imagine if you will

So it's Sunday, the end of the week, the dawn of a new one, and what do I have to show for it?

Well, like most weeks around this house, it's flown by with the same ol same ol from last week mixed with new memories and different adventures. There were those fun-filled, mad-rush mornings trying to avoid the tardy bell, patient, exhausting, funny protests with Zack about sitting on the potty, good eats and guilty sweets, long & short rides around town in the Mama taxi, weekly Target chat & shop visit(s), cups and cups of coffee to stay awake until dinnertime, several cozy reading nights, laughter with girlfriends at a crepe restaurant after hours, good movie watching, shipping orders and meeting designwork deadlines, quality time with my own Mr. Darcy, beginnings of baseball, and lots and lots of tippity tappity with my dear laptop.

And it all begins again tomorrow morning. A new week and a new month. Welcome, friend.

choo choo

This morning was little conductors day at a nearby museum. When I had heard about this a few weeks ago I knew I had to sign Zack up for it. He's passionate about trains. Especially Thomas of course. He was very excited this morning to go and naturally there were hundreds of other little folk also excited for this train event. There were timed sessions of an hour each for the attendee and let me tell ya, that hour flew by! When it was our turn to go in where all the train activities were held, it was a train frenzy, a blur of parents and kids all trying to get the most out of the program. Cameras were whipped out of pockets, bags and satchels ... little feet were going in all different directions and you just imagine the volume of the room.

The biggest & most popular part of the room was the Thomas the Train table. It was a madhouse. Kids were good for the most part and taking turns with trains or walking around each other to get to empty track but there were several aggressive ones who, well, it was insane. These kids were pushing and taking trains out of hands and just going about their play as if they do this every day. Sad. I noticed one little boy patiently just hold three trains on the track and not move for fear he'd be tramped. There was one parent who felt it was time for his son's personal photo shoot and probably took 200 pictures. I'm not kidding. It was crazy and too overdone. The Dad kept getting annoyed when a child would move in his way - nuts! I'm all for photographing the event but there comes a point when you let the child play and enjoy why you're there.

Zack felt the frenzy from the getgo and his biggest dilemma was he wanted to touch the moving lego trains BADLY. Towards the end he was biding his time and it was bound to happen ... Thomas was getting stopped in his tracks. No harm done but Thomas' big boy conductor had to intervene.

When everyone was ushered out at the end, I felt like I had been on a roller coaster. There had been a coloring table, a music group performing railroad-type songs, a beanbag toss through a cut out train, a mass of legos on the carpet, the train table, and the impressive moving train setup. I think Zack and I both had a dazed, glazed look when we left but he had a blast and that's all that matters.

good morning

may your day be beautiful

Fabric F R I D A Y

I get requests all the time to sell more fabrics for backing projects. Not everyone has a fabric shop in their town (or village from what I've learned) so I'm glad to be able to offer different fabrics now and again. I find it's piece of mind to have a variety of fabrics on hand to go to when finishing time comes ... as well as hoard in baskets for stash purposes :)

I've listed some Fabric cuts on the website with some new additions! Click HERE for cuts available & other tokens of stitching treasure.

that was easy

The Paci Fairy came and not once during the night did Zack request paci. I was shocked. I think he was really curious what the surprise would be so didn't rock the boat. This morning he ran to where he left the envelope and was quite content with what she left him ... a cuddly doggie, a letter and the coolest yellow car with doors that open.

After the post office this morning, we sat a spell at Panera and enjoyed a bagel sandwich. Zack began tapping the table with his fingers. What are you doing, Zack? I'm checking my email, Mama.

Very windy here! We're back home and cozy; think I'll put on the kettle for some tea and get that to do list to review while Zack is playing. Otherwise we'll just take it easy ... like Maddy.

bye bye paci

When it was time to get rid of the paci for Ben (now 10), he didn't make a fuss. I took it away one day and that was that. I checked the baby book since my memory has hit the highway on most days and yeppers, no note about any anxiety documented on Ben's paci removal. Potty training was another story.

So now it's time for Zack to give up the paci, all pacis, even the red paci, his favorite. He's always only used a paci during naptime and bedtime and usually there's been one attached to his car seat but other than that, he's not one of those toddlers with paci in mouth walking around the house. I can't stand that. Not to mention it's just not good for his teeth to continue with it.

This week I decided was the week to get rid of them. Taking it away at Monday's naptime didn't go well. At all. So I opened up to ideas to assist and quickly grabbed the notion of the paci fairy. Never heard of her before yesterday. I had Zack decorate a mailer and fill it with the remaining pacis in the house. We will put it by his door at bedtime and during the night, the paci fairy will take the pacis to babies who need them and in return she will put a toy in the mailer for Zack to find in the morning. Ben told me "the fairy should leave currency" too.

I think Zack understands the outcome pretty well but he did ask me what the fairy would bring him in the night ... "a box of pacis" was his thought. Oh goodness. Fingers crossed!

on tuesday

Virginia stitched On Travel with Jane Austen over one thread, changed the colors and made a gorgeous display out of the design. Well, just have a look for yourself! It's stunning.

This afternoon I managed to get some spring cleaning in and glad that's over for awhile. Weird doing such with snow still in the window view. Dust bunnies seem to hop around the piano too often but they're all gone now. Zack can't stand the vacuum so he was elated when my cleaning was over too.

I've received numerous requests for Primitive Irish Cupboard Sampler and that was a limited time freebie last year; it will be released as a chart for purchase on the website in March. Stay tuned ... I had fun finishing that one ... think green and lots of it!

Oh and it's National Pancake Day ... wish I knew sooner otherwise Ben would have loved our dinner but alas, roast chicken is already on the menu. I did bake a chocolate cake, just because, so he'll enjoy dessert. Enjoy your day!

for the birds

This morning was Zack's 3yr checkup so after the Dr's office we celebrated with a toy from Target, a visit to a nature center and lunch at Moes. It was one of those days ripe for memorymaking and of course my camera was along with. The nests at the nature center fascinated Zack very much and so much so that when we left he insisted on making a nest for the birds.

Lots of design work going on but nothing to show as yet. Let's just say that behind the scenes it's a hustle and bustle. Enjoy the start to your week!

all in one week

The week has flown by! We still have snow but that's an old story now ... it just sits in towering brown piles on street and yard corners; there are still one way neighborhood streets and parking lots taken up by more of these piles. One day while trying to pick up Ben from school, I had to do several laps around the block because until I saw him coming out of the school, there was nowhere to wait. A snowplow had come by our street after the second blizzard and sat in the cul de sac, probably exhausted from his extra shiftwork and left before doing much of anything. On Thursday evening this week we saw a large scooper truck finally haul snow out of the street for us and it was as if you could see Snow White's birdies flitting here and there in jubilation. The boys and I, mainly Zack, thought it was fascinating to watch the snow being hoisted into the air and then bam, down again out of the way.

It was a week of getting back to routines. School started at normal hours midweek and well, it felt weird and yet good to getting back in the swing of things. It was more than refreshing to be out among everyone again as if we had all been away on some dream nightmare when VA turned into New England for two weeks. I love New England AND snow, mind you, but please ... even I reached my limit. Who knows how long we'll see snow around here ... probably sometime in late March it will all disappear and the grass will return and make a gasp for air. I know spring is coming ... birds are more vocal and the sun has been shining brightly and the early March wind has been blowing so the feeling is out there even though our view is still white all around.

There were two birthday celebrations with friends this week which was a delight. Saw The Young Victoria movie which was beyond wonderful and inspiration for my designing. When I got home from the film I quickly installed the soundtrack on my iPod. Beautiful. Now if I could get one of those costumes ... Lots of orders went out this week and there was a good bit of designing going on. Back to the gym after the snowcation and it sure felt good. All we did during our cabin fever was eat so it was grand to exercise again. Let's see, I got in a reading groove again and back to reading till the eyes can read no more at night. I love book lights by the way ... if you don't have one, get one!

The week-end plans are to be fun with familytime out of the house, another girlfriend's birthday celebration and I'm going to try and squeeze in another viewing of that Victoria movie because I need to see it again before it leaves the theater. There's BINGO at Ben's school tonight ... I get pretty excited about this annual event and always glad Ben wants to attend ~ two years ago I won three times in one night and one was at blackout Bingo. It was awesome. I don't embarrass him too much.

This morning was Zack's art class; it had been canceled twice because of the snowstorms and well, he was elated to get back in that routine as well as get a favorite sticker on his hand at the end. Afterwards we meandered around the library storyroom and then lunched at his favorite place. Yes, sure is nice to get back to familiar things.

I bid you a lovely week-end ... Maddy is decked in her Jedi cloak for hers. Enjoy!

new pattern, a sweet view

New Pattern!

A Sweet View

Inspired by verse in Jane Austen's, Emma, this design welcomes winter's end and showers the stitching Janeite with pleasant thoughts out of doors. "It was a sweet view ~ sweet to the eye and the mind."

Design is worked on 18ct Lambswool Linen with DMC and The Gentle Art threads. Conversion to DMC given in chart. Fancied into a stuffed hanging, backed with homespun orange cotton and gathered with the like for hanging. I have a few cuts of this fabric available on the website. Enjoy!

the 14th

Happy Valentines Day to you!

sweet things

One of my favorite quotes is from Laura Ingalls Wilder and it reads - "It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." Maggee in VA shares this finish of Sweet Things. Pretty!

How special these delicate origami works of paper art made by Lyn K. in TX made me feel this morning at the post office. I've often admired origami and thought if I tried my hand at it ... well, they would be interesting shapes. Thank you, Lyn!!

Life turns all different directions for all of us and while it's a comfort to know we each travel down good and bad roads, it is our own journey that sometimes makes us linger longer. A dear friend of the family passed away in the night - how great is the heart of memory with all its sweetness. Thank you for visiting with me awhile today; may you cherish those around you and embrace the simple beauties nearby. Signing off with these tulips from the store ... they are sure to brighten any winter mood.

hearts joined

My cousin got married this evening and I am most grateful to my determined and shoulder-sore husband to clear a thick blanket of snow from the street and a warm sun to help him so I could attend. This was a very special union and I am so glad to have been there. Life is an ever winding road for us all and its the soul's comfort to find a heart to share yours. Big congrads to the happy couple.

D r i f t i n g

Ben and I went outside after lunch with big plans of making snowmen, not just one because there's plenty of snow in our yard to make a generation, but alas, just keeping upright against the winds and walking to the end of the yard was adventurous enough for us and we headed in after maybe 15 minutes. While out in the blizzard's beauty, Ben made us survival areas, as he called them, and told me to stand in one and he did the same until I told him enough, back to warmth of home. I love snow, remember. We are snowlovers here. But this is too. much. snow. It comes to my hips and I can't even walk in it so what's the point? Make it stop. They've suspended snowplows for now because the wind and visibility is so bad. We never saw a plow after the first storm from a few days ago so ...

There's drifting going on, inside too. My cabin fever mates drift and roam from room to room, for food, sleep, TV, books, board games, more food, etc. My cousin's wedding is tomorrow evening so we're all fingers, and toes crossed, that it will still be a go but who knows. His fiance is from Siberia so we tease her that she brought the Russian winter here. Mother Nature has been pretty persistent here ... we're just about to break an all time record for the snowiest winter here since the 1870s!

Been printing charts like mad and have some orders ready to go in the next batch ... when I get to the post next ... hopefully before the weekend comes. The Snow Sale continues through Feb 14th. Hope you are staying cozy with your stitching and something warm to drink. I think it's time for some tea and a cookie ... signing out from snowed in.

the road out

Thanks to DH's shoveling like mad for the past several days we are proud owners of snow-free cars and a driveaway that shows its pavement rather than a slick, snowy, icy mess. I spotted a neighbor leaving the cul de sac before lunchtime and thought, why not us then? I told DH we were going on an adventure ~ throw the shovel in the car and let's hit it. My outback is a trooper anyway so we were off. It felt like we were leaving the homestead and trekking in to town when we were just heading to Chevys for lunch. I couldn't help but observe others around us also eager for a restaurant-cooked meal and the pleasure of just being out of the house and with other people rather than just their family. Then it was to the grocery store where the shelves had been restocked, mostly, and made it back home with a feeling of being on quite the journey, bumpy roads and all.

Here's a little peek at my next design ... should be ready for a Feb 15 release. The verse on it is from Emma ... were you surprised?

Schools closed now through Wednesday ... more snow coming tomorrow afternoon. Up to another foot of the white stuff. They mentioned snow too for the weekend ... you just gotta laugh at this point. Keeps me going.

emma, part three ... did you watch?

I loved this version of Emma. My mom thought otherwise but we did agree on one point, that Mrs. Weston's baby was gray and frail and so fake looking ... couldn't they have her hold a real baby??? That was silly. I didn't remember Mrs. Bates speaking at all in the novel, do you? I have to reread it. The characters were lovely and Mr. Knightley was terrific. What did you think?

I'm working on a new pattern which is very Emma and very springy ... might post a sneak peek of it tomorrow. I love the verse ... till then!

I think it's Sunday

Cabin fever hasn't set in yet ... give me another day or two. In the meanwhile, look at these pretties sent in to me to share.

Primitive Winter Cupboard Sampler

stitched by Jennifer D. in GA

Be Mine freebie

stitched by Patti G.

Nelly's Button Flower Pocket

stitched by Jennifer C. in VA

I've reached the halfway mark on Zack's scarf. Finished watching Wives & Daughters, which was fabulous, been feeding my fellow snowmates some yummy food and I'm about to start stitching a new design which makes me think spring.

No sign of birds or squirrels ... I think they caught the train to warmer places. I had filled the birdfeeders before the snowstorm on Friday but the feeders are covered snow huts now. Roast chicken and dumplings for an early dinner and Superbowl stitching will be a must. Go Saints!!

I read this morning somewhere online that it was International Pajama Day ... Ben must have known already. Stay warm!

::snow::

I can't believe I'm about to say this but ... it's too much snow. We can't even get to the yard to play in it ... Zack and I went out to join the bigger boys late morning and it was just sad. Zack couldn't walk in it at all for the height so we watched DH & Ben shovel the driveway and that was gobs of fun so we ventured down a path they made for us and then headed back inside before after Zack threw himself down into a wall of it.

We're back inside all clean, fed and naptime has come for the littlest one. I'm about to watch another episode of Wives and Daughters and get back to knitting. I made a hat for Zack the other day which still needs some tassels and this will be a scarf for him too. Ben is still deciding if he wants a handmade hat.

night snow

DH gets obsessed with shoveling as soon as snow piles up. I'm content with blankets of snow everywhere but he, being a New Englander, has to shovel as soon as possible. He enlisted Ben a few years back to join him in his passion and a few minutes ago Ben was more than eager to get out in it. Not to eager to be photographed but this blizzard will be one for the record books ... we're to get possibly 30 inches of snow. Amazing. I have to measure Zack again and make sure we don't lose him tomorrow while walking in it.

good things

::knitting needles in the size you need

::kids magazines at checkout

::mama magazines at checkout

::a nice stockboy to go get another frozen garlic bread package because the one you had in your cart thawed during your almost 2 hour wait in line at the grocery store

::bottled water at checkout

::a nearby drive thru for a late lunch

::the hour when dh returns home

::a stocked cupboard and frig

::new yarns

::popcorn

::morning temps that don't require full parka wear

::diet coke on sale

::new slippers

::emma part 3 on sunday night

::facebook

::shopping with my cousin's fiance who is from Siberia

::naval oranges

::giggles

::naptime

::chips & salsa

::the reality of being snowed in soon

i heart snow

Last night I knit well past midnight and enjoyed watching the snowfall through frosty windows. All were asleep except for Miss Maddy and myself; after viewing part 2 of Emma online, I watched some of Wives & Daughters until my hands could knit no more. Our cul de sac was was a blanket of white pretty well before I turned in and this morning we woke to a snow day off from school. Ben was overjoyed as you can imagine. We got about 4 inches in our yard and the roads were clear by 10AM nonetheless but telling Ben he'd have to add on another day of school in June didn't bother him ... that's a long way away you know. Zack was thrilled with more snow ... the biggest snow-filled winter of his little life and I think the most Ben has seen as well. It's been snow bliss ... and more coming end of the week.

We escaped our mini cabin fever to Subway for lunch where I discovered that chicken parm with provolone on honey oat bread with ranch dressing is my new best friend. I always get the same turkey sammie there and today felt like going wild and trying something different. It was goooooood. We stopped by mom's at work and she gave me a late birthday present that had arrived yesterday from Bath, England. It's a Pride & Prejudice charm from The Jane Austen Centre ... I love it!!!

Then over moans and gripes from the backseat, we stopped for a short while at a shop so I could gather up more yarn like a squirrel seeks acorns. Back home and the snow play resumed. Zack doesn't think spring is coming any time soon.

hodgepodge = a jumble

I was walking to music by The Proclaimers this morning at the gym when my eyes turned up to the Today show on one of the TVs and I saw a gathering of men sporting top hats and long coats, all smiles and then the camera spanned a large crowd waving like crazy. One really misses a lot when one doesn't have the TV connected to sound and rather enjoys listening to her beloved iPod ... I thought for a split second that they were dressing up to announce the Oscar nominations. That's around this time, right? The stuff I come up with. Ben had a four-day weekend so I thought today was Monday anyway. Ok, so then they went back to the studio and the hosts were shaking their heads and then it dawned on me ... Phil, the trusty groundhog of Punxsutawney, PA, forecast 6 more weeks of winter ... woo hoo! Sorry to those who are anti-snow people, I love snow and that rodent always predicts an early spring so I was very glad. Yippee! Talk about right on the mark ... we're to get 3-6 inches of snow ontop of what we have already and another snowstorm might be headed our way end of the week. Way to go, Phil!

This afternoon I've been trying to finish up some distributor orders. The printer is chugging along splendidly. Haven't been stitching for a few weeks now ... my hands became dry and cracked again. Ok, so not my favorite part of winter but I make do. They're getting better so I felt like knitting again. I picked up some new yarn today for another hat for Zack.

These orchid pretties are from my brother's girlfriend. Aren't they lovely?

I don't think I showed you my sweet little Dorothy doll, one of my birthday presents from my munchkins. I saw her in a bookstore awhile back and fell in love with her ... I love The Wizard of Oz and when I came home that night, I tried to explain her to Ben and DH. All they pieced together was that Mama wanted a doll, right. I was surprised they actually found her and now need the good witch and bad witch but won't pressure them on those yet. Isn't she cute? I love her hair ... and her shoes ... and her dress.

Thank you to Jennifer D. in GA, who sent me chocolates which will cause me to do an extra mile but it will be worth it! Yummm

I guess that ends my hodgepodge post. Oh and American Idol is on tonight!! It's nearly time to pick up Ben from school and almost time for those snowflakes to begin falling. Be warm where you are ... in heart and home.