Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

     It is indeed a beautiful morning and it looks like the whole day will be sunny and bright.  I feel so blessed and so happy.  I know exactly how this little girl feels in this picture.

     I finished another motif on "Quaker Diamonds" yesterday and will be stitching in more letters today.  The motif is the one on the lower left.  A lot of counting and

concentration is going into this one, but I'm still loving the looks of it and the colors.
     More done on my shawl.  I have nearly a whole ball of yarn still and have just attached it to the shawl, so it will be good sized when finished.  I take it with me in the afternoons so I can work on it while waiting for Matt.  You can see that it is

actually a little longer that what it looks like here.  Didn't have it straightened out in the back.
     I've joined the Random Acts of Kindness Blog and the ladies over there are so sweet.  It's a fun blog and lots of great ladies to meet.  As a matter of fact! My newest follower is also a member over there.  Meet, Anne.  She has some great blogs herself and here's one right here.  http://dollsmusings.blogspot.com/ Beautiful pictures and beautiful stitching of all kinds.  Please stop over for a visit.

     We'll be taking Matt, our grandson, after school to see the Coast Guard's tall ship, the Eagle.  It was supposed to be in port yesterday, but due to the storms and winds, she was running behind.  She should be docking this morning and the tours are free of charge.  It will be interesting and fun, with dinner out afterwards.  Here she is here.

     I was looking at all the little wildflowers in the school's lawn the other day and just had to get a couple of pictures.  This one of course had gone by, but I thought the yellow ends left were so sweet.  Very delicate.

     
Here's another.  Tiny little thing, but pretty color.

     Going to let ya'll go for this time.  You all mean so much to me and I thank you for your visits as well as your wonderful comments.  Until next time, be well and safe and don't forget to "feel the colors".

     Riley says he loves you too.

   

Keeping Busy

     Yes.  We're keeping busy and so thankful that God has given us healthy bodies to do so.  Between walking, yoga and just plain simple exercise moves, we're keeping up.
     We've also had some work (restarted) at our house.  Where we removed the wall between the kitchen and living room, was a gaping unfinished opening.  It is now finished off and has the first coat of muddying done.  It already looks brighter, but it will be neat to have lots of things finished so I can start painting.  Benjamin Moore's "castleton mist" will be used for the living room.  Matches the new furniture nicely and will brighten everything up.
     I've been taking the shawl that I'm crocheting with me when I pick our grandson Matthew up from school in the afternoon.  I get there early enough so I can work on it for a few minutes before school is out.  Here it is so far.  The colors aren't what

I expected them to be when I ordered the yarn, but that's okay.  It's working up nicely for sure.  Pattern is easy.
     Have also added a couple more tiny motifs and letters on my "Quaker Diamonds"...... Still enjoying this stitch.

     I was out in the yard a few days ago and happened to look down and saw all these little hearts! I never realized that the leaves on my Eucalyptus tree were actually shaped like hearts.  On the branch they aren't noticed, but once fallen and open, you can see them.  I will have to collect some of these and use them later for
some type of craft.  They could be painted or left as they are.  I'm afraid actually that with the winter being as cold as it was, I may have lost the tree all together.  I've never had the leaves fall off in the past.  Time will tell.

     Did ya'll notice the free cross stitch chart over at the Nebby Needle? Check it out at http://thenebbyneedle.blogspot.com/2014/03/spring-is-coming-spring-is-coming.html.  Still time to do it up for Easter.

     One last thing before I do let ya'll go! All my sweet friends and followers here know just how much I love color! So I'm going to leave you with this one last picture of a Lilac Breasted Roller and the question.....???"Can you feel the colors"???

Love each and every one of you!

Has Spring Sprung?

     I was ready to say that it has, but here we have a day that is so bitterly cold due to a strong wind.  The sun is shining nice and bright though and Bill has the wood stove going.  So it's warm and cozy inside.
     I do have to also show you some things here in this part of NC that tells me it is indeed very close to spring.  First the Hyacinths in the back yard.

Big fat bumble bees in my cherry tree.

Our Egyptian onion is up and ready to set onions.

Oh! I also had a beautiful breezy day to air out all my scarves on the line.  Now there's some colors for you!

     I've been doing some crocheting on my shawl and it's nearly done.  Next blog, I'll post a picture for ya'll to see.  I've also been stitching on my "Quaker Diamonds" piece also.  Things seem to become so busy at times that I feel that I neglect my needlework, but I do what I want to do at the time and have no regrets.  I enjoy my needlework, and I also enjoy my family and great friend.  I am blessed beyond words.

     Speaking of busy.....We're getting some work done on the house starting today.  Well the work was actually started quite some time back and we ran out of know how as well as ambition I think.  So some finishing up and all will be underway and hopefully, once most of it is indeed done, I'll be painting all the rooms.  That's the exciting part to me! It's all about color you know!

     I see that I have some new followers and I thank you for stopping in and deciding that my blog is worth it! I love each and every one of you and am so glad you're here.  I'll be visiting ya'll as well and will mention your blogs on here as I do visit.

     Until next time.  Be safe and well.  Stay warm and enjoy all the blessings each and every day.  Of course one last thing... Remember to "feel the colors".

This and That

     As the title indicates, I've been doing a little of this and a little of that.  Just enjoying what there is to do and to work with.  Seems there are never enough hours in the day though, and I know a lot of you feel the same way.

     I do want to post this picture which I just never got around to when I took it.  I want to prove to all my dear friends and followers here that you're always on my mind.  I saw this vehicle last fall and just knew that there were two reasons I needed to take the picture.  I love colors and this seemed to have so many of them, but the most important reason was the fact that all these frogs were in one area at once.  For my friends who love to cross stitch, you'll be pleased to know that I told these creatures to stay right where they were first of all.  Also! They're stuck on that vehicle pretty darn good, so they aren't going anywhere on their own for sure! Excellent.  They even tried to trick me when I checked out the

 back of the vehicle.  Where there are cross stitch lovers, no frogs come in peace!

     I've been working on a little whimsical nest for my little daughter-in-law for her birthday today.  He name is Robin and she loves blues, so went with blues and whites for the most part.  I have a teeny tiny felt craft Robin in the nest itself under a feather.  I do hope she'll like it.

Can you see the tiny bird peeking out?

     Have been enjoying my cross stitching and have been working a little on "Stitcher's Language".  Loving it.  Such pretty colors.

     I also got the yarn that I had ordered for the shawl, and after three tries, I finally caught on and am moving right along now.  I've knitted since I was five and thought I'd never run across a problem understanding a pattern, but this one did challenge me.  I'm liking the results though as the colors change.  I'll keep

you posted on this one as it grows.  Yarn is very soft so it won't be scratchy around the neck.

     I could kick myself today! Bill and I and David got together yesterday and I never thought about bringing my camera.  The three of us always have a great time.  First stop was a once a year inside yard sale where we all found some things. We went into downtown New Bern to the farmer's market.  A second hand store that David showed us.  Loved the store! Huge with so many and all kinds of different items.  David and I had to laugh as my son has been looking for a hand juicer for oranges for "years" he says.  Has "never been able to find one" he had told me. "New or used! Never! Not anywhere!" LOL.  We found about a dozen or more in this store yesterday, and yes, I did pick one up for him.
Looked for egg cups for him also, but didn't see any at all.  We then went out to get some fresh fried flounder.  A wonderful day.

     I just looked and the outside temperature is 72 right now.  A wonderful sunny day.  We see also that there is another storm coming across the states that will probably come our way as well, and we won't be welcoming it for sure.  I shouldn't be complaining though, as we have had it easy compared to so many other parts of the US.

     Well my dear friends and followers.  I will let you be for this time around.  It's Sunday! Kick back and relax before the work week starts up.  You all have a safe week and be well.  Love each and every one of you, and don't forget to "feel those colors".

   
   

Something Different

     I am indeed still working on my cross stitching and enjoying it, but wanted to get this chair all fixed up as a house warming gift to a very special friend. Finished it this morning with two coats of paste wax.  I did stress the wood here and there by sanding or scraping some of the paint off before I put the MinWax stain on it.  I enjoyed the project.

     Back to my stitching this afternoon.  Finished another motif on the "Quaker Diamonds" and my sewing room is nice and bright.  It's a beautiful sunny day with a temperature of 59 at this time.  Here's the latest finished motif.

      I am also awaiting some beautiful yarn to make a shawl.  I'll give out more information on this as time goes on, but if anyone wants a sneak preview, you can to to    http://quietlystitching.blogspot.com/  About half way down the page you'll see a beautiful crocheted shawl.  I'll be using the same yarn for mine.  Hazel has done a beautiful job on hers for sure.

     I will let ya'll go for the time being.  Love you all, and until next time please stay warm and be well.  Don't forget to "feel the colors". 

Pretty Pinks

     Valentine's Day is so very close, so I decided to dress my dining table with the pretties I've made.  I really enjoyed working with the different shades of pinks and reds.  Setting this up every year reminds hubby just how much he means to me.

     It looks like we have another winter storm on the way.  More rain, ice and sleet along with snow.  I think maybe the schools will be closed tomorrow.  We'll see, but Matthew, our grandson has his fingers crossed that we will indeed get all that is forecast-ed.  Bill and I are just ready for spring weather and we're hoping that it will slide in very soon.

     I made up a little tiny pillow and a couple of facecloths for my son in NH and his sweet little wife.  I should have also taken a picture when all were placed in the box for the mail.  It looked so pretty with deep read narrow bows tied around the cloths and the pillow completed.  Here's the before finishes though.

      I've been working on two cross stitch pieces at a time! 99% of the time I have one, and only one piece that I'm working on.  I have mentioned the two in previous posts, so I won't bore you with the details again, but I am enjoying both.

     I'll be getting a spring giveaway together soon, and I think that I'll make it another "non stitchy fun box" like I did for my last giveaway.  I know that many of my followers share my joy in stitching, but many do not.  A spring fun filled box would be enjoyed by all I think, so I'm going to stick with that idea.

     Welcome to so many new followers.  I love the fact that people want to know other people and that they can meet others from all over the world so easily now.  Welcome to all of my sweet friends and followers.  Love each and every one of you.
     Anyone who has followed me for a while now, knows my love of colors.  I really do think that if you love color, you can indeed feel it.  Wouldn't it be something if the world was black and white? Oh my! Thank you Father for all the beautiful colors you've given us.  Just in people alone.  Look at the amazing warm and beautiful colors in this picture.

      I will let you all get back to your day, or night.  Thank you for stopping in.  Until next time, stay warm and well, and don't forget to "feel the colors".
     

Another New Moon

     Yes! This is the second new moon of the month and I'm happy to see that there are more snips and bits in my T.U.S.A.L. container.  As I call it, "my snips and bits jar".  You can see some softer colors from "Quaker Diamonds" and some greens and violets and blues from "Language of a Cross Stitcher".  Love both pieces, and here are the results in the jar.

     This second picture is what I have completed so far on "Quaker Stitches".  I'm using the colors that the designer calls for and I'm loving the results.  A ways to go yet, but a lot done as well.

Just a quick post for today.  It's still very cold outside, but we have a nice fire going in the wood stove and it's so snugly warm inside.  I'm taking advantage of the light coming through the living room window by stitching in there rather than in my stitching chair.  The couch is a great place to nap besides!

Thank you again to all my new followers.  I'll be touching base with each of you over the next few days.  In the meantime, I'm glad your here.  I love all my dear friends and followers here.  So until next time.....Stay safe, well and warm, and don't forget to "feel the colors".