. Like many elderly people who’ve been ill, she’s not making much of an effort to feed herself and told me she’d eaten nothing but vanilla pudding with cream for the past couple of days. I took an antipasto salad with us, figuring she could pick out what tasted good to her, and indeed she did manage to eat a bit. I left enough with her for a couple of meals. Unfortunately, the 2 hour drive is just a little too much for me to manage during school hours and still leave time enough for emergencies like traffic jams (which occur more often than not) or flat tires (I am a flat-tire magnet, I swear).

Yesterday’s snowfall did eventually entice Rowen out, despite the cold wetness of it. I guess she couldn’t resist that clean white slate to leave her mark upon. LOL! Look at these rosy red cheeks she came in with.

Arden’s approach to this late-season winter weather is to hibernate through it, though.

And my approach, after doing a bit of housework, is to stitch or read my way through it. I’m reading The Sea by John Banville, an often beautifully written novel, but one that’s full of melancholy. Perhaps not the best choice for someone trying to keep spirits high. My stitching today will hopefully see the completion of the pocket angel, which I plan to stuff with lavender, and then I will either work a bit more on Rowen’s sampler or take Max’s sea dragon out. I really would like to get that done for his birthday.

I hope that whatever you do today, it will bring you joy!

weird weather

Not even in Maine is it common to play in the snow the day after Easter. Nicky couldn’t get his breakfast down fast enough so he could go out and play! It took Rowen a bit longer, as she’s not particularly fond of being cold.

Thank you all so much for your comments about my little biscornu! I managed to contact my exchange partner and she said she’d be happy to have a small one – size doesn’t matter to everyone. LOL! So that’s all packaged up together with some floss she’d mentioned liking, and I’ll include some chocolates for her kids. Phew!

That left me free to work on this little angel last night, guilt-free, that I’d promised for a friend’s mother who is undergoing health issues. A pocket angel, to cheer and encourage. I wish I’d asked about favorite colors, but I think the blues are soothing and it seems like most people like blue pretty well.

And speaking of cheering and encouraging, we are off to spend the day with Niek’s Oma. ‘Bye!

chocolate, bread, eggs and smiles

The order of our main Easter components will vary according to which of us you ask.

Our Easter actually begins the night before, when Niek makes one of his special paasstollen (Dutch Easter bread). The bread dough is sweet and contains dried fruits (we like raisins & cranberries in ours) and the center of the bread is filled with almond paste. It’s eaten sliced with butter (not margerine!) spread over it. Delicious!

For the kids, Easter begins in the morning, preferably after the sun has risen. Especially when Mommy was up at 5 am feeding Arden. To stall for time while the Easter Bunny’s special helper hides the eggs, the kids have to get dressed and brush their teeth – and occassionally additional stalling techniques are required before the backdoor closes and I know that our special Agent of Easter has finished his task. LOL. Then we tramp down the stairs, no doubt sounding like a troupe of monkeys and a herd of elephants, and the kids race outside to see who can find the most eggs. Nicky and Rowen are a little competitive, and Nicky takes this egg hunt as a personal challenge. After the eggs have been located, we scramble back inside to see what the Easter Bunny has left … and to stuff as much of it in tiny mouths as possible before Mom or Dad notice. And then, finally, we settle down at the table for a true breakfast feast

The rest of the day is usually spent having fun, begging for more chocolate, squabbling a bit as the sugar high wanes, and begging for more chocolate. This year it’s a little quieter, as Max is with his paternal grandparents for the long weekend. Tomorrow is also a holiday here, and we’ll spend the day with Niek’s Oma, who has been very ill with pneumonia. She’s been home from the hospital for over a week now, but remains weak and disspirited. We’re taking her lunch, as she’s not up to going out for a luncheon. Hopefully a direct dose of great-grandchildren will do much to energize and restore her to her usual disposition.

… and don’t forget stitching!

While Niek slaved over the Easter bread last night ( ) I completed my first-ever biscornu. It’s for an exchange, but now that I’ve finally attempted this finishing method, I know I’ll make more. What a cute little thing it is! The beautiful glass bead on the front was part of my birthday gift from Deb. The tulip shape is just so perfectly suited this ‘greenly growing’ pattern (from the 11/06 issue of TGOSM). I used a simple green glass bead on the back. After I was finished, I saw that there was actually a size requirement of 3 to 4 inches for this exchange – I’m afraid I overlooked that earlier, and mine is a wee 2+ inches, but I’m sending it anyway because it is just so cute. I think it’s much better suited for a pincushion at this size, than it would at a whopping 4 inches anyway.

Edited to add: The group mom at this exchange has contacted me to say that cuteness is not a factor, but size is. My biscornu is about 1/2 inch too small and therefore … unacceptable. While I am happy to keep it, I’m feeling rather frantic about where I’ll find the time to make a replacement and more than a little grumpy about fanatical rule-keeping. Next time, I’ll measure twice and stitch once, to alter a phrase borrowed from my carpenter friends. 

Assuming I get a chance to stitch today, I plan on finishing up a small gift for one more unbirthday gift. I’ve sent out the original dozen, but I’m a big believer in a ‘baker’s dozen’ and had already contacted Jennifer about sending her an unbirthday gift. Both Chiloe and Willeke have received theirs already, but haven’t mentioned it on their blogs, and they are from the group I forgot to photograph before I mailed them out.

Wishing one and all a glorious Easter, filled with tidings of re-birth and renewal, joy and love.

it just feels good

I think a lot of us have known this for a long time, but giving really is better than receiving. Even the scientists are figuring it out:

“Regardless of how much income each person made, those who spent money on others reported greater happiness, while those who spent more on themselves did not.”

come rain or come shine

Yesterday was the weirdest day for weather that I’ve ever experienced. We woke to a thunderstorm, which quickly turned into a hail storm. By the time we came down for breakfast, it was just dark and windy. Eventually the sun came out, and I took the kids to the supermarket – and as we stepped out of the car, it began to snow. It rarely snows here, and never in March. When we came out of the supermarket, the sun was out so full & bright that I wanted to take my coat off.  We got home and had lunch, and it began to snow in earnest – it even stuck to the ground. Incredible. The day just went on like that, from one extreme to another. Hello Spring, hello global climate change.

I didn’t get much stitching done, with four kids trapped inside for the day. I started a little gift and I looked at my biscornu-in-progress. I envisioned Rowen’s birth sampler completed, framed, and hanging with her brothers’ samplers. I thought about how much I want to do the whole Hawk Run series and wondered where, in our tiny house, I would ever hang them all. Maybe borrow the rotating exhibits concept from museums? Send out little flyers announcing that this month our house will be featuring birds or houses or Quaker or …. Maybe I could even charge a nominal admittance fee for future stash.

hippity hopping along

So what are your Easter plans this year? I fully intended to stitch gifts for the kids, and my story is that if Easter were in April, like it usually is, I would’ve succeeded. They tricked me by having it in March this year. LOL. Every year, I try to re-create Easter from my childhood, but every year I feel I’ve fallen short. Maybe you just have to be a kid to be tuned into that wavelength of expectation, joy, and surprise? When I was around 8, we lived waaaayyyyy out in the New Hampshire woods in the White Mountains in the funkiest A-frame house. The trees grew right up to the house, there were only a few dirt roads connecting those families crazy enough to live out there to the rest of the world. I loved it. Anyway, that Easter I discovered rabbit tracks outside and around the house – not so surprising, given that the rabbits probably outnumbered the humans, but it convinced me that there was indeed an Easter bunny. That year, Mom had also outdone herself on our baskets. We didn’t get much in the way of candy of chocolates, but she’d make something (that year it was yarn chicks and they were so cool!) and of course we had new clothes. We didn’t go to church, but for some reason new clothes seem to be associated with Easter.

For my kids, I’ve tried all kinds of different Easter basket themes. My personal favorite was the grow-your-own theme, where I put seeds and little gardening gloves and those tiny seed-starter peat thingies in the baskets. I thought that was a brilliant idea. The kids were less than enthusiastic, though. I’ve also tried artistic themes, where the kids get crafty stuff, but they usually have just gotten a lot of that stuff for their birthdays so it tends to be overkill. This year, I’m going with a *KISS theme (LOL!) and we’ll stick to a community basket filled with various edible yummies and, of course, an egg hunt in the morning. I make something for them every year – this year they’ll find these soft felt bunnies with pompom tails.

I’d love to hear how you celebrate Easter in your home, if it’s a holiday you recognize.

*keep it simple stupid