I'm Back!

     Thank you all for the get well wishes.  I'm doing so much better and it just plain feels good to be up and about.  Last Sunday was the first day that I actually felt good enough to be puttering about, and that was the exact day that my son and his sweet lady showed up after church.  What a surprise!
   

Allen had been working for the last couple of months in Georgia.  He owns his own business but went down for some private work and once finished he drove up here.  At the same time, Lisa flew down from NH and met up with him.  We didn't know they were coming, but that's the way Allen does things.  Love it! So while they were here, they were able to spend lots of time with us as well as with my younger son, Guy and his family.

We had a couple of days with some great meals out with the kids.  

Lisa and I went down to Beaufort by ourselves one afternoon.  Found just about the whole town shut down at six.  All the little shops were closed, but we did get something to eat on the waterfront.  Take a look at this picture and see the fun we were having!

They left Friday for NH and I missed them as soon as they were on the road.  They're such a great couple and we love them so much.

Now for the past couple of weeks, since I had been sick, and by the way.....May be Lyme's disease.  Time will tell.  As I said though, I am doing great now and I even sat down yesterday with "Gigi's Garden" and got in nearly three hours of stitching.  Felt so good to be in my stitching chair with my threads and all around me.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and plan on getting more time in today.

Also in the mail yesterday came my order from 1-2-3 Stitch.  I won't be getting to it right away, but it will be here when I'm ready.  I have loved this piece for some time now, so decided to go for it! Us needle workers can't ever have too much stash!

     I believe that the Walmart here in Havelock is one of them that will be carrying cross stitch supplies again.  I'll be headed over there in just a few minutes to check it out.  If so, my next giveaway will be added to this morning for sure.  I'm excited!
     Need to let you dear followers go for now.  It's a beautiful Saturday morning and a long weekend for most.  Enjoy it and remember to, feel the colors.     

Feeling Better

     I love to blog and look forward to posting as well as watching for other bloggers that I follow to post.  For a couple of weeks now though, I've been kind of lagging behind.  I haven't been feeling well, which is not like me at all.  Now on antibiotics and all, I'm feeling a little better each day.  Not back 100% yet, but close.  Being treated for Lyme's disease at this time although it can't be diagnosed up to six weeks or so after the infection starts.  I just praise the Lord that He is treating me so good and allowing me to appreciate it as I do feel stronger each day.
     I haven't done anymore on "Gigi's Garden".  I'm looking forward to picking her back up though and helping her grow.  Just haven't felt like doing any amount of anything.  The good thing is, is that Gigi is patient and she's sitting right beside my stitching chair with her beautiful blue eyes watching for me!
     My son, Skeet "Allen"  and his sweet lady Lisa showed up from NH late Sunday morning right after Sunday school and what a wonderful surprise it was.  I just love them both so much and Lisa is like a ray of of sunshine when she walks into a room.  I don't even want to ask them how long they'll be down here because I'm going to hate to see them head back.  We'll be having Skeet back down though to do some work on the house here, so maybe the visits won't be so far between.
     I'm kind of puttering here today.  The kids have gone to the beach and I've gotten behind in some of the usual cleaning and all.  I'm blessed with wonderful husband who really is my better half.  He's so good to me and just tried to coax me to eat, drink and rest the last couple of weeks.
     I still plan on another giveaway soon, so don't give up on me yet.  I've all ready started getting things together for it.
     Until next time, my faithful and dear followers and friends.....Love you lots and.....Don't forget to feel the color.  

This and That

     I've enjoyed these last couple of days so much.  I mean that life is good anyway and God is good, but just all kinds of little things and fun things just make it better.
     Matthew was over twice this week and both days, enjoyed our pool for at least a couple of hours both days.  When he was little he would tell everyone that he was a baby guppy! He loves the water every bit as much today!

He had his home schooling done over here one day this week as my son's house was under a little renovation.  So for the one day, it was quieter over here with less distractions.  I love watching and listening to Christine and Matthew both as she tutors him.  An excellent match.  She's a dear lady and is so good with Matthew and he really thinks a lot of her.

During one of his breaks, it was a must that he set up all his little tiny men and have a picture taken of them.

As well as his basket of rocks! A true boy to say the least!

       
     Now today was a fun filled day! Bill and I picked up Robin and Matthew this morning and headed over to the ferry to spend the day in and around Oriental.  Love that area and we don't really get out there very often.
     First stop was a mom and pop stand that grow veggies and we picked up some beautiful tomatoes, green beans and a few other things including fresh strawberries.  I just love fresh veggies all season long.  Can't get enough of them and to sit down to a dinner of fried zuchini, fresh green beans and fresh home grown tomatoes is like Heaven!  Will have to get a picture of a plateful of that tomorrow for sure.
     Next stop was a great barn filled with antiques and lots of old tools that Bill enjoyed for sure.  Matthew liked the friendly long haired money cat inside the old barn more than anything.  Annabelle was as friendly as could be and I now wish that I had thought to take a picture of the two of them together.
     Then we stopped at a small nursery and they had a great selection of herbs as well as beautiful potted flowers.  Both perennial and annuals.  I bought two salad burnet plants.  Love the cucumber flavor of the burnet and use it in my summer salads of all kinds.  Also got a sorrel plant for some salad as well and a bay plant  so I can have frest bay leaves when needed.  The dried bay leaves just seem to last me forever and I thought to be able to pick them fresh would be nice.  I do love my fresh herbs.
     Found a different place over in Oriental for lunch.  A great privately owned sandwich shop with delicious coffee.  Matthew decided that a piece of homemade  carrot cake was just as healthy as a sandwich with the carrots, raisins and pecans in it.  Then with the cream cheese icing it was even better.  We all agreed!
     Coming along really well on "Gigi's Garden".  Her face and hair are both done along with most of her dress.  Started the flowers in her basket this evening.  Love all the bright and summery colors I'm working with.
     Oh my! I nearly forgot! First thing this morning there was a knock on our door and I was surprised to see that a flower delivery was being made here! They're from my older son Skeet (Allen) and they're beautiful.  A Mother's Day gift with a card that just stated, "I love you" was perfect.  Thank you again Skeet and I love you back!

     To all my sweet readers here who are mothers, a happy and blessed Mother's Day to you.  All my sweet followers, have a wonderful and blessed weekend.  Take time to get some stitching in and remember to "feel the colors".  Love you all.

Something Different to Post

And what is it? The copycat recipe for Olive Garden's salad dressing.  It really is good and the one batch makes plenty as you can see below.

     1/2 c. olive oil
     1 c. vegetable oil
     3/4 c. white wine vinegar
     1 tsp. dried Italian spices
     1 tsp. salt
     black pepper to taste
     1 tsp. sugar
     1/2 tsp. garlic powder
     1 T. mayonnaise
     9 T. water
     2 envelopes Good Seasons Italian Dressing (.7 oz. each)
1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor for 30 seconds.
2. Pour in small jars or a covered bowl.
3. Mix before serving.
   
     So there you go.  Quick and easy and it does make a lot.  I put just enough on the salad to kind of coat the leaves of lettuce.

     Today was the first day that I decided it was a pool day for sure.  Up in the 90's.  So off came the pool cover and on went my bathing suit and in the pool I went.  Now I must tell you that we're the only people on the block with this size pool!

It's a 12' easy set and we've had it for six summers.  It's easy to care for and plenty big enough for two old duffs like Bill and I! Sure is relaxing on a hot summer's day.
     I've been looking for a site I was on the other day that had a free pattern for a slouch type beret.  Thought it would be such a nice gift for someone on my Christmas list.  It was made out of red eyelash yarn.  Cannot find the site anywhere now and I've even gone over to 1-2-3 Stitch to see if any of the ladies over there saw it.  Nothing yet.  Will teach me to save things more often for sure.
     Bill is at the yearly air show here in Havelock and I'm going to sit down in my stitching chair and bond with Gigi for a while.  Gosh doesn't she have a head of hair!
     Have a wonderful evening all my faithful followers and remember to feel the colors!     

She Has Eyes!

     Miss Gigi has eyes! Yes! She can see! Now aren't those eyes something else.  Will be working on her tonight to get more of her hair done.  Love working on this pretty girl.

     Never showed you the blue scarf that I finished so here's a picture of it.  Loved the blues and silvery grays together.

Third will be the red which I'm working on now.  My grandson Matthew said that this one makes him think of the lava from a volcano! I wonder why......

   
     Once again.  Shari B. was the winner of my April giveaway and I'm getting things together for my next giveaway now.  I'll be posting more on the next one as time goes on.
     Was a busy day today and it feels so good to get supper all taken care of and I'm going to have a cup of coffee and start a container of a copy cat recipe for Olive Garden's salad dressing.  It's my first time making it, so we'll see how it tastes and all tomorrow.  I'll share the recipe with you my sweet readers if it is indeed good.  We love salads in the warmer months and this dressing would sure be good to have on hand.
     To all my faithful followers.  Thank you.  I love it when you stop in and leave comments.  I hope you do enjoy the blog.
     Catch you later.  Love to all and don't forget to feel the colors.