news updates
Phew. Thanks so much for your well wishes for my mom – they must’ve worked, as she’s been discharged from the hospital. She’s still not healthy, but her meds are working and she’s on the road to recovery. (Fingers crossed.)
I’ve tried to take the advice of not worrying about missing deadlines on stitching projects, but I just get too stressful about that stuff. Instead of painting today, as planned, I’ll be stitching to try to ensure that I don’t fall more than a day or two behind schedule. I hate letting people down. So the hallway up the stairs will have to wait for its coat of fresh white paint. Life goes on, right?
No doubt that you’re already well aware of the fantastic drawing going on at Violarium, but if you’re one of the few that hasn’t heard about it, you can sign up for a chance to win this fabulous book with 800+ alphabets! We all need another fabulous cross stitch book, right? 
I know I do. I actually have four other books waiting for me at my mom’s …. Shame on me, right? But hasten over to sign up, as the deadline is 19 July.
Kathy Barrick-Dieter has graciously agreed to me distributing her Five Birds freebie. To save me from having to do umpty million seperate mails, I will do one mailing to everyone who’s asked for a copy by 8 am (my time) Friday morning. Sorry for the cutoff, but I was going a little nuts with all the emails for the Brite Birds freebie. If you already asked for a copy in the original post, you don’t need to ask a second time in this post.
The kids are nearly out of school for the summer. After hearing about Max’s reading difficulties from his teacher (after she’d assured me just a few months before that his reading was just fine), I’ve decided to focus on reading & writing for this summer’s pseudo home schooling program. We’ll do letter recognition (for Nick and Rowen), various reading drills (for Max) and will celebrate the passing of each week by putting together a family newspaper of our activities.
Wishing everyone the best. Thanks so much for stopping by to spend some time with me here. Next time – stitching photos!
Thanks for the freebies; I would like to get Five birds, too!
Pike
07.09.09 at 10:48 am
So glad to hear your mom is improving Barbara! Thanks for the update
I don’t need the birds freebie, but I think your idea of a cutoff is a good one. I know I was getting overwhelmed with the Tiny Sampler freebie requests a few months ago. I’ll remember that idea, if I ever try something like that again
I know it’s hard, but please don’t sweat about the deadlines (I assume one is the RR? – if it is, I’m in no hurry for it right now
)
KarenV
07.09.09 at 11:32 am
That must make you feel a little better knowing your Mom is on the road to recovery.
The kiddies must be excited about summer holidays and their trip to Maine.
I know how you feel about stitching deadlines. I do not like to be late either!
Kathy A
07.09.09 at 2:24 pm
Glad you mom is better. Don’t stress about stitching dead lines – people understand that life happens. May I have a copy of the birds freebee.
Clare
Clare
07.09.09 at 2:25 pm
Barb, I am so glad to hear your mom is home. I hope she continues to improve! I will keep her in my prayers. Please keep my dad in your prayers.
Yes, I would love to get the freebie! I would be thrilled to get a copy!
Sherry
07.09.09 at 2:41 pm
I would also love to get a copy of this wonderful pattern. Thanks so much
Rosalie
07.09.09 at 2:48 pm
I would love to received a copy of this beautiful chart, I so enjoy reading your blog, thank you so much.
Robin Bauer
07.09.09 at 2:52 pm
Kwam net via de tutorial voor stoepkrijt bij MadMaggie op jou blog terecht en kom je gelijk even antwoord geven.
Plaster of paris is gips. Van dat poeder waar je ook beeldjes en handafdrukken mee maakte als kind. Dus nu ook lekker aan het stoepkrijten!
Groetjes Wendy
Wendy
07.09.09 at 2:58 pm
Harstikke bedankt, Wendy! Gips heb ik al in huis – hoera!
Barbara
07.09.09 at 6:24 pm
Relieved to hear Mom is being discharged. Your summer project sounds like fun! See you soon!
Sara
07.09.09 at 2:58 pm
Glad your Mom is on the mend. The family’s weekly newspaper sounds like fun for all. Maybe Max could write a book review column every week.
I would love the five birds FREEBIE. Thanks again, CJ ok;-)
cj
07.09.09 at 3:04 pm
SO glad to hear your mom is doing better. I am sure she will be overjoyed when you arrive in Maine.
I think I am already on “the list” for Five Birds (as if I need another chart!). Thanks for the tip on Violarium’s give-away.
That family newspaper sounds like an excellent idea to motivate reading and writing skills. My mom was a “closet homeschooler”. Both she and my dad were teachers and from the age of two (I see in old photos) that every lamp, table, door, wall etc., had a large printed label with the word spelled out on it.
Jennifer
07.09.09 at 3:14 pm
Great news that your mom is getting better. You’re in my thoughts and prayers that all things will continue to improve.
((Hugs))
Vee
07.09.09 at 3:28 pm
Would love a copy of the five birds chart. Best wishes to you and your Mom!
Thanks so much!
Kat
07.09.09 at 3:30 pm
I’d love a copy of the Five Birds chart please. I’ve nearly finished the Brite Birds and this one looks like a lovely companion piece.
I’m glad to hear your mum is getting better
Karrie
07.09.09 at 3:42 pm
I’d love a copy of the Five Birds freebie! But that aside, I’m so glad your mom is ok and back home! Whew! And can I also say you are a great mom? Always doing the pseudo home schooling. Way to go! And you find ways to make it fun too — so important! Good luck with the deadlines! (You’re smart to do the freebie in one mass. Thanks so much for doing it at all!)
Margaret
07.09.09 at 4:38 pm
Good news about your mom. That must be a bit of relief for you.
I would love to have a copy of the 5 Birds chart. Thanks so much.
Annie
07.09.09 at 4:41 pm
I would love a copy of the 5 Birds chart. I fell in love with the design when I saw your version in pink. Thank you very much!
Laurie Wilhelm
07.09.09 at 4:46 pm
Hi Barbara
I am so glad that you Mom is feeling better. It must be such a relief.
I didn’t actually ask for a copy of the CHS freebie I just said I wish I had had a copy and if that counts as asking then I won’t again but if it doesn’t then here is my offical asking for it please.
How long before you go to States?
Lots of Love
Patti xxx
Patti
07.09.09 at 4:52 pm
Barbara I didn’t comment on last post, but I have kep your Mom and all the sick and ill in my prayers. She’s still in there too
May I have a copy of the freebie, THANK YOU!
I think a family newspaper is “just the thing” for the entire family’s reading pleasure. I have a struggling reader too…
GOOD LUCK!
Vonna
07.09.09 at 5:00 pm
Glad that your mom is doing better.
I don’t think I asked in the original post, but I would love to have a copy of the five birds freebie.
Thanks so much for doing this.
Kellie
Kellie
07.09.09 at 5:18 pm
I’m so glad to hear your mom is out of the hospital and on the road to recovery. I know it must be such a relief to you.
Reading and writing sounds like a great summer program for your kids. The libraries here have summer reading programs for kids – not in The Netherlands? It’s a wonderful program.
Nancy
07.09.09 at 5:21 pm
Hi Nancy,
No doubt there are libraries elsewhere in the Netherlands that do reading programs, but our local library (and the branch libraries) do not. Such a bummer. They’re really missing out, IMHO.
Barbara
07.09.09 at 6:26 pm
Great to hear that your mother is coming along nicely! I know the feeling of worrying while many miles away from home! Sounds like you have great plans for the summer vacation!
I always took my children to reading programs at the local library and that helped to keep their interest in reading during the summer.
Please send me a copy of the freebie! Thanks for doing this!
evelyn
07.09.09 at 5:29 pm
I’m so glad to hear your mom has been discharged. Yay! I hope she continues to do better.
I would love a copy of the Five Birds Freebie. And Thanks to you and Kathy for being so generous.
Don’t worry about your deadlines. I know everyone understands that sometimes life gets in the way of best laid plans and intentions. A few days won’t hurt anything.
Valeire
07.09.09 at 6:40 pm
I would be so happy to get the Five Birds freebie. Thank you.
Tonya
07.09.09 at 7:15 pm
I would love to get a copy of the Five Birds freebie, thank you so much!
and i’m glad to read that your mother is getting better, i can understand how you’re feeling eeing far away from ‘home’ now… (my parents live in the Nettherlands and I live in Italy, not that far apart, but still too far when there are ‘problems’…)
Haske
07.09.09 at 7:54 pm
I hope your mother will getting better each day now. Being at home will help, I think.
Great idea to add reading activities for Max and the younger ones. Working at a primary school, I’m cheering you on to practice every opportunity. And making a family paper is a creative way of being busy with reading and writing. And with a mom (and dad?) both so loving of reading and writing, I think it will be okay at the end of the Summer.
anneke
07.09.09 at 9:06 pm
This is a lot of work for you! I’d love to have the Five Birds also. Thanks!
My son never liked to read or write much but he can read stuff on the internet or his bicycle magazines just fine and his writing is OK. He just couldn’t get into reading what he was supposed to be reading
Barb
07.09.09 at 11:07 pm
Phew… What a relief, Barbara!
I indulged in some new. stimulating toys for Pelle today, in the hope of teaching him something this coming holiday. I do hope Max will catch the reading bug again. He’s such a sweetie!
Annemarie
07.09.09 at 11:08 pm
Hi Barbara,
So glad your Mom is home again. I love your family newspaper idea – sounds super fun and memorable to have too.
Tanya
Tanya
07.10.09 at 12:19 am
Glad to hear your Mom is doing better.
Could I have a copy of the 5 birds freeby. It looks really nice. Thank you.
Barbara
07.10.09 at 12:50 am
So glad your Mom is better–it’s hard when parents are so far away and you can’t just rush over to help.
I would also like a copy of the 5 birds, please.
Thanks, Deborah
Deborah Schroder
07.10.09 at 4:34 am
Sorry to post again requesting the 5 birds chart. I’m sure I posted to the original thread but I have checked and can’t find my request there. Thank you so much for doing this for us Barbara.
Anne
Anne
07.10.09 at 5:02 am
Good news about your mom Barbara! I’m keeping her in our prayers.
Kim B.
07.10.09 at 7:29 am
I am so sorry to hear your mother had to get rushed to the hospital. I am glad she is back home and hope the meds have her back on her feet and feeling better in no time. My mother has just been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer so I know it is worrying when we are far apart.
Are you kids done now or do they have school yet today? Here the schools ended on Thursday. I sometimes think it is to give the traffic problems a break. Less rushing away on a Friday. Your summer plans sound great but busy. And when do you leave for Maine?
Hugs ~
Heidi
Heidi
07.10.09 at 9:35 am
So sorry that your mom has not been well Barbara and happy to hear that she is improving. How wonderful that you will able to see for yourself how she is doing very soon.
Your schooling plans for the summer sound great. Your love of reading and writing will make this so interesting and fun for the kids and mom too.
Hope to see you soon.
Margaret
07.10.09 at 10:14 am
I hope your mom is going to recover quickly . You must be so impatiente to go .
We are going to do some summer homeschooling here as well (esp for Pierre as always.)
Chiloe
07.10.09 at 12:41 pm
Dear Barbara, I’m so happy to read your Momma is doing better! I’m keeping her in my prayers, Hun!
You’ve had so many lovely stitchy projects while I’ve been MIA, and wonderful stash, and glorious photos of your beautiful kids!!! Thanks for sharing your precious moments with us!
I sent you an email.. Take care dahlin! Sending lots of {{{Hugs}}} love and blessings you way…
Lizzy
07.10.09 at 7:28 pm