sunshiney faces
You’ll have to excuse me for disappearing into the sunshine the past day or so. It’s been gorgeous! On Friday, I quickly finished up Reader, I Married Him:
(Chart found here.)
And then I spent the rest of the day outside with the kids till dinnertime. What fun! We walked, went to the petting zoo, drew with sidewalk chalk, and much more (and yes, I said “we” -LOL!). I also made a lot of headway with Dragonfly in Amber (which I finished Friday evening). Now to impatiently await the shipment of the next couple of volumes. 
I’m reading The Seventh Beggar by Pearl Abraham in the meanwhile.
Today was even more beautiful than yesterday in regard to weather, so after a hearty breakfast and a hasty turn at the chores, we all hopped into the car (including Rigby, the dog) and drove to the Reeuwijkse Hout for a long, lovely walk. I couldn’t take my camera as the batteries need recharging (again!) but here is one I took during a walk in the same area last summer. It’s one of our favorite walking areas, and certainly the one we visit the most regularly.
I have also started a new project that will be a gift for Niek’s youngest brother’s wedding next month. I didn’t take a picture of it, but I did get a shot of my constant companion who appears to have been helping me keep count of stitches.
If time permits, I may stitch a second project for our wedding anniversary. I left Reader laying out yesterday evening while I was busy with the kids and Niek saw it (I caught him standing over it, smiling) … kind of hard to pretend it’s for anyone else…. And luckily, Nic’s BOAF Love chart arrived - do you think I’ll have time?? Nic, thank you ever so much for your generosity in sharing this absolutely delightful design with me!!!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Now, to catch up on blog reading and commenting!
Oh no! Too bad he saw it
I just picked up Dragonfly in Amber at the library this afternoon. I haven’t quite finished Outlander yet, but it’s sure a good story… not sure why it took me so long to read it, but thanks for inspiring me to do so!
Comment by Monique — 05.03.08 @ 10:08 pm
Reader turned out great! Too bad he saw it, but it sounds like he likes it!!
Comment by Kim B. — 05.03.08 @ 10:52 pm
Yay, some sunshiney days for you at last! Reader looks fabulous all finished up!
Comment by cathymk — 05.03.08 @ 11:54 pm
I need to catch up on my blog commenting too. I have been reading a lot of the blogs regularly, but not leaving comments as this painfully slow dial-up computer drives me crazy sometimes. It was a nice day here too. Lots of wind and huge puffy clouds that were alternating between fluffy white and pitch black! Finally got the blueberry bushes ( twigs?!) in the ground. I think blueberries are an East Coast thing. I haven’t met anyone here who has had great successs with them.
Nothing so special as when the spouse smiles at the needlwork, is there? I get a wonderful sense of pride when Joe admires something I have made. Lord knows he’s seen enough of the stuff scattered all over the place for nearly 20 years now, so it always surprises me when he admires a certain piece.
Comment by Jennifer — 05.04.08 @ 12:52 am
What a lovely finish Barbara. Too bad Niek saw it but he’ll like it even more when it is finished finished for him.
Glad the weather is so nice there. It is so good to be able to enjoy nature at this time of the year.
When your little companion gets bored watching Mama stitch you can always send him my way for a few days.(LOL)
Comment by Margaret — 05.04.08 @ 1:06 am
Hi Barbara,
I’ve got my new computer up and running, and am spending a few
days playing around with it and getting use to it and it’s functions.
So I’m making my first attempts at making comments using your
blog as a tester. If you don’t get this please let me know.
Sounds like Spring is definitely here to stay in your part of the world.
The flowering bush in your back yard is gorgeous. Like a white cloud.
We’ve had cooler weather this week past, and today it’s been raining
quite a lot. But the temperature will be returning to more normal
readings now and tomorrow will be sunny. DH will be out in the
garden no doubt.
I love your version of Reader, I Married Him. Love the pretty colours
of the border and the lettering. It’s the perfect project for a wedding
anniversary. We’re celebrating our 18th anniversary next week.
Queen’s Day sounds like it was a lot of fun, and I’d love the chance
to wander around a gigantic yard sale staged in the middle of town.
You never know what kind of treasures you’ll find in such a situation.
The kids looked great in their patriotic colours, and I love the grin on
Rowan’s face. Cheeky!
I’m reading book two by Louise Dickinson Rich about her life in Maine
back in the early forties, and it’s also quite good. It’s a first edition of
the book (I think) that I got off of Ebay. A bit worn and aged but
in pretty good condition otherwise. I must find her other books.
Glad to hear that you’re enjoying Diana Gabaldon’s books. She
really tells great stories doesn’t she? And there’s nothing I love
more then a heft tome to sink my teeth into. And Ms Gabaldon
is just not capable of writing a small book it seems.
I loved reading about your stitching history and seeing some of your
early projects. Always interesting to hear how other stitcher’s got
started.
Take care.
Comment by Judy — 05.04.08 @ 2:06 am
Reader looks fantastic and Arden is so cute, he makes an adorable stitching companion.
Comment by leechbabe — 05.04.08 @ 2:17 am
Yeah for glorious weather!!!!
Glad you are getting lots of rays and having good times with the kiddos.
Your piece turned out so nicely!
Comment by Dianne — 05.04.08 @ 4:49 am
The Reader is really lovely when finished, congratulations Barbara! Arden is so cute, thanks for sharing a photo
Oh I’m happy to hear that you still have this sunshine, we do too, what a wonderful weather it is!
Comment by Leena — 05.04.08 @ 5:43 am
What a lovely finish! Too bad Niek saw it, but any excuse to stitch “Love”, eh ? It was my pleasure to send it to you, and it should be a pretty quick finish, although I wanted to spin it out, it was so much fun… ;o)
Comment by Nic — 05.04.08 @ 8:06 am
Reader turned out great, Barbara! Pity Niek saw it but it sounds as if he likes it
Arden is as adorable as ever too
Comment by Mel (in Dubai) — 05.04.08 @ 10:04 am
Reader is lovely!! (No wonder Niek was smiling when he saw it :))
I don’t know how you find the time to get so much stitching done… it’s nice that you can find little blocks of time to do it… I have to start trying to do that more.
Comment by FaithAnnNB — 05.04.08 @ 12:41 pm
Reader is just beautiful! I love the colors and it makes such a lovely gift! Congrats on the finish! Arden is just a bundle of sweet baby love!
Comment by Sharon — 05.04.08 @ 3:21 pm
Beautiful sampler, beautiful place, beautiful child. . .beautiful life!
Comment by Nancy — 05.04.08 @ 3:27 pm
What a cute finish. To bad he saw it, but from his smile you know he’ll like it when he gets it. Sounds like a beautiful day, and with sunny nice weather I don’t blame you for being out and about instead of inside, sounds like you all were having fun. Hopefully we’ll have nice weather here soon that will stay around for a bit. We keep going back and forth between cold spring and kind of warm winter weather, yuck. Arden is so cute, what an adorable helper you have to assist in counting stitches.
Comment by Sue — 05.04.08 @ 4:41 pm
We’ve had sunshine here too (not today actually, but yesterday was gorgeous until teatime
)
Congratulations on your finish, it looks great!
Comment by KarenV — 05.04.08 @ 5:19 pm
I would love to have someone as cute as Arden to count stitches with , I think I would spend the entire day stitching (why do babies have to grow up ? ) Reader came out really beautiful . You stitch so neatly .
Comment by Lil_Birdie — 05.04.08 @ 7:28 pm
Great finish! Can Arden get any cuter?? What a doll!
Comment by Nicole — 05.05.08 @ 1:29 am
I love it when the man in the stitcher’s life smiles! Ian generally is indulgent with my hobby.
xxxxx
Comment by Coral — 05.05.08 @ 9:01 am
Reader turned out beautifully. Too bad Niek saw it, but at least he was smiling.
That must have been a cute moment to see, even if you might have been disappointed. I’m glad that you had such nice weather and were able to enjoy it. And Arden is just as sweet as ever! I’m glad that you continue to share pictures of him.
Comment by Jenna — 05.08.08 @ 1:56 pm