Marvelous Monday Update 9/21/09 - Part Two

I've always said it's a bit abnormal for a gal to spend an inordinate amount of time at the home improvement stores. Fortunately or unfortunately (whichever way you want to go), I'm one of those gals! Some women love shopping for shoes, other like purses, and still others love shopping for clothes (ahem, Mom). I love home improvement stores (even if I'm not buying anything!). So why am I rambling on and on???

Menards had some good sales... of which I had to partake! I know, I know... I have a couple of projects in the works already. I just added a few more. Water pipe insulation was almost half off. Bought some. Water Heater Blankets were on sale. Got one. Then in the clearance section was Armstrong tile. Been wanting to put new tile in the bathroom. Bought a box. Hopefully one box will do it, even if I do screw up a few pieces. Here's what the tile looks like:

Bayboro Driftwood Blue

As if that weren't enough... flower bulbs were on sale. So I bought 42 tulip bulbs in pink and purple. I can't take the blame for buying the flower bulb auger that works with power drill (MORE POWER!). The "old guy" helpful employee recounted a story of how he and his wife planted 200 bulbs in 30 minutes with an auger. So you see... I HAD to get one.

Marvelous Monday Update 9/21/09 - Part Three

NIGHT AT THE THEATRE
On Saturday night, I saw a play called "Escanba in Love", written by Jeff Daniels. The small community theatre was *really* hot and stuffy. Apparently someone turned on the heat instead of the air, LOL.

The setting was Soady deer camp in the midst of World War II (40 years prior to Escanaba in da Moonlight). This is where we meet the love of young Albert Soady Jr.’s life (who has a "past") and a whole cast of madcap Yoopers. Albert wins Big Betty Balloo in a barroom kissing contest, weds her on the spot, and brings her to deer camp for their honeymoon. She is the first woman ever to set foot in the Soady deer camp, and Albert's father and grandfather are not happy! The men meet their biggest challenge to date, their first female visitor, Big Betty Ballou. To become a "real" Soady, the men put her to "tests" which create a lot of folly, hilarious dialogue and events.

Needless to say, it was quite entertaining!


TWO ALREADY???
It was 2 years ago last Sunday, that I nervously waiting to hear the news on whether my offer on the homestead would be accepted. Then came the sick-to-my-stomach feeling as I drove to the closing. It was a big leap for this single girl to purchase a home on her own! After that moving and unpacking. Soon The Homestead Chronicles was born. Now here it is two years later! (Embarassed to say that I *still* have boxes that aren't unpacked. Pics of The Homestead can be seen HERE.


ANOTHER SENIOR MOMENT!
It seems like it was only yesterday that I received the call from my oldest brother that his first baby girl was born.


My sister was a bit peturbed at my SIL because she was up walking around right after the baby was born (lol). My sister, who gave birth only months before, had about two weeks recovery before she felt "good". I digress...

My brother asked me to take my niece's senior pics. Hard to believe she's a senior in high school already! What a beautiful young woman she grew up to be. These are some of my favorites:

Marvelous Monday Update 9/21/09 - Part Four

RAK'd
Don'tcha just love when you get a big envelope you weren't expecting in the mail? I know I do! Lisa in CA sent me a couple of charts. Thank you so much Lisa!


STITCHY STUFF
Speaking of mail... I recently purchased a grab bag and it arrived via the postman. I couldn't have been happier with what I received. Shirley always does such a great job in customizing each grab bag to the stitcher's likes/dislikes. Check out the nice AWESOME stash:

Le Coffre du Trésor de la Reine
(The Queen's Treasure Chest)
Chart by The Cat's Whiskers Design Studio
Isn't this just gorgeous?

Baroque Thread Winder by Kelmscott Designs
(One of the accessories that goes with the treasure chest above)

Shades of Blue Willow
Chart by The Cat's Whiskers Design Studio

Lighthouse Mini Block
Chart by Hinzeit

Flip-It Bits
Charts by Lizzie Kate

Sassy Sayings
Chart by Pegasus Originals





John James Petite
Gold Needles #26








Stoney Creek Collection
February 2007
(I already have this magazine, so if anyone is interested I'm offering it for sale on my stash-for-sale blog.)







Birch Wood Wolves
by Mike Vickery










Still Stitching
Stitchers Nametag/Pouch
by Susan Greening Davis










A Window of Hope
by Indigo Rose










Holly Knots
by Vickery Collection
Limited Edition, #62 of 1000

Marvelous Monday Update 9/14/09

EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER
By tomorrow, a new home will be revealed for the TV show, "Extreme Home Makeover"! As I said last week, someone in my county was nominated for the show. To read about her and her family, click HERE.



HEALTH
It's been about 3 weeks since my bicycle accident. My face is healed up, just a few pink spots are all that remains of the road rash. My knee is *almost* healed up, and looks much better than it did only a week ago. I took someone's advice and will be filing a claim with the city for the cost to repair my glasses ($100 for ONE lens!) and bike ($40). Keeping my fingers crossed, the city's insurance company will pay it.


STITCHY STUFF
I stopped at an "Estate Sale" (really was just a garage/yard sale). There were a lot of good things being offered at good prices. For $2, I walked away with this:


Worth *way* more than $2!

Guess what else I bought this past week? Three Flower Frogs!! I had to do a bit of "shopping" to find bases that fit, and am still on the look-out for one more base. The best part? I only want one (I had to buy three as a package deal), so I'm putting the other two on my stash-for-sale blog if anyone is interested in having one for their scissor collection.

REVISED: Both frogs have been spoken for as of 9/14. If the sales fall through, I'll let ya'll know. :)

I did some stitching on a small "take along" ornament that I keep in my car. I had some time to kill while waiting at an auction. Several people commented on my stitching, and I even made a couple of "little" friends. Two little girls (ages 2 and 3) -- dirty little rag-a-muffins (What do you expect at an all day country auction?), lol... but very cute and friendly. The 3yr old pointed at my stitching and wanted her uncle to buy her "one of those". When she realized she couldn't get one, she scootched herself closer and closer to me, watching. Even though her hands and face were grubby dirty, I still let her pull the needle through the fabric. Totally made her day! I figured it was a cheap ornament kit and what's a little dirt, right? It's washable, after all. Who knows? She could grow up and need the 12-step stitchers anonymous group that we all should belong to!


BICYCLING
I picked up my bike from the shop last Thursday, so of course I had to "test" it out this weekend. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. Sunny and cool with no humidity. I think I went 8-10 miles this time. Here's some of what I see on the JA Trail:

This was taken last Spring. The rest were taken over the weekend.

Lastly, to prove I came
away unscathed ------>

Marvelous Monday Update... on Tuesday 9/8/09

Since yesterday was the Labor Day holiday, I didn't get my MM update done. Did ya'll miss me? I actually had a 5-day holiday since last Thursday and Friday were vacation days for me. Didn't go anywhere special. Just did things around the house, and wasn't too productive at that!

Speaking of the holiday... Yesterday, I went to a Labor Day Parade and festival in a nearby community. The parade was awesome, if you're into that sort of thing. Lots of tractors and farm machinery (Afterall, I'm in the midwest -- farm communities galore!), local school band and sports teams, as well as businesses participated in the parade. I thought it odd that one of the building contractors from *my* city participated in the parade with a banner that said Home Makeover on the side of it.

Well guess what I heard on the radio today?! MY county was chosen to have an Extreme Home Makeover! Yes, like the TV show. Who or where hasn't been released yet, but it will be done by September 15th. How cool is that?!?



WEATHER
The temps have been in the 70's during the day and much cooler at night. While it's nice not to have the humidity, the allergens are still making me miserable! Plus, I'm not ready for that four letter word.... S-N-O-W! We barely had a summer season! Now it's already getting cold and daylight hours are much shorter. *sniffle*


STITCHY STUFF
Not much stitching done this past week, but I did manage to work on my Treasured Memories Quilt Afghan. One more quilt square motif done!

I started another one, but it doesn't look like anything so I didn't feel like sharing a photo. Older pics of this UFO can be seen HERE. This (hopefully) going to be my next UFO to finish.

My plan is to alernate between working on TMQ and JG. I've been dragging my feet on JG because I'm not a big fan of over-one stitching or dark colors... The section I'm working on is BOTH. *ack*