Vonna's Shop & Photo Hunt # 126 - String(s)

Today I had a lovely day out at Rebecca's grandparent's cottage! Her family's cottage is about half way between my place and her place so its a great meeting point for us. Also we've been trying to arrange this for about a year now so that us girls could stitch in the lovely screened in porch (no bugs) and the boys (Curits & Todd) could go fishing. Finally that happened today. The cottage is out on a beautiful lake, which I have to say I'm hoping we can go back again so I can get out in the boat with my camera, we went for a tour on the lake after dinner but there wasn't enough light for pictures.

View from the Dock

View from the Boathouse

Rebecca's Son Caleb

I spent the day working on Vonna's Neighbourhood Round Robin, and I finished up the last of it tonight! I hope you like it Vonna!

Zweigart's Tannenbaum Giftshop

c2006 Zweigart/Joan Toggitt
Stitched with DMC

Here's last week's Phtohunt #126 - Strings... and well you've got plenty of that when you've got a full set of DMC!

Its My 5th Blogiversary!!!

Wow where has the time gone? Five years ago today, I started blogging and I haven't stopped! I want to say thanks to each and every one of you for reading, for commenting, for encouraging me!

So to celebrate and to say thank you I'm having a Blogiversary Draw! You have until next Friday (September 19th) to leave a comment to have your name entered in my draw. The winner will receive a stitched goodie from me!

Plugging Away At It

Greetings and salutations B.B.S.W. readers! Its mid week, and I'm looking forward to the weekend, just to be at the end of this work week. Gosh I feel like lately I've been working harder than I have in the past, or at least I seem to be constantly on my feet and on the go! The down side to being busy at work? It leaves a girl pretty pooped, and too tired to stitch!

I have squeezed in some stitching time in the last few days on Vonna's Neighbourhood Round Robin. I have managed to finish all the cross stitching on the little shop... I'm sure its a needlework shop ... the owner lives upstairs! I've got the perfect name for this little LNS, I'll leave that for the very last! I've also gotten a fair amount of backstitching done on this shop. Once I wrap that up (tomorrow?) I have to figure out the "extras" I should stitch to fill up the space left in my block. I'm thinking a street lamp (a la Narnia) maybe a bench ... a bike? Another cat on said bench? We'll see!

I'm quite excited I've got a model on the way either tomorrow or Friday! Its been a long time since I've done any stitching for Jennifer of Dragon Dreams! I will be stitching the model for her Dragon's Lullaby that she will be teaching at the Creativ Festival! Oooh this little sampler is so droolable I can't wait to start it! It'll be nice to stitch a model I'll enjoy.

I had a decent weigh in on Tuesday at Weight Watchers, I've lost a pound. Which means I'm on the downslope towards my goal weight, one pound past the 1/2 way mark! In the last few weeks since school has started I've treated myself to some new slacks and tops for work (why can't jeans be considered "work wear" as long as you dress them up?). The truth is ... after this summer none of my work clothes fit anymore. I'm still finding it hard, getting used to the compliments I'm receiving from my co-workers... quite a few people have complimented how I look multiple times. They feel great each and every compliment, but I guess I don't see the difference they do. I asked Todd last night if there is really that much of a difference in my appearance. He says yes there is.

I know when I go clothes shopping it is now enjoyable. I used to dread having to buy clothes, I'd wear things until they were faded and wearing thin. It would take me forever... an hour at least to find just one pair of pants that would fit in a manner that I was happy with. Tops, I'd often buy v-neck shirts with no graphics on them. That would be work clothes. Its very hard to find clothing that fits and fits nicely when you're a plus sized pettite! Now that I'm just out of plus sized clothing I can go into any shop (I used to only buy clothes in 2-3 particular stores) I want to find something that fits... and looks good! On Friday night I went into Danier Leather and drooled over the leather jackets. Oh I so want a new one, the one Todd got me for Christmas a few years ago is just too big now. I'll be looking forward to shopping for a new one when I hit goal, I don't want to spend that kind of money when I've got more weight to loose!

Enough blathering for tonight! Keep an eye for something I've got coming up.....

A Weekend At Home!!!

For the first time since the last weekend in July, I have spent a FULL weekend at home! Can you believe it? Every weekend for the last month and a half has been full of fun adventures, but every once in awhile its nice to be home and have your stuff (and your cats) around you!



So what did I spent me weekend doing? Since it was cold, miserable and rainy ... I stitched of course!



I pretty much spent two days working on Vonna's Neighbourhood RR, except the odd time when Hunter insisted on being on my lap, then I worked on my September ornaments. I have to say the house I picked for Vonna (which is actually more like a shop but I just loved it!) has so much confetti stitching! Argh, I'm sure I'd be done by now if it wasn't for that confetti. Vonna's worth the extra work anyhow!

P.S. that's not the best picture but its late and I don't care LOL!

September Goals & Photo Hunt 124 : Wrinkled

August Re-cap

Finish Moonlight Guardian - YES!!!
Stitch an ornament - Yes
Work on Blackstone Fantasy Garden - Yes
Work on Paradigm Lost - Yes

September Goals

Finish Vonna's Neighbourhood RR

Start Margaret's Neighbourhood RR

Stitch an ornament

Stitch Fair and Square

My goals are pretty simple for September because I have stitching that needs to get done! So I'll be focusing on my RR's and exchanges.

Here's a little piccy for you! PhotoHunt 124 : Wrinkled

I just love the wrinkly appearance of irises!

Its a Start & Photo Hunt 125 : Beautiful

Well I survived the first day of school... and the second. I am pooped and my foot is sore, LOL big surprise.



I've gotten a start on Vonna's Neighbourhood Round Robin, it was MIA for awhile but one of our members went and got since we had a good idea of where it was and she didn't live too far away. I wish I had more progress than this to show (the roof) but this is one of my busier times of year.


I am going to try my best to get back at Photo Hunting! I've had a few commenters telling me they miss my participation. So here's last week's theme : Beautiful

This picture was taken back in 2005 when my Mum and I last went to Myrtle Beach, S.C. Being someone who lives inland and too many hours from the ocean, there's nothing more beautiful than a beach with the ocean waves lapping up on the shore.

When I weighed in last night the scale didn't budge an ounce!!! I suppose this is a good thing since I didn't track a single point all long weekend long!

Thank you everyone for your kind comments lately, I really appreciate each and every one!

Kathy's Labour Day Stitchy Weekend Report

Wow! What a fantastic weekend, for friends, for stitching, for the weather, and for TOO MUCH food (mmmm weigh in might not be good tomorrow I didn't track a single point all weekend)!!!

Sadly Thursday night I received a phone call from Judy, she wasn't able to join us for the weekend due to a family emergency. Judy you were talked about (don't worry in a good light), you were missed and we're all looking forward to meeting you in the near future!!!

Friday after work Christin (thank you for helping the ladies at work all day!) and I loaded into my poor little car (I think I've put on 6,000 KM since the end of July) and set off to Kathy's place on the shores of Lake Ontario outside of Brighton, Ontario. I pulled up to Kathy's happy to see that Beatrice's car was already there. We were warmly welcomed and not too long after arriving Kathy had a nice dinner ready for the four of us. It didn't take us long to get stitching, since I was soooo tired I pulled out Paradigm Lost, it was about the only project I was capable of focusing on. We stitched late into the night.

Kathy showing off her gift! Look familiar?

Before lunch on Saturday the gang started to arrive!

Here's Saturday's group shot... not the best unfortunately I didn't take the lighting into account, but we so wanted the lake in the background.

Front : Nan, Judy, Angie, Lynn, Me

Middle : Beatrice, Ann, Barb, Kathy
Back : Christin

Christin

Lynn

Nan

Lunch and dinner were both pot luck, and once again we stitched late into the night. Spending the night on Saturday were Lynn, Christin, and I.

Beatrice

Ann

Me with hat head (thank for taking this Beatrice)

Lynn and Kathy

The Turkey I found while out for a walk.

Sunday once again, before lunch some people showed up for a second day of stitching, and some new faces.

Here's Sunday's group... a much better picture this time!

Front : Me, Lynn, Adriana, Kathy, Rebbecca

Back : Ann, Christin, Beatrice, Angie, Barb, Judy, Sharon

Here's a picture of me and Adriana, who was recently featured as Thea Duek's stitcher of the week.

Judy and Barb

Rebbecca

On Sunday I couldn't quite settle on what I was working on... I worked on Paradigm Lost, a week bit of Pomegranates and Pears, a little on Blackstone Fantasy Garden, and two ornaments (they match).

Sadly this morning Christin and I had to head back home... I wish Kathy lived much closer!!!