Well, we lost our electricty during my post!

That is what I get for waiting a whole month to write anything. I'm blog challenged so I can't even figure out how to add on to my post so I'm starting another one. Wow, two in one month!

I'm working on Amazing Grace from My Big Toe. I love the design but, boy, is it small and detailed. I think I'm going to give it to my maternal grandmother's church for their annual silent auction. This church was started by my great, great grandmother's father and other family members when they came to Oregon. The church is relatively small, in the country and is still largely attended by family members. My parents were even married there. My grandmother turned 95 this month!

My paternal grandmother will also be turning 95 this year. She has been cross stitching for the last few years. Can you imagine BEGINNING to do counted cross stitch at 92?

I don't have alot to show because my camera is still missing in action. I did receive two exchanges in the last couple of months. I received this lovely heart shaped pinkeep and goodies from Kathy.

This Christmas ornament arrived in December and I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't keep the ladies name who sent it to me. I try to keep everyone's name but somehow this one slipped by me. She backed it with a gingerbread fabric. Very cute!

I am starting a design that I'm doing for an exchange group called Stitching Exchange (I would post a link but once again the Blog Challenged portion of my life rears its ugly head :) )
The requirement is something to do with a garden and it needs to be useful, ie pincushion, needle holder, scissor keep, etc. I have a couple of clever items that I'm working out on paper. I hope they pan out because I think Cross stitch and Clever go really well together!

I'm afraid that I am going to be have to give up my computer time for Pajama Sam - Thunder and Lightening aren't so Frightening. My five yo boy has been waiting patiently to help save the day. We conquered Pajama Sam - No Need to Hide When its Dark Outside and will be working on Pajama Sam - You Are What You Eat from Your Head to Your Feet next.

I hope everyone is having a very lovely Tuesday!

It is a beautiful day here in Oregon

To bad it is supposed to rain later today! Yesterday the sun was out and after our brief spell of rain today it is supposed to reappear. They are forecasting 60 degree temperatures for the rest of the week. Hurray!

As always I'm planting, rearranging and scheming when it comes to our yard. This year we are putting in a high bush cranberry and alot of fern. I have decided to embrace my "inner moss" and plant ferns and other plants that like my mossy areas. I purchased another huckleberry bush and will be putting in some more blueberries.

I'm afraid that I'm a very bad blogger

I just don't make the time to keep up with my blog. I have been busy though. I did some finishing work for my grandmother this last weekend. She had three pieces that needed finished. My grandmother is 94 and I showed her how to do counted cross stitch only 2 years ago. She loves doing it!

I also have two exchanges that I completed. As much as I love exchanges I really need to spend some time on my wip's.

Here is the piece that I send to Jill for the HoE Red exchange. If you look closely you will see the actual needle she is sewing with and the thread attached to it. This was fun to do.

This piece was sent to Jenna for the BlackBird Exchange. I filled one of these pincushions with tapioca and one with lentils. I hope they never get wet!

I'm going to start work on a hummingbird pattern for my other grandmother who will be celebrating her 95th birthday next month. Plus, my daughter is having a birthday and I have something fun in mind for her. Think shoes. lots and lots of shoes!

I didn't realize how much time as gone by since my last post!

Autumn is always busy around my house plus my camera has been on the no show list. It just doesn't feel like a real post without a picture.

I finished the Autumn exchange and also the BeCause it is Pink Exchange. I can't show the pink because I don't have a picture plus it hasn't arrived at its new home. I'm really hoping that its new owner will take pity on me and let me have a picture.

I have one more exchange (due in January) and I'm taking a break until after the new year. I need to concentrate on Christmas presents.

I am working on a Nora Corbett - letter J for my daughter. I'm also working on Amazing Grace by My Big Toe. I'm doing it over one on 32 count so the work is a bit slower. I much prefer working with one thread instead of two. As soon as my camera is back to liking me again then I can take a picture.

I have received some cute exchanges. I was able to take a picture of BeCause it is Pink from Jill. She sent me a floss tag and scissor fob plus some extras.

I also received an autumn exchange from Maggee. It is from Autumnology. Yes, I'm going to once again say that I don't have a picture. She did the square which says Autumn and made it to hang.I have some ornaments I want to do before Christmas and a couple of other things. Definitely enough to keep me busy.

Some how my household has expanded and is going slightly nuts. My daughter is moving home, my grandmother is coming for 5 or 6 months and my sister is going to stay with us during the week for a couple of months. We are going from our nice quiet household of 1 husband, 1 wife and 1 teenage son to a household of 6.

I will post some pictures when I have a camera back. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Autumn season so far!

I received my exchange piece from Catherine for the BBE

It is so cute! Her stitching is beautiful. Thanks, Catherine!

I got official word that my exchange piece arrived overseas

I can finally post a picture!

It is a The Prairie Schooler design. It is a small pouch and I put some dried Oregon lavender in it from my garden. It turned out really cute. I attached by ribbon a stitched tag.
Right now I'm working on Amazing Grace by My Big Toe. I'm doing it on 32 count over 1 which is taking more time then usual because my linen is a bit more uneven then I originally thought. It is going to be beautiful when done. I'm waiting for a few patterns to arrive at Acorns and Threads (our local store) then I'll be starting some other ones.

Today, I have some apples to turn into apple sauce, zucchini and carrots into muffin batter (which I'm freezing for later use), grapes for juice and cabbage from my garden that I'm making into bleu cheese coleslaw which is the best coleslaw ever. I'll have to get out a roast to make bbq sandwiches to put with the coleslaw. yum.

I'm going on a field trip.

Don't you just love field trips!

Especially field trips to the local cross stitch store. Acorns and Threads is located in Beaverton, OR. We are very, very lucky to have it and all the ladies are so nice. They are holding two patterns for me which I'm going to pick up tomorrow. The first one is for the Smalls SAL that Becky started recently (autumn themed for the first round). I keep changing my mind about which one to do :). I'm thinking about making one of the squares into a scissor fob.

Then I also had to have Amazing Grace by My Big Toe. I love this hymn and think it will be a Christmas present for some special friends. Assuming I get it done in time, anyway.

I'm still waiting to hear from my exchange partner with the Year Long Prairie Schooler exchange. I'm going to give up by Monday and stitch a replacement piece and this time send it with tracking I guess. I'm really bummed because it was so cute. Ok, enough whining. I have two more exchanges to do and then I think I will take a break for the year and concentrate on some other things.

Baby report....

My baby (well, mine monday through friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. anyway) is growing up way to fast. He can stand holding onto anything solid, cut his first two teeth in the last couple of days, and has stood by himself twice now. In a few days he will officially be 8 1/2 months old.

Have a great day everyone!