Snow, Snow, Snow!

Snow, Snow, Snow!  This is a perfect picture of what our little village center looks like here in Massachusetts, after another record snowstorm this week.  The main floor windows of our condo are now three quarters blocked by drifts of snow!  We have huge ice cycles hanging down from the roof too. 

As one neighbor said to me recently, "if you live in New England, you have to love snow.  Otherwise you had better consider moving to a much warmer climate!" 

So, today I will just cozy up with my favorite cup of tea and some of the oatmeal raisin cookies I baked, and settle down with my stitching.  Oh Joy!

When I was looking in my treasures of needlework accessories, I found this lovely felted pincushion that had belonged to my mother in law, (now deceased), but isn't it lovely?  I can't bear to think of sticking any pins into it though, because it has a few worn places on the sides, which can't be seen in this picture, but I want to preserve it because it is very special.

Just to share some exciting news, Congratulations to Belefonte Notes, celebrating it's "Two Year Blogovesary" with a special giveaway too!  Check out their blog site, listed on my sidebar, to read more details about the giveaway.  Who doesn't love a needlework giveaway too?

May this day bring you moments of happiness amidst the busyness of your day, and may our paths cross again very soon.  Thank you for visiting and for all of your wonderful messages too!

Crossing in Stitches & Friendship!

Touching Life With You...

Each day I wonder what the day will bring, but then I ask myself what will I bring to this new day?
For it is in seeking to do for others, that we can make a difference in someone else's life.
It is in giving that we we may reap the greatest joy, when we see a smile on another's face.
When my life comes to a close, and my loved ones recount my story, I hope that they will be able to say, that I loved much, shared much, gave much and that my faith in God made a difference in the lives of those whose lives touched mine.
"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you".
(James 4:8)
These are my thoughts for the day, and I welcome you to share yours with me.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
On to what my "needle" has been stitching on these cold snowy days!  I have made some more progress on my LHN "Exodus 20-16".  I have changed some of the colors though, to get the desired effect that I want, but oh these are just some of my favorite colours!

                                                               
                                                                         A few more close-ups .

Other exciting news.....Bruce and I attended the "Grand Celebration" opening of Bush Mountain Stitchery's new shop, in Ware, MA, which relocated from PA.  We were so excited to visit this wonderful new needlework shop.  We had met owners, MaeAnn and Gary Bush at Stitching Jubilee in PA two years ago, so we were thrilled to learn that they were moving up to MA. Their new shop is just marvelous!  It is truly a "Candy Store" for stitchers!  Vicki Clayton-Dyer, of Hand-Dyed Fibers, was there with her beautiful assortment of silks too!

MaeAnn & Gary Bush
Vikki Clayton-Dyer with husband Bob (Hand-Dyed Fibers)

Here is a peek of some of the stash that I brought home with me.

I hope that you are finding plenty of stitching projects to keep you busy, warm and cozy on these cold winter days!  For all of you who visit my stitching blog, thank you!  I really love reading all of your nice comments. 

Until next time, Crossing in Stitches & Friendship With You!

Random Thoughts On a Cold Winter Day

"Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of a reward, safe in the knowledge that one day, someone might do the same for you."
( Princess Diana)

For, it is in the doing for others that we reap our greatest rewards in life.  To see the smile on the face of another because we have lent a hand up, or given a few words of random kindess, can change a life.  We must never underestimate what a few moments of caring and sharing can mean to another human being, in need of, who will never be able to repay you, but because you will have made a difference in someone's life, just for doing a random act of kindness that day.

All too soon, those special moments with those we love are fleeting memories, but memories to cherish for a lifetime.  This past weekend, we visited with my parents, who live a few hours from here, but with whom we have not been able to visit for a while, due to snowstorms and viruses.   Our little granddaughter, Ella, and daughter, Carra were able to accompany us for a day of great fun together. My sister, Nancy, and my nephew, Brendan, also surprised us with a visit! 



Great Grandma with Baby Ella



Ella, Wearing Her "Princess Hat" Plays "Patty-Cake"

Meggie played "Princess" too in  her new "Princess Doggie Coat"!  She thinks she is  "Tres Elegante", don't you think?  A wonderful woman, we met at a craft fair, who specializes in making custom pet attiire, recently created this special coat for our pampered little pooch, who really hates going out in the cold.  

Although Meggie was very cooperative, allowing herself to be dressed in this fussy little coat, she isn't too sure about whether or not she is excited about wearing it! 

This snazzy little outfit even comes with "leg warmers", which are to arrive in the mail any day.  Now, that should be interesting......!  We'll see how Meggie likes wearing them too!~

I hope that you have enjoyed reading my "random thoughts" for today, and seeing some of the newest photos of some of the special people in our lives, including  precious little pooch too!

Crossing in Stitches & Friendship With You Once Again!

Blessed With Contentment

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are...no more, no less.  That is the moment when you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."
(Matthew 5:5 (MSG)

Contentment within ourselves is sometimes difficult to achieve.  The world tells us that we must compare ourselves to others and strive to achieve to the highest heights of our capabilities.  For me, I have learned, through some difficult life lessons, that it is in the simple things of life, and in joy and love of family, friends, and my Lord, that I can find the truest contentment.

When it snows, I am always truly content and peaceful, and love being able to cozy up for some peaceful moments with my stitching, a nice pot of hot tea and some of my favorite movies.  Two days ago, I got my wish for lots of snow!  It even piled drifts up past our lower floor windows!

So, while it snowed, I was snug as a bug in a rug, happily stitching on my latest LHN project,
"Exodus 20:16".  I love the rich colours in this piece, various overdyed Crescent Colours fibers in rusts, golds, and greens...some of my favorite colours!  Here is a sample of my progress so far.

So, where ever you might be, I hope that you can find some peaceful time for yourself, perhaps with a hot cup of tea or hot chocolate, and your favorite stitching project!  Thank you so much for visiting my stitching blog.  It means a lot to share with you, and I love all of your nice comments!

Crossing in Stitches & Friendship With You.....One Stitch at a Time!

Friendship and Some Time for Tea!

"Yes, we must ever be friends;
And of all who offer you friendship,
Let me be ever the first, the truest, the nearest and dearest."
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

One of my most favorite of all pasttimes, is the happiness of sharing a nice pot of tea, and some baked goodies, with one or two special friends.  We share the stories of the day, sometimes full of joy and laughter, and sometimes of grief and sorrow.  But when we part, each of us has experienced the lifting of spirits, and the cherished joy of true and treasured friendship.

Yesterday, I was in a baking mood, and made some cranberry bread and corn muffins, ready for a special friend to drop by for a "pot of tea".  Naughty, naughty, but oh so yummy!

Some Special Thoughts and Stitching

                       Some Special Thoughts for 2011

This lovely verse of prose was sent to me in a recent email, and it touched and warmed my heart, and so I wanted to share it with you.

"There comes a point in your life when you realize who matters, who never did, who won't anymore, and who always will.
So don't worry about people from your past. 
There is a reason why they didn't make it to your future." 

The most special people in your life are those who are meant to be in it, for they are the truest and most noble of all people. (Kathy)

A New Year always gives me a new outlook and feeling of a time of renewal. All things are past away in the last year, amidst some beautiful memories, to be cherished in my heart.  Now is the time for starting things anew. 

Over New Year's weekend, I started the Country Cottage Needleworks "Winter Wonderland Series".  It is cute and stitches up quickly, but I came down with the stomach virus last Sunday morning, so had to set my project aside for a few days of recovery.

Last night I made a little more progress, but discovered that the kit didn't have enough of the blue silk to complete the ribbon on top of the box, so had to contact Crescent Colours and they were kind enough to say they will send me another piece to complete the design.  How nice!

Already, I am planning my next needlework project.  It is a very special project from LHN called "Exodus 20:16", which Bruce gave to me for Christmas, along with the Vintage 28 count Light Examplar linen (Lakeside Linens) and beautiful fibers to go with it. I just love the rich colours and can't wait to start it!!

Meggie, our "pampered pooch" decided last night that she was cold and perched herself on top of a pillow with Bruce's Red Sox fleece blanket.  She looked so funny....like the "Princess & the Pea" , sitting like a little princess atop the blanket and pillow!

For today, I leave you with these thoughts:  Keep a song in your heart and a dance in your spirit!

Reflections

 Meggie is totally enjoying her new pet bed, complete with a hand crocheted blankie, made for her by our daughter-in-law, Alyssa.  Meggie is a spoiled little pooch, but we love her to pieces.

As we prepare to watch 2010 come to a close, we pray that as we move ahead into the new year of 2011, that these words will remain with us.  "For You, Lord, have made me glad...;I will triumph in the works of your hands.  (Psalm 92.4) and also "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear!" (Hebrews:13:5-6).  

This is my final finished piece for 2010, which I have decided to name,  "CELEBRATIONS 2010".  (From Just Cross Stitch Ornament 2010 Issue)

In reflecting over the past year, as I have always told my children, it is in looking back at the road we've travelled, that we can best see where we've been, and how God has directed our paths.  Somehow, when we are living in the moment it is often difficult to understand why things happen as they do, why certain trials and tribulations have to happen amidst joyful circumstances too.  But, for me, it is in trusting the wise and loving ways of God, that I know He is always watching over me and my loved ones, and He always has our best interests in His hands.

Wishing you and yours a very Happy and Blessed New Year!

"Keep Christmas With You All Through The Year....."

 

The words of a Christmas song are floating in my mind right now.  The lyrics go something like this....
"Keep Christmas With You All Through The Year.  When Christmas is over, give a little cheer....These precious moments, keep them close to you....Yes, keep Christmas with you all through the year."  If only we could keep the treasured spirit of Christmas in our hearts always every day of the year.

My Christmas ornaments and door hanger gifts were finished on December 23rd!  At least they were ready for wrapping before Christmas Eve!  I can remember, growing up, that my mother was always finishing a sewing project until late on Christmas Eve.  I have done this too, but this year, I promised myself to try and finish just a bit earlier.  Here are my finished pieces.

It was a beautiful and memorable Christmas this year.  We were blessed to spend it with our children, their spouses, our two precious little grandchildren, Emery, (11 months), and Ella, (almost 9 months), and Ella's grandparents, who came all the way from Virginia too!  What a joy it was to watch the wide eyed looks of excitement in the babies' eyes, as everyone opened presents, with the paper and bows flying everywhere.   Of course, Emery and Ella most enjoyed the pretty paper and glittering bows, especially the "gold" bows too!

The peaceful beauty of Christmas is now a memory, here yesterday and now it is hard to believe that, it is now just a treasured memory, until next year.  So many preparations.... so much joy, love, peace and faith abounds in this treasured celebration of our Lord's birth.    It always fills me with a little sadness when Christmas Day ends, because I love the meaning of it so much, and I want so much for our hearts to remember the reason for Christmas every day.

Love and Blessings to All of You.  Thank you, to everyone, for visiting my blog and sending me such nice little notes. I love all of them and look forward to sharing more with you in the months ahead!

It's Almost Christmas!!

Every year I wonder where the days in December go so quickly, and as usual I am busy as a bee, trying to finish baking my cookies, wrapping presents, and of course, finishing up some last minute stitching gifts!

Last Sunday morning we woke up to find that our roads were covered with "black ice", when my husband walked the dog, so our church service was cancelled and we stayed home.  So we decided that we would spend the morning decorating our Christmas tree!  Thank heavens for small blessings!

My ornament gifts are almost finished.  All of them are stitched and laced onto the foam core templates.  All that remains is to sew on the twisted cording or ribbons to each one.  I will try to get a few photos posted of each one, before they are given away as gifts!

Just thought that I would share with you some of my other Christmas projects.  Although the picture does not do this Christmas box justice, I had fun stitching up this delightful design, which fit perfectly onto the lid of the Sudberry box, which I discovered in my stash! 

This is a sweet little "NOEL" design, also tucked away in my Christmas stash, stitched up quickly.  I found the perfect sized gold frame for it too.  I'm very pleased with the way it came out!

This morning I made a quick trip to the post office to mail one last gift, and then it was home to bake a few more goodies.  I am not baking as much this year.  It is a lot of work, and much of it doesn't always get eaten because everyone always brings their Christmas treats to us too.  So, I have just made a few old time favorites that our family most enjoys.

Counting the days til Christmas!  Savor these precious moments before they are just memories.  I always love the days leading up to Christmas more than anything.  Just me being sentimental again:)

Swedish Saint Lucia Day

During some of my recovery time after one of my surgeries, I enjoyed stitching this Mill Hill beaded banner, called "Angel of Tidings".  Because of the wreath that she is wearing on her head,
it kind of reminds me of the Swedish mythical Saint Lucia, although Lucia wears a wreath of lighted candles in her hair.  

 I first learned of the custom of Saint Lucia Day, celebrated on December 13th, from my husband, Bruce, who is Swedish.  Lucia was an ancient mythical girl who bore the role of a "bearer of light" during the dark, cold Swedish winters.  Ancient stories tell of Lucia rising very early in the morning, wearing a candle lit wreath in her hair, to light her way. 

Today, in Sweden,  the Saint Lucia celebrations consist of a processional with Lucia, her handmaidens, "Star" boys and Brownies, following, carrying small lanterns.  Lucia, the handmaidens and "Star" boys all wear white gowns.  Only Lucia wears the lighted wreath of candles on her head, her hands held together in front of her.  Her handmaidens wear green wreaths in their hair and hold lighted candles.  The "Star" boys, also dressed in white gowns, carry stars on stitcks and wear tall paper cone shaped hats on their heads.

Lucia and her handmaidens sing a traditional Lucia themed song, perhaps like this one:

"The night treads heavily, around years and dwellings.  In places unreached by sun, the shadows brood.  Into our dark house she comes, bearing lighted candles.  Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia".
((Taken from the Swedish Institute)

A custom, dating back to 1880, includes Lucia serving sweet saffron buns, called (lusslkatter), shaped like "curled up cats with raisin eyes", with coffee, or Swedish glogg, a traditional Swedish Christmas drink.

I would love to hear about some of your favorite customs or traditions to celebrate too.  All of your visits and comments mean so much to me, and I love hearing from all of you! 

What's Happening in Our Neck of the Woods!

It seems forever since I have been able to take some time to update my blog about what has been going on in "our neck of the woods".  Actually, we had a pretty dusting of snow on the ground when we awoke this morning...so pretty, and just the perfect setting with the woods in the background for Christmas!

Well, my husband, Bruce celebrated another birthday, and our daughter, Carra, with baby Ella, and our youngest son, Nathan, were with us to join in the festivities.   Ella was absolutely fascinated as everyone helped "Grandpa Bruce" blow out his birthday candles.  Carra, who loves to make and decorate cakes, made a very special cake for the occasion.

A few days ago, we went to our favorite family owned Christmas Tree location and picked out a beautiful tree.  I always love the very full, "fat" trees, and this year we found a really beautiful one that looks lovely in the corner of our living room.  So far, we have little white lights and pearl beaded garland on it, and this weekend we hope to find some time to put ornaments on it too.  We have my husband's work Christmas party tonight to attend, and are invited to the home of friends for dinner tomorrow.  Oh how the hours of every day fill up, don't they?

Carra and Ella came for a visit on the other day, and Ella was fascinated by the Christmas tree and wanted to touch the branches.  Her eyes were wide with wonder.  She was wearing a cute little fleece "cow" patterned jumpsuit, and looked adorable. 

We are looking forward to celebrating this Christmas with our two little grandbabies, Ella and Emery.  It is always so much fun watching their adorable little faces light up with excitement as they each discover each new experience.  Aren't babies just wonderful?

It has taken more energy for me this year to get out my Christmas decorations, but not too surprising after all of the medical issues going this year, but I am determined to do my best!  I especially love the weeks of Advent leading up to Christmas, which has always been my most favorite part of Christmas.  This year I completed a special piece that I call my "Advent Calendar Blocks", (although it is really called "Country Christmas Blocks", designed by Linda Meyers.  I changed some of the blocks to personalize it for myself.  The original pattern is featured on the cover of The Stitchery Magazine (Holiday 2010) issue.  I loved stitching each block....they were so much fun to stitch!

More news to come soon!  Hope your days are filled with happiness, joy, peace and contentment as we anticipate the celebration of our precious Savior's birth.

Christmas is Just Around the Corner

Christmas is just around the corner, but it is difficult to believe that Thanksgiving was just last week and today is already December 1st!  Our house is still decorated for Autumn, and we are still recuperating from all of the preparations and celebration of Thanksgiving, which still lingers in the air.  I just made my turkey leftovers soup two days ago, and believe it or not, we still have turkey and a few slices of various pies to enjoy.

As I sat in the sewing group, at my LNS, this morning, and listened to some of the ladies talking about having already put up their Christmas trees, I realized that I need to get myself going and get out the Christmas boxes!  It just seems like we are barely past Thanksgiving and before we can blink an eye, Christmas is upon us.  Can't we just savor these special times a little longer, I wonder?

 The first item to be put out, although a few days late, is always our Advent Wreath with its' candles.  Growing up in my family, Advent was always my favorite part of the Christmas season.  Each night after supper, as we all sat around the dinner table, my parents would dim the lights and my mother would read the daily scripture lesson, and then we would all joinin singing a Christmas hymn or two.  We carried on this tradition with our children as they grew up, and now my husband, Bruce and I still continue it together in our "empty nest".  On Christmas Eve, with our grown and married children,  everyone all looks forward to the special time of lighting the candles, and  reading aloud the scripture for Christmas Eve.  It is now quite a chorus of voices when we all sing some of our favorite Christmas hymns together, but it is such a special time that we will always cherish in our hearts.

Here are a few previews of some of the Christmas ornaments I have been stitching, although they are not finished yet.  Some of  them will be gifts for my daughter and my daughters in law, who, as I mentioned in my last post, put little "sticky post-its" on the pages of my 2009 and 2010 Just Cross-Stitch Ornaments issues!  "Hint-hint", they said with sweet grins on their faces.  Here are two previews that are ready for finishing.  At least one ornament will be for our tree, and I am almost finished stitching it.  Hopefully, I will be able to show you a few finished ornaments with my next posting.



"Stitcher's Joy" (Prairie Moon)

"Windows of Faith, Hope, and Peace" (Primrose Needleworks)

Crossing in Stitches & Friendship With You.....One Stitch At A Time!

Counting Our Blessings

Victoria Sampler "Hands to Work - Hearts to God"

When times are difficult and there is so much uncertainty about so many aspects of our lives in these times, it is not surprising to forget about all of the blessings for which we can be thankful.  If you are like me, some days I feel overwhelmed and find myself slipping into a mood of discontent and grumbling about this and that.  But when I stop to consider all of the many blessings that God has bestowed upon me and my loved ones, my heart gives way to "thankfulness".

Since many of our grown children are not able to be with us for Thanksgiving this year, we decided that we would make dinner for my elderly parents in Connecticut.  What was to be just a very small gathering of 5 of us, has mushroomed into a rather large group of my siblings and spouses and a few of the great grandchildren.  As one by one,  word made its' way around to all of the siblings about our plans, others decided that it would be a wonderful way to give thanks....for the many blessings of a loving and wonderful family, gathering together on Thanksgiving Day!

So, we will put our many "hands together" and all make the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and thank God for His gift of faith, a loving family, hope for the future and gratefulness for being together.  But most of all we will give thanks to God for all of His abundant blessings, too numerous to count...

"Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine."  (Proverbs 3:9-10)