Kentucky Sampler

The Weekend is Over

2012-02-13T13:44:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday Friends! I am so glad Masterchief had the weekends off on this job. That is not always the case. It gives us a chance to do a little sight seeing here in Atlanta.

On Saturday we went to the Coca-Cola Museum.

When I go to a museum I usually prefer to roam around at my own pace but this one started out with a guide. At first we weren't too keen on it but it turned out we had a very nice visit. At the end we tasted Coke drinks from all over the world. Our favorite was one I think they only make for South Africa. I can't remember the name of it but it tasted like pineapple and coconut. Very good!!

We got to choose our own bottle of Coke from an assembly line.

On Sunday we went to the Georgia Aquarium. I have NEVER been to one before and I was thrilled that my first aquarium experience was at the largest one in the world!

We took alot of pictures but I won't go nuts here.

After my visit to The Stitch Store on Saturday we went to a Krispy Kreme just down the road. Again....I have never been to a Krispy Kreme before (I led a sheltered life). Now I want to know, how did I ever get this far in life without visiting a Krispy Kreme? If we had one close to where we live it would be so very dangerous. I had a few bites and left the rest to Masterchief. He was more than happy to be of assistance.

This morning I exercised till my toenails hurt to work off those few bites. I tried to eat healthy after that....

Steamed veggies and rice

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Here is a quick pic of the two versions of the MBT design.......

Not the best picture but you can get a feel for the size difference. The top one is on 35 ct. over two. The bottom one is on 28ct. over one. Here is where I am at with it right now....

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Now before I forget again here is what I picked up at The Stitch Store on Saturday....

I know it doesn't look like alot but those silks really made Masterchief's credit card sizzle. I also ordered a few. I really like these little thread keepers. I put my thread on them and then put them all on a ring for each chart.

If I'm going to get any stitching, blog reading/commenting done today I better do it now.

Thanks for visiting with me today....
~~Peggy Lee

New Friends!

2012-02-11T19:42:00.003-05:00

I am still all giggly from such an exciting day!

Let me share it with you......

I was pointed in the direction of The Stitch Store in Buford Georgia by Terri at Dixie Sampler and I was growing more and more excited all week just waiting for Saturday to come. Masterchief asked me on the way there if I would mind terribly if he dropped me off at the store and left me there while he drives around looking for a car wash.

Are you kidding?

Do I MIND??

Silly man!

:o)

I walked in to see a group of ladies all seated around a table chatting and stitching. I walked around the table to see what everyone was working on. I must say they all are incredibly talented and I marveled at each of their WIP's.

That's Jeanne at this end of the table and Terri, the shop owner sits at the far end.

Then Jeanne presented me with a gift from all of the ladies...

Well I was flabbergasted to say the least! They all had been warned that I was coming to visit.

I couldn't have guessed what it was but I knew once I opened it that someone has been following my blog!

Peanut butter Cheerios!

I didn't make it very far down the road before I got in to them. What am I going to do if they ever stop making these? I don't want to think about it. Thank you ladies!

Jeanne helped me pick out some silks that I needed for a couple charts. She was so nice to help me choose just the right colors and I am so grateful for her input. Hold on to your knickers friends....I picked different threads than what the chart suggested! I'm getting braver by the stitch.

After that, Jeanne showed me where everything was in the shop and then left me on my own to ~~drool on~~ browse through everything.

Well you can tell who was behind the camera because I'm in EVERY picture he took.

Masterchief arrived back at the shop just in time...

I love the look on his face when he hands Jeanne his credit card!

I made myself comfortable while Masterchief recovered....

Jeanne and Terri and all the girls were so very sweet and made me feel like one of the gang.

Thank you girls! I am so happy to have met you and hope to cross paths with you again sometime soon.

After we left the shop we went to the Coca-Cola museum. Tomorrow we go to the aquarium.

That's another post.

Well aren't I the goof! I just realized that I didn't show you a single picture of what I bought there. I picked up a couple charts and LOTS of Belle Soie silks. That really drove the bill up....you know how expensive they are, but oh so worth it! I'll take a couple pictures of the new stash and post them soon.

Hope you all are having a very stitchy weekend!

~~Peggy Lee {still giggling}

I was RIGHT!

2012-02-11T17:15:00.003-05:00

After all these years, now I KNOW I am pronouncing it right!

:o)

Do You Trust Your Gut?

2012-02-10T08:16:00.002-05:00

Hey there friends. Thanks to all of you who commented on my last post about my Eliza finish and the MBT start. I don't know about you but it makes me smile on the inside AND the outside when I read comments like that. It's like you all are my very own little cheer leading squad!

Seriously, it warms my heart and I want you to know I appreciate that.

Now...here is my latest dilemma. In my younger years as a stitcher I never wavered from what a pattern called for, being linen, threads or anything else. I am slowly learning (and being coached by a very dear bloggy friend) that I really can do that! I am learning to trust that gut feeling I get when I look at a pattern and think, hey that would look nice if I did it on a different sort of linen or a different color thread. I most recently came across this feeling when I received the linen for Great Is Thy Faithfulness by My Big Toe Designs. The picture on the front of the chart shows two different versions and I wanted to stitch it in the monochromatic version it showed. I ordered the exact linen that was recommended but when I received it, it looked very green. I posted a picture of it in my last blog post. The more I stitched on it the more it wasn't growing on me. So this brings me to today........

I have started stitching it on a piece of R&R 28 ct. dark cappuccino, over one. It's not as hard as I thought it was going to be...stitching it over one, I mean. I'm using only two colors: Examplar Black Iris Bud 'N Bloom and Mermaid Blue. I love this silk floss. Do you know if it's sold any more? I haven't seen it in shops in a long time.
I am really enjoying stitching it this way! I'll keep you posted.

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I picked these two frames up at a Michael's just up the road from the hotel. I'm not crazy about what is in them although it is cute, I really want to use them to frame something stitchy. They are really a cute size.

I also got these buttons...

Thanks for visiting today. I really appreciate your comments and encouraging words.
I think I am going to visit a different cross stitch shop in Marietta, GA tomorrow. I am so excited!

Have a great weekend....
~~Peggy Lee

One Finish...One Start

2012-02-08T10:17:00.001-05:00

One Finish

Eliza Evans 1831 A Quaker Sampler
Reproduced by Darlene Lara
Linen: 40 ct. Navy Bean - Lakeside Linens
Thread: WDW Molasses

One Start

Great Is Thy Faithfulness
My Big Toe Designs
Linen: 35 ct. Tin Roof
Thread: WDW Charcoal

Well that's the short and sweet of it. Thanks for stopping by. More updates soon.

~~Peggy Lee

Stitches from Georgia

2012-02-07T08:14:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness....

have I missed you!!

The internet here at the hotel we are staying in has been on the fritz. Just when I think I am ready to do a blog post..kapoweee! NO INTERNET!! I think they finally have it fixed to where I don't have to worry about it going out mid post.

This has also meant that I have not been able to keep up with your blogs. It would take me almost forever to catch up again so I think I will be starting fresh from today. I'm so sorry if I missed something on your blogs and I will try to catch up.

I have lots of pictures (because I haven't been able to post in a while) so here goes....

We ordered Chinese delivery on our first night here and this was my fortune.....

Masterchief's fortune was something weird, as they usually are. I don't know if traveling south has brought me unexpected happiness or not. I wasn't unhappy to begin with.

I have been doing some stitching while sitting here in the hotel room during the day. I could take Masterchief to work and use the car but I'm still trying to scrape my chin up off the floor. You wouldn't believe how people drive here! No...I mean...REALLY. My friend I do NOT exaggerate! Not only do they whip in and out of traffic, cut you off, blow their horn when you get in their way,etc...but they are on their phone or texting while doing it! I will never understand why people get in such a hurry. I will also never understand why they text while driving. That scares me half to death.

Here are a few pictures of what I've been up to.....

I saw this one on a blog and knew right away I had to stitch it. I started on it right away and finished it just a day or so ago. I don't know how I will finish it. Instead of putting one of those diamond shapes in the very middle like the chart called for I put my initials in there.

I am very close to finishing Eliza Evans. I just have to finish the border. Her name and year were stitched over one and let me tell you, that was difficult!

I have also started Great Is Thy Faithfulness by My Big Toe Designs but don't have a picture of it handy right now.

I found one of the cross stitch shops some of you recommended and last Friday Masterchief drove me there after he got back from work. I didn't call first. It was Friday after all. What cross stitch shop isn't open on Friday, right? Wrong. We fought through this maddening Georgia traffic (even worse on a Friday afternoon) finally arriving where our navigator told us to go.

I was so excited! Masterchief stayed back by the car and took a picture of me heading for the store.

I stood by the door for this one.....

.....ready to open the door......but it wouldn't open! Then I saw that little sign that was taped up on the door saying they are not open on Friday's right now. Oh how frustrating! So we went back the next day and I enhanced my stash of threads quite a bit.

All of these are WDW threads except for three Belle Soie silks. I knew silks were more expensive but OH MY!! They are over $7 each!

The next day we went in search of WIP bags. I had purchased two of them while in TN at Target so we found two Target's here but couldn't find the bags. Finally someone suggested we visit The Container Store. I have never been to one of these before so I was skeptical at first but I found them and they were very reasonable.

I bought several of them so now I can have several WIP's in my basket!

We found the local mall here. It was mostly high-end stores. Way too expensive for my taste but I managed to find a couple things.

These are linen napkins but I think I will probably stitch something on them.

This hotel puts out a very nice breakfast every morning and also offers dinner three nights a week. Every morning I do my exercises either in the room (Leslie Sansone DVD's) or I go down to the fitness room and use the machines. Then I take some of this up to my room to enjoy....

I could get used to this!

We don't see buildings like this at home.....

They are so beautiful when the sun is shining on them and the sky is so blue.

Masterchief grabbed the camera while I was stitching on Eliza the other night. That over one on 40 count was making me cross eyed!

Here you see my recent addiction: almond M&M's.

Well I must get going. I think I will take a walk today. The weather here has been very nice but it is to be cooler this week. I don't think I have ever seen Azalea's in February before!

Thanks for visiting with me and I do hope to get caught up on my blog reading today!

~~Peggy Lee

Final Thoughts...

2012-01-31T21:33:00.000-05:00

Here are some final thoughts at the end of my second day of being holed up in the hotel room here in Georgia......

I seriously need to stop ordering from 123 Stitch
I think I just ate 600 calories worth of PB Cheerios
Housekeeping will never satisfy me and I should just give up and accept it, knowing I am OCD about these things
I should take a break from stitching when my eyes burn so badly I can't count the threads any more
When the pool looks cloudy, I shouldn't swim in it
I probably shouldn't try to communicate with the help here at the hotel. Who knows what I have said to them in my broken 9th grade Spanish!!
All the lotions in my bag won't help me in this dry Georgia climate
I will ALWAYS want MORE from 123 Stitch

I was up at 4:30 this morning when Masterchief got up for work. I didn't go to bed until after midnight last night so I really need to get to bed soon.

Goodnight friends...

~~Miss Peggy Lee (well I am a bit farther south, ya know)

Hello from Atlanta!

2012-01-30T15:10:00.000-05:00

We made it! Of course Masterchief did ALL the driving. He prefers it that way. I haven't a clue why....*giggles*

It took about 5 1/2 hours give or take. We stopped when we saw a sign for the Georgia Winery. We picked up a couple bottles of flavors we liked....blackberry and something else.

We left home on Saturday thinking we would have Sunday to relax and maybe explore the area a bit but our plans quickly changed when my Masterchief remembered that he forgot some very important paperwork. So....back to KY we drove on Sunday...and back to Georgia we came. My butt hurt from sitting in the car all that time and I'm still sore today.

I was able to stitch a little bit on the Guardian while on the road. This is usually something I cannot do. It usually makes me a bit green but this piece is on a big enough count that I could see it fairly well.

When we went back to KY on Sunday I wanted to bring some threads back with me. I couldn't decide what to bring so I brought them all! I really don't have that many. They all fit in a big ziploc bag on their rings.

They are doing something to the elevators here today and tomorrow. Whatever it is...it stinks! I had to abandon this post for a while and go outside so I could breathe. The sun is shining and it's 60 degrees out there. The bees are out and the azalea is blooming. I could get used to this!

I want to find a couple cross stitch shops here but it probably won't be until Saturday. I want to let Masterchief have the car for the first week of work if I can stand it without going crazy!

I need to catch up on your blogs that I've missed during the last couple days. Thank you all so much for the safe travel wishes. Little did I know we would be doing it two days in a row but we made it safely.

Thank you for visiting with me today.
~~Peggy Lee

Hotel Living...Again--- and These Linens are the BOMB!!

2012-01-26T19:40:00.000-05:00

Do you ever get your days of the week mixed up? I'm sure that I am not alone but I would venture to guess that I take it to the extreme. Just ask my friend Catherine. You know it's really bad when a friend at least 10 hours away has to keep me straight on what day it is. She is more of a help to me than she knows. In case you haven't figured it out yet, I am VERY scatterbrained. I can't remember things from one day to the next and it helps to have a friend keep me in line. It's a hefty job but Catherine does a good job!

On to the main reason for this post ~~~~

Masterchief was called for a job. This job is in Georgia. We are going to be living out of a hotel for somewhere in the neighborhood of three weeks. We leave Saturday morning. The nice thing about this work trip is I don't have to work this time. This job isn't at a nuclear power plant. This one is at Georgia Tech. Masterchief is a Sr. HP which makes him more in demand than me and that's quite alright with me. I have all I can do to just do the two outages each year. I really don't have to go with him on this job but I've never been to Georgia before and I'd like to play tourist for a bit. So while my hubby is working I will be running around Atlanta. Oh I don't plan on doing that every day. What I do plan on though is spending alot of the time sitting in the hotel room stitching away. There will be no distractions....like a floor that needs vacuumed or a spare room that needs cleaning up after somebody tore it apart looking for things to put in her new stash cabinet. :o)
I wanted to post tonight to tell you all because I'm not sure when I will be able to post again. I won't be on the computer much for the next couple days so I can clean the house and pack. I can't stand leaving the house without practically Spring cleaning....it's a sickness, I don't fight it anymore....it's how I roll.

The second reason why I wanted to take the time to post tonight is to tell you about the most GORGEOUS linens I received in the mail last week. I ordered three chunks (how do you like that term) of linen from Jan at Tree of Life Samplings. I'm sure alot of you are already familiar with Jan and her blog. She also has another blog: Belfonte Notes. I've been a follower of Jan's blogs for some time now but didn't realize all the talents she has! I saw on Charlene's blog HERE where she ordered dyed linens from Jan and they looked amazing! I contacted Jan and ordered three linens myself.

Sorry about the glare. I'm not the worlds best picture-taker. :o)

From left to right are Sugared Almond, Almond Creme' and Toasted Coconut. Let me tell you that I have purchased/ordered lots of linens and these are TOP NOTCH!! I love the way she dyes them. They don't look blotchy or anything. It just looks so naturally done. Does that make sense?
Anywhoo...I encourage you to check Jan's linens out. I see many more orders from Kentucky in the near future.

That's it for tonight my friends. I need to get busy and pack something! Tomorrow is going to be awfully busy for me. You know...that Spring cleaning sickness I have. :o(

Thank you all for your sweet comments about my cabinet organization project. You encourage me so.
I'll be munching on PB Cheerios later tonight.
Ohhhh....I can hardly wait!

Until I can return to blogland again.......
Keep stitching and stashing!
~~Peggy Lee

Overwhelmed...

2012-01-25T16:05:00.000-05:00

This cabinet organization thing is really whoopin' my behind! I didn't know I had all this stuff. I stand back and look at the piles and want to put it ALL in the cupboards but I'm sure it won't fit.

I have to go through all this yet! I will admit it has been fun at times. Especially when I find something I forgot I had. Yesterday I found a bunch of old hankerchiefs that were Masterchief's grandmother's.

I think this lace hankerchief is my favorite.....

I also found these two beaded purses that belonged to his grandmother...

Oh and lookie here......this old cheese box fits my spools of ribbon perfectly....

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I like to collect old sewing baskets.

I especially like to find them with some vintage sewing supplies inside.

Here is a picture of one I bought that didn't have anything inside but it sure looks old.....

I was sweetly surprised when I opened this one.....

Twenty years ago I helped my son make a Valentine's Day decoration to hang from the ceiling in his kindergarten class. We glued cut out hearts of all colors onto a large heart. In the center was the one with our names and the year. I grew straw flowers in my garden that year and here they are looking just as they did 20 years ago! It really doesn't seem like that long ago.

*sigh*

HEY...wait just an old wrinkled minute here! I am the mother of a big hairy man that will be 26 this year???

*UGGHHHH*

Is 4pm too early for a glass of wine? A nice, tall glass of wine?
Oh well, I am a grandmother after all. I can't complain. I suppose if I am old enough to be a grandmother then it's probably a good thing that my son is 26.

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I can't end this post without reporting some VERY good news!

I FOUND ONE, SINGLE SOLITARY BOX OF CHEERIOS AT WALMART YESTERDAY!!!
I had to stand on the bottom shelf and flop my arm around on the top shelf to reach it way back there but I got it! That's no joke either...you should have seen it.
All is well in my world now.

Thanks for stopping by dear friends and thank you all for your comments. I do appreciate each one. If I have not visited/commented on your blog lately it may be because there is something up with my blogger thingy. I don't know anything about computers and I think I might have followed some of you in a different way because when some of you post it doesn't show up in my reader. Please invite me over and I will gladly come see what you've been up to.

Take care of yourselves and each other.....
~~Peggy Lee

Eliza Progress and A New Start

2012-01-24T08:34:00.001-05:00

Just a quick post today. Let's not get used to Peggy Lee posting two days in a row!

*smiles*

I have been working on and off on Eliza and I'm getting close to the end.

I only have the letters A to I to finish and then Eliza's name at the bottom.

While I really want to finish the charts that I start, I am also itching to start many new ones. I've caught the WIP bug! I yearn for a basket full of unfinished projects. What is that all about? Am I going crazy or is this the way it's supposed to be?

Well...that being said, I started a new one last night. WOO-HOOOO!!!! Hey if I'm going to do this I'm jumping in with both feet!

I am using 32 ct. Creme Brulee by R&R Reproductions. I've substituted the threads only because I don't have the ones it calls for. I think it will look just fine. Here are my substitutions:

Calls for: Sampler- Black Crow / I'm using: Simply Shaker- Espresso Bean

Cinnamon / TGA-Currant

Sasparillas / WDW-Pecan

Forest Glade / CC-English Ivy

I am hoping this one won't be a difficult stitch.

Thanks for visiting today!

Hopefully next time I will have news of a FINISH!

~~Peggy Lee

Windy,windy Monday

2012-01-23T13:15:00.000-05:00

Good Monday morning to you friends! I wouldn't want to have to worry about a hair-do on a day like today. It's nasty ~~WINDY~~ out there! We had a gust of over 45 mph overnight. Masterchief is a weather nut so he was up monitoring the situation, keeping me safe while I snored and drooled my way in to dreamy land. He played such the hero that I thought I should reward his chivalry with....COOKIES!

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Raisin

Snickerdoodles

Of course I had to have my coffee from the Keurig my Masterchief got for me recently. If the newness of it doesn't wear off soon we are going to go broke in those cute little K-cups! I have tried hazelnut, vanilla biscotti, butter toffee and several of the other types of regular coffee. I like the Donut Shop kind too.
I was enjoying a cup of vanilla biscotti this morning at the big girl computer before the sun came up and I slopped a little on the keyboard because I didn't turn the light on and, well.......I can be a real slob at times! Shhh...don't tell Masterchief. If the keyboard shorts out, I know nothing!

It's been a while since I've shared any pictures of my little muffin of a grandson. He's so "stinkin' cute" as his momma says. I tend to agree.

So sweet an innocent

WILD CHILD!!

His mommy says he liked playing out in the snow. This is the first time he's been able to use his snowsuit.

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I have slowly been working on my stash cabinets. I have so much to go through yet but it's coming along. It's like Christmas when I root something out from under the bed or out of the closet because I have forgotten what I have! The guest room is a terrible mess now though.

I still have a big bin of fabric to go through. Some of that will fill up the bottom shelves on the new cabinet.

I still have to find a better way to store my threads.

Right now I just have them on this wire hanger. I used these miniature clothes pins to keep them from sliding all over it.

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When I was in TN at Carmen's house learning how to frame, I saw that she knits wool slippers too! This woman's talents are limitless! She was so sweet enough to offer to knit a pair for me. So off we went to Hobby Lobby once again to pick out the wool yarn for them. I finally got around to felting them last week. I think I was scared to do it because I thought I might ruin them. Here's how they look now....

I really like how they turned out and they feel so warm and comfy. Thanks Carmen! She also sent me home with two knitted dishcloths and a pretty tea towel which I put in to service so fast I didn't have a chance to take a picture.

Well it was morning when I started this post!

Thank you all so much for your encouragement in my quest to find more PB Cheerios! I have not given up and you can rest assured that WHEN I do find them I will buy up a few boxes to store in my pantry. Then I will be a happy girl. :o)

Have a stitchy productive week!

~~Peggy Lee

Weekend Catch-up Post...

2012-01-21T10:02:00.000-05:00

The weekend is here and it sure did come in with a BANG here in my little neck of the woods! I woke up around 2am to a very LOUD clap of thunder. Scared me half to death! Isn't it unusual to be having thunderstorms this time of year?

As promised this post will be full of antique shop/peddler's mall finds but first I want to share with you what Lori U. won in my giveaway. I may or may not add a thing or two to it but this will give you a good idea of what I will be sending off to her........

Lori I hope you enjoy the spoils of this giveaway! It's just a hodgepodge of things but that's the fun of putting together a giveaway...each item doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with the other.

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Before I start posting pics of the goodies I recently acquired I have to tell you how MAD I am! Since I posted about finding those peanut butter Cheerios a few of you have told me that you went out looking and bought some for yourself as well. I polished off my first box and have been looking for more.

Each time I go to Walmart I go down the cereal aisle scanning the many flavors of Cheerios and the peanut butter ones are NOT THERE!!

I ended up buying a box of cinnamon flavored ones and they are yummy but there are NOT peanut butter Cheerios! I will not give up.

Masterchief on the other hand is a happy camper...

Sausage and cheese on a fresh baked crust will do that to a guy!

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Now let's get going with the goodies I picked up recently...........

Blue Willow Child's Tea Set

I have been looking for one of these for a while now and Masterchief found this one on E-bay.

Etched Wine Glasses

You can see the detail better on the second picture. I had bought a very thin, delicate one some time back but it was a bit too delicate for my klutzy hands and it took me no time at all to break it. These are just a bit more sturdy and I have to go through 7 of them before I get to the last one!

You know that heavy white china that they serve your meal to you on when you go to a diner? I like that stuff! I have several old platters and bowls and when I saw these two little bowls for just one dollar each I grabbed them up fast. I like the smaller one best.

Now what do you suppose I could display in these lovely little things?

Well what did you expect? :o)

Set of 4 Old Blue Willow Plates

Remember those plates. You will see them again.

Five Pound Calumet Tin

I put my 14 oz. tin beside it so you could see the size of my new one. I can't believe they actually bought baking powder in five pound tins! I guess they made alot of biscuits back then, huh?

Calumet tin takes it's place among my other cans

Amber scissor frog.
Tiny blue bottle.

Now for the big find I'm most excited about...

Antique Oak Stash Cabinet

This one has glass in the front and the sides. I have yet to go through some bins in the back closet. More pics to come!

Each shelf has grooves to hold plates up but I only wanted that on the very top shelf. Now I need more scissors for all my frogs!

Look what I just saw when I looked over my shoulder!

Just look at that sneaky look on his face! Just when I think not one more jar could possibly fit up there...he finds a way to squeeze more in.

I know this has been a long post and if you are still with me you deserve a gold star! Thanks so much for sticking it out. I hope you all have a relaxing and stitch-productive weekend. I sat down last night to stitch for a while and it seemed that for every x I crossed I had to rip two or three out!

Today is a new day!

~~Peggy Lee

A Winner and a Surprise for ME!!

2012-01-20T09:03:00.002-05:00

It's Friday...it's Friday! That means garbage day for us. It's pretty sad when you remember what day of the week it is by when the garbage man comes.

Well let's get to it. Last night I wrote all the names of you folks who asked to be entered in the drawing, folded them up, put them in a bowl and asked Masterchief to pick one. I could have used one of those random generator things but this way is more "home made".

IT'S LORI U FROM LORI'S RAMBLINGS

Lori please email me with your mailing address and I will get your winnings out to you very soon.

What did she win, you ask? Well I wish I could tell you. Oh no really I have been collecting a few things here and there but just haven't gotten them together to take a picture. I will be sure to do that before I send it to Lori.

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I had a Dr.'s appt. yesterday so while I was in town I ran around to some antique/peddler's mall shops. I picked up a few things but will post about it possibly tomorrow because I am BUSTING (or is that BURSTING??) with something to share with you!

While I was running around Masterchief called my cell to tell me I had a package here from the other side of the pond. I knew right away who it was from because she gave me a squeak that I should be looking for the Postie. I'll bet you know who it is!

That's right....Mouse from Tales of a Stitching Mouse sent me a most darling little cross stitched giftie.

Can you tell I'm excited?

Mouse wrote in the card that she bought the chart with some of the gift certificate that she won during my last giveaway! Wasn't that sweet?

I just love it Mouse! It was so very sweet of you to send this to me and I will always keep it among my most cherish stitchy possessions. You are such a dear.

That's it for today friends, I MUST go exercise before I give in and say I won't do it today. I hope you all have a warm and comfy weekend wherever you are. I have been reading where some of you got quite a bit of snow and even have been suffering through power outages (Heartstring Samplery). I wish I could send some hot chocolate and cookies to you (even though I know Beth just wishes she could take a shower). Poor thing.

I will post again very soon about my peddler's mall finds.

~~Peggy Lee

Trying on Some New Stitches

2012-01-17T10:32:00.000-05:00

Today is Tuesday and oh my is it ever WINDY out! The temp isn't bad but you must hold on to your hat.

Yesterday I sat down with a scrap of linen and tried out a few stitches. I can't tell you the count of the fabric but that wasn't important here. I ripped a page out of an old magazine that showed how to do many different kinds of stitches.

It was a learning experience..........

There were a couple that I really wouldn't care to try again and a few that I enjoyed stitching. I think I like the eyelet stitch best. It took me a little while to get the queen stitch right but that one is pretty too. The daisy stitch is usually one I have no problem with but on this linen I kept pulling the end of the petal through the fabric. The same with the french knots. I like making them but just not on this fabric.

There were a couple stitches on there that made me cross-eyed by just trying to read the directions and follow the little arrows.

It was a learning experience. I'm sure a project somewhere down the road will call for a couple of these. They really are very pretty once mastered.

Do you have a favorite or least favorite stitch?

~~Peggy Lee

I Block and I Won !

2012-01-15T12:48:00.002-05:00

Happy Sunday!

When Masterchief checked the mail yesterday he only brought one thing back to the house. I was SO EXCITED to find that it was for ME. I won Marly's giveaway at Samplers and Santas. WOO-HOO!!

She gave me three issues of Cross Stitch Sampler (now OOP) from 1994. With these three magazines I can complete the Bargello Sewing Case. Marly also included the necessary threads and a few other charts. I have to admit I feel a bit intimidated by this project. I think it might be a bit above my skill level but I really want to give it a shot. Thank you so much Marly!

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After ripping out the mistake in my Eliza Evans sampler I think I've made good progress.

The picture beside it came with the chart and is what my final piece ~~should~~ will look like when I'm finished.

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I completed the I block on ABC Tapestry and even got a little start on the J block.

Block K will complete this row and then I want to concentrate a bit on my other two WIP's. I am resisting the urge to start another project but I'm not sure I can hold out.

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I have been reading in alot of your blogs of the new year bringing on the need to become more organized...going through your stash...picking out what you probably won't do and pulling out the scores of what you ~~think~~ ~~hope~~ ~~want~~ will accomplish this year. While at Lowe's with my Masterchief the other day I spotted this basket way up on the top shelf.

So I stood there and sent a text to Masterchief asking him to come help me in the basket aisle. He soon came to my aid and climbed the big metal ladder that was right there to fetch it for me. I know, I know...we common folk aren't supposed to be climbing those ladders but what's a girl to do when there aren't any associates in sight?
The purpose in getting this basket was to consolidate the two baskets I already have crowding me out of my precious spot on my end of the couch.

You can see how well that worked for me! *rolls eyes* I just found more stuff to put in them! Pay no mind to the box of peanut butter Cheerios. Did you know they made them? Oh. My. Goodness. They are sinfully delicious!

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Lastly....my Masterchief is constantly telling me how "it's all about me". I am spoiled beyond belief! He picked this up for me while at Lowe's getting the supplies for the addition........

I like my coffee a little stronger than he does so he got a Keurig for me. I've almost gone through the dozen coffee's it came with already. He's just too good to me! So....I baked him a pie.............

Mock Cherry Pie

It's not the prettiest pie I've ever made but mmm...mmm...good! It's made with cranberries and raisins. If you close your eyes and take a bite you'd never know it didn't have cherries in it. This is my mother-in-law's recipe.

That's it for today friends. Don't forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't already. Just leave a comment on THIS POST ONLY. I will announce the winner on Friday.

Hope your week is filled with sunshine and stitches!

~~Peggy Lee

Ribbit...Ribbit...

2012-01-13T00:03:00.000-05:00

Do you see it?

Look closer...

S,T,U,V,&W are all higher than they should be!

UGHHH!!!

Now that's better.

I'm going to bed.

#@*! frogs

WIP Report

2012-01-11T14:38:00.001-05:00

Ok so I've given in to it. I read about it all the time on your blogs. I always thought, "I could never do that", but here I am. I'm even blogging about it!

That's right friends...............hold on to your hats/bonnets.

I'M STITCHING MORE THAN ONE CHART AT A TIME!!

I thought I'd never do it. I always finished each pattern before starting the next. Of course I have been working on something while doing the ABC Tapestry but I can't just pack that BAP in a bag and take it with me.

So here are my 3, yes THREE WIP's..........

The Child's Guardian
La-D-Da

Eliza Evans 1831 A Quaker Sampler
The Marking Sampler

And of course the BAP......

ABC Tapestry-Rosewood Manor

As you can see I have most of the "I" block finished. I hope to work on it more today.

During our last trip to Lexington to pick up Masterchief's new glasses we stopped at Hobby Lobby too. Well I can't just pass by the place!

I'm sure you understand.

I picked up some spacers for my next framing project, whenever that will be. I just want to be prepared. I also bought the last bit of this lace they had....

I don't know just what I'll use it for but I knew when I saw it that it had to be added in my stash!

I'm sure you understand.

Speaking of stash, I want to start yet another piece (when the WIP bug bites he really digs in). It's called "Land of the Free" by Willow Hill Sampling.

It says "Land of the free because of the brave" across the bottom. I've always loved patriotic pieces and while this one isn't blaring a starry red, white and blue I really like the style and message. I MUST stitch it!

I'm sure you understand.

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I am so excited to have gained a few visitors recently! I now have OVER 200 followers and want to offer a giveaway. I'm still not exactly sure what I will offer. I sorted through my stash and found a few things I know I won't stitch. I'll most likely throw a few little extras in there as well. If you would like a chance to win somewhat of a mystery giveaway just leave a comment on this post telling me you'd like to be entered. You MUST mention in the comment that you want your name tossed in the hat or I will assume you're not interested.
I'll close the giveaway up on Thursday the 19th and announce the winner on Friday the 20th.

I wish I could give each of you a little something for your kind comments, emails and visits! I appreciate all that is involved in stopping by and leaving a comment. I know I'm not the only one out there and to know that this little'ol blog draws you in for just a minute is so very much appreciated.

Thanks to ALL of YOU!!
~~Peggy Lee

Dieters Beware!

2012-01-04T22:03:00.002-05:00

Did you resolve to lose a few pounds for the new year? If you did then you oughta be glad you weren't in my kitchen today!

I found another "keeper" recipe. These cinnamon rolls are the best! Well, Masterchief says they are the best he's ever had and he's an old guy so that's saying something!

I got up in the morning and made the dough....jumped in the shower....then the dough was ready to roll out. I had to give most of them to the neighbors though. Masterchief had three of them devoured before I even got them all frosted.

HERE is the link to the recipe if you are interested. I wish I could have sent each of you at least one of these.

Thank you so very much for your encouraging comments on my H block completion. You just don't know how you inspire me to get busy on that thing! I sat down a bit tonight and stitched a few I's in the next block and soon found I had to frog them all out. UGH After ripping and cussing (more ripping than cussing) I stabbed my needle in linen and called it a night. Now I'm on the couch in my favorite position blog browsing. In case you need a visual.......

Yep, that's me alright. Sitting on my end of the couch with all my junk next to me. I have a WIP draped over the little pillow on the back of the couch, my bag of Special K crackers, my tablet where I jot notes of what to blog about, and my HP Notebook PC on my lap. Oh and my new book is under there somewhere.

I saw this book on Carmen's shelf while there learning how to frame and instantly knew I HAD to have it! It took me a bit to find it because it is out of print. Some day I want to design my own sampler.

That's it for tonight friends. I am soon to hit the sack.
Thank you BIG BUNCHES for stopping by!
~~Peggy Lee

H is For........(edited)

2012-01-03T17:28:00.002-05:00

....Hat, Horn, House, Harp, Holly, Heart and let's not forget, HOORAY!!

Yes, I'm doing a little Happy dance today. I finished the "H" block in my BAP, ABC Tapestry by Rosewood Manor. Now on to "I".

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I trust all of you rang in the New Year happily and safely. Masterchief and I had all we could muster to stay up till midnight. He usually goes out front with the 16 gauge shotgun to let the neighbors know the new year has begun. That's one of the advantages of living in the country.

Now that Christmas is over I can set the house back to normal. I've been itching to hang my newly framed pieces up on the wall when I realized that I don't have many finishes that aren't hanging. I rummaged through my spare room to find a few easels and came up with this........

I Sew'd My Heart by Heartstring Samplery

My Ways and Praise God both by La D Da

I re-framed the sampler I stitched in honor of my grandmother. This was a freebie offered on a blog but I am ashamed to admit I have no idea which one. Please, if you know won't you tell me? I want to give credit where it is due.

The drawing below the sampler was done by my aunt (also a Peggy but she is Peggy June). Aunt Peg is an artist and lives in New York.

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The Christmas red tablecloth had to go too, so I made this one from fabric I found at Hobby Lobby on our last trip to Lexington.

Of course it's blue toile! I'm going through a toile fettish lately. LOVE the stuff!!

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I have reached 200 followers! WOO-HOO!!!! I will be announcing a giveaway very soon...as soon as I figure out what exactly it is I will be giving away. Maybe I could make it a mystery. What do you think?

I am truly grateful for each of you that has thought my ramblings here are worth hitting the follow button for. Your visits and comments mean so much. I THANK YOU.

Thanks for stopping by today friend.

~~Peggy Lee

*****************EDIT*******************
NATASHA WAS SO KIND TO PROVIDE THE LINK TO THE SAMPLER I HAVE HANGING ABOVE THE DRAWING OF MY GRANDMOTHER. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POST AT BLACKBIRD DESIGNS BLOG. THANKS NATASHA!
CLICK HERE TO POP IN AND SAY HELLO TO NATASHA. I JUST KNOW SHE WOULD ENJOY YOUR COMPANY!

New Years Wishes

2011-12-31T22:45:00.000-05:00

As I sit here yawning, knowing I'm not going to be able to stay up until midnight, I have been thinking of the many reasons I have to be thankful for 2011 while looking forward to what 2012 will bring. I have made so many new friends through this blog. Who knew this could happen? I've found inspiration through so many of your blogs and encouragement to pick up my needle when I'm in a stitchy slump. I've read of the joy of new life and the sadness of a loved ones passing.

Thank you all for sharing a bit of your lives with me and for commenting on my sometimes hum-drum posts. Thank you to all 198 of my followers. I smell a giveaway coming soon as I approach 200! Be looking for it.

May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.

A very Happy New Year to you and your loved ones...

~~Peggy Lee

We did it! They're framed!

2011-12-29T20:51:00.001-05:00

Masterchief and I drove to Tennessee the day after Christmas to see our friends in Franklin. Remember back in August when we were in TN and I met Carmen and her husband Danny? Carmen is so very gifted when it comes to all things stitchy. She is so full of great ideas (and I am definitely NOT) and she is a gifted designer. We toted four of my pieces with us for framing. As you know, having our pieces framed is so very expensive to have them done professionally. Carmen taught me how to do it myself so I can save my money for ~~future stash~~ ~~enhancement~~ more important household expenses.

Shortly after arriving at Carmen's house we headed straight to Hobby Lobby for our supplies...well after she fed us a delicious meal. And to think she called it "leftovers". If all my leftovers were that good there wouldn't be any left over!

My frames are ready

Carmen showed me the lacing method so we picked up some mat board.

Carmen shows me how to measure and cut the board for each piece

She didn't warn me that my thumb would be so sore from all the pinning! It didn't help that my right thumb was already ouchy because my hands are so dry.

Bent Creek's Winter Row

La D Da's Praise God

Lacing the back of the La D Da piece

I needed a little help

Ok so I needed alot of help! Carmen was so patient with me. She is so good at this...even has taught classes on it.

I wasn't the only one receiving help....

I'm not real good with names, human or animal, so I can't tell you this sweet kitty's name but she was adorable!

Now I about lost it when I looked up at saw "kitty" licking Carmen's forehead! I think Danny must have smudged something yummy on there while she was sleeping. She did this a couple times during our framing party. Silly kitty!

The next morning I had to grab my camera for yet another kitty antic. Remember folks, I do not have any pets so I found all of this very amusing.

It seems that kitty won't drink from water that is still. So her humans must run a thin stream every now and then. Now who owns who?

I have a tendency to be slightly...well I don't know the word for it. Masterchief says I'm not what he would call OCD but I can be "particular" on occasion. So, when we were nearing the final placing of the stitched piece behind glass I became nervous.

I found a way to ease my mind. I was so afraid of getting a cat hair stuck behind the glass. This sticky roller did the trick. She didn't fight it so she must have liked it.

Almost done...we cut the spacers, cut the pieces for the back of each frame and slapped them together with nary a cat hair in sight!

cutting the spacers

The two Red Border Study's and Winter Row

I could never thank Carmen enough for showing me how to do this. She not only helped me frame these pieces but now I will be able to frame all of my future finishes. I am forever indebted to her. Carmen and Danny were so kind to have Masterchief and I as overnight guests and we really enjoyed our time spent with them, even though it was all too brief. We look forward to having them both as our guests possibly this summer. YAY!!

Here are the two Red Border Study's by Heron House Designs on the wall. We thought this was the best place for them.

We have yet to hang the other pieces but when we do I'll be sure to take a pic for ya.

Carmen also ~~helped me~~ finished this little ornament I did on 50 count.

I held a ruler under it so you can see just how small this is. It's only 2 inches wide. Carmen stuffed it with lavender. I have it hanging in the kitchen right now and every time I walk by I get a whiff of lavender. Thank you Carmen! Here is a link to her BLOG.

Thanks for hanging in there with me on this long post. I wanted to post about all this yesterday but I have to be in the right frame of mind to sit down and do it and that doesn't happen very often.

I hope your Christmas was a very happy and memorable one. I can honestly tell you I don't care if I eat or even see another cookie until next Christmas!

A very Happy New Year to all of you, dear friends. Be well and be safe.....

~~Peggy Lee

I'm in L.O.V.E

2011-12-20T10:00:00.003-05:00

I am so in love with my new cupboard, sometimes I go in to that room and open the doors just to look at it. I have more to put in there yet but I've already put so much in it!

I spent Saturday night putting the paper on the shelving. There is a stand at the Peddler's Mall that sells rolls and rolls of wallpaper for $10 each. I was looking for black and white tiole or something similar but this is the closest I could get to it. I really like it though.

It didn't take me long to start putting things on the shelves. I am so thrilled with this cupboard. I didn't imagine when looking for something to store my stitchy stash in that I would find something that was so perfect. Of course I wish I had about two more of them. There is alot of stuff that won't fit in just one.

While at that Peddler's Mall I found another pair of angels. They were only 50 cents each. They make a nice addition to my collection.

I have been looking at all your blogs with the most adorable hand made ornaments displayed and I'm really wishing I had made at least ONE ornament! I know better than to set a goal for one ornament each month because I would be really hard on myself for not sticking to it. I found my 2010 Christmas issue of JCS (didn't get this years) and I saw a couple ornaments in there that I thought I would like to try. Here's a really cute and simple one I've started.

I must have had a temporary bout of insanity because this is 50 count linen. That's right, FIFTY count! Stitching the angel wasn't so bad but the words are going to be very difficult.

I've also started stitching on ABC Tapestry once again. What I really need to do is devote a certain amount of time each day to this. At this rate I will never get it done. I'm on the H block right now.

Each block is 4 1/4" x 5 3/4". There are 28 blocks in all. I will be ~~old an gray~~, older and grayer by the time I get this one done!

Thanks so much for stopping by and if I don't get to post again before Christmas, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.
Now go make some memories!
~~Peggy Lee

Need A Fix?

2011-12-18T20:50:00.000-05:00

You know those times when you just NEED chocolate? Well have I got the recipe for you! This is the bomb of all chocolate cakes. I just had to post it here.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE BUNDT CAKE

1 Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe chocolate cake mix

1 small box instant chocolate pudding

1 - 16 oz. container sour cream

3 eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup water

2 cups (or one 12oz. bag) semi-sweet mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 10" bundt pan. Beat all ingredients together except for chocolate chips. Fold chocolate chips in last. Batter will be VERY thick. Spoon batter in to prepared bundt pan. Bake about an hour. Test cake for the last 10 minutes or so with toothpick. (Mine actually took about 70 minutes) Cool in pan for about 15 minutes then turn out on to serving plate. Drizzle cooled cake with chocolate fudge sauce.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE SAUCE

1/4 cup light Kayro syrup

6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup heavy cream

Combine syrup and chocolate chips in saucepan and heat on medium-low heat, stirring often until creamy and melted. Gradually whisk in heavy cream until smooth and well blended. Serve warm or cooled. Drizzle over cooled cake. You can also drizzle some over each slice when serving. Keep leftover sauce in airtight container in frig up to three weeks.

It passed the taste test with Masterchief

BEFORE

AFTER

If you make it, let me know what you think!

Happy baking...

~~Peggy Lee

Treasures From Tennessee

2011-12-15T17:29:00.000-05:00

Before I show you my treasures I must thank each and every one of you who wished us a happy anniversary. As they blinged in on my phone I read them to Masterchief while on the road to TN. Your messages were very sweet and I appreciate you so much!

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Gatlinburg and the surrounding area was all decked out for Christmas. The lights and displays were beautiful. I managed to take a couple pictures with my phone but that's the kind of thing you really have to be there to fully appreciate.

We took in some of natures beauty the next day....

I couldn't help sneaking that one of Masterchief in there. Such a handsome guy!

There are antique shops galore in that area. We only stopped at a few. I wanted to stop at more but I filled the car up with one purchase.....

We are still finding out the details about how old it is and all that but isn't she a beauty? Someone must have refinished the cabinet because it's just gorgeous.

This next peddler's mall find isn't from TN. I found it right here in KY a day or so before we left.

I've been looking for some sort of cabinet or shelving to put my stitchy things in. I get so frustrated when I KNOW I have something and I can't find it. I have stash from one end of the house to the other, shoved under things, baskets stuffed full, you know how it is. This is perfect for charts, fabric etc... It looks like there were lots of little dividers in it at one time. It's best that they are out for what I need to use it for.

We heard of a shop in Knoxville, TN that we knew would be on the way home. It's called Three Sisters Antiques and Needlework.

I snapped that one from the car as we drove away.

I was pawing through the beautiful threads and charts while Masterchief checked out the 'antique' part of the shop. He came in to where I was and was immediately drawn to a sampler hanging on the wall.

It's just a simple alphabet but it is so beautifully stitched. Well when my Masterchief's eye is drawn to a sampler you just know I MUST STITCH IT! Just as we had located the chart who should walk in the shop but the very person who designed the sampler! It was almost eerie.

This sampler is Eliza Evans 1831, a reproduction sampler by Darlene Lara from The Marking Sampler. She was kind enough to sign my chart and pose for a picture...

Can you tell I'm about to burst with excitement? Darlene was so very kind to help me find the thread she recommends for it. *just a note here - if you plan to stitch this one, there's a typo where it tells you what thread to use. The "8" is missing off the number of Weeks Dye Works. It is 1268, which is Molasses.

I know I have so many other things waiting to be stitched but I am so drawn to this one. We still find it really weird, for lack of a better word, that she walked in just as we pulled her chart from the basket.

I'll leave you with my little angels I found at a Christmas shop in TN. I love to collect angel figurines that aren't fancy. By not fancy I mean no paint for lips or eyes, just one color.

Well that's about it my friends. Thank you all so much once again for the warm anniversary wishes. {{HUGS}} to all of you! We look forward to many more years together.

~~Peggy Lee

Six Years Ago Today.....

2011-12-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

....I married the one I waited all my life for. I can't tell you what a difference my Masterchief has made in my life! We feel as though we were led to each other. It just feels right...ya know?

Here we are six years ago on our wedding night moments after we pledged our love......

Hope you all have a wonderful start to your week.

Thanks for your visit,
~~Peggy Lee

One down, two to go....

2011-12-07T22:25:00.000-05:00

It was easier than I thought. Those "free" boxes from the post office are the bomb! They work perfect for magazine holders, or chart/pattern holders in this case.

I started out with with two boxes. The one on top is medium flat rate and the bottom one is large flat rate.

They have peel off strips on each end that leaves exposed adhesive so they stay closed. That's what you need to do first....close them up tight at each end. The smaller box made one holder so I prefer the bigger one. I got two out of it.

I used a ruler and marked where I would cut the box to get two out of it.

Here you can see where I only got one holder out of the medium flat rate box.....

Ok, so back to the bigger box.....I used my craft knife to cut these....

Maybe I need a new knife....

So now I have two holders cut out.......

I wanted to cover them with something and I had just the thing....

I love toile of any color but I especially like it in blue and white. I laid the cut out holder on the fabric and cut around it. Then I used spray adhesive to stick it on and used double sided tape to hold the part on that folds over the edges.

I lined it with pieces of scrap book paper I had from when I used to be in to that.

And there you have it! I'll finish the other two tomorrow maybe.

This makes the third post in three days. I think that might set a record for me.
I hope this very amateur tutorial helps someone. I just can't see paying what they want in the stores for these things.

Thanks for stopping by.

~~Peggy Lee

Isn't that the cutest thing?

2011-12-06T17:38:00.000-05:00

Today is my friend's /neighbor's birthday. I went out on Sunday to shop for a gift (red scarf and gloves) and found this Wilton cake pan.

If you're using box cake mixes you have to use slightly over one box for this pan. I made cupcakes with the leftover cake batter. If I use a box mix it is always Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe. I worked at a bakery years ago that made the best cakes. I learned that they used Duncan Hines for all their cakes. I tend to alter the recipe a bit though by adding a dollop of mayonnaise instead of using the recommended oil.

When turned out of the pan it looked like this.....

I trimmed just a teenie bit off the top of the bottom half and the bottom of the top half. Confused? I am!

Then I frosted it and added sprinkles........

The pan wasn't cheap but I will get my money's worth in no time.

No stitchy news today. I went looked up how to make a magazine holder out of a box. I found a tutorial using those flat rate boxes that are free at the post office. I wonder if the postmaster will wonder why I don't return with it full of goodies to send off in the mail? {{tee-hee}} I want to use them to organize my charts and patterns that are presently strewn from one end of the house to the other. Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Peggy Lee

Rip-It...Rip-It...

2011-12-05T21:49:00.000-05:00

I was going to leave it alone and continue on even after I saw the stupid thing I did. I'm all about embracing my mistakes and working with them but this one was really bugging me.

The words are supposed to be a different color than the diamond design in the center. This chart only calls for two colors in the whole thing. You'd think I could handle that!

It had to go. I wish I could stitch as fast as I can rip. I was a ~~crazy~~ brave little stitcher and used my seam ripper to do it!

I have had this jar for about two years now. I just keep mashing the threads down in there. I think I'll need to search for another jar soon though. Hmmm...maybe Masterchief will let me use one of his Ball jars.

So that's done.....now I will put it away for a bit and get busy on this.....................

Remember this one? It's ABC Tapestry by Rosewood Manor. I need to get serious on it this Winter.

Polly is ready for Christmas.

Polly and I have been together for almost 40 years now. I have a bunch of my other dolls but Polly was always my favorite.

Lastly, I made this tonight with some of the corks that I have in crocks and jars around here. And yes...I drank every drop but it took me a few years to do it!

It's getting hard to keep my eyes open tonight so I'll say goodnight now.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sweet dreams,
~~Peggy Lee

It's good to be HOME!

2011-12-01T17:51:00.001-05:00

This is going to be a no frills post. I've been thinking about blogging ever since we arrived home. I guess I've been busy settling in. It's a good thing. A very good thing.

Before coming home from New Jersey we went to PA to see Josh, Laymie and Liam. Liam's first birthday was November first but we were working. We had our own little celebration.

.
We had a great visit but as always it was too short. I can't wait until I can see them again.

We put our tree up. It only has two ornaments on it but we like it that way. It's just simply gorgeous! One of the ornaments is actually a scissor fob made by Suzanne from Australia. Way back when I didn't have a blog yet, I entered a drawing to win it when she had a blogaversary giveaway. I treasure it so much that I hang it on the tree too. It makes a beautiful ornament, doesn't it?

I made Snickerdoodles the other day. I always use my tried and true recipe that has won Masterchief's approval over and over. Why I decided to go with another recipe I found on Pinterest I'll never know. Here is what they were supposed to look like........

Here is what they looked like instead.........

This is what I did with the recipe....

I threw that mess away and got out my own cookbook......

That's better!

Last night I finally started stitching again. I haven't been able to pass a needle through linen since the first week of October. I've missed it. I started The Child's Guardian by La D Da. Only a few stitches but it's a start.

I am so glad to be home. Staying in a hotel for seven weeks helps me to better appreciate the nice home I have with a washer and dryer that doesn't require quarters to run...and much, much more.

I appreciate each comment and the time it takes to leave it here. I'm thankful for each of you.

~~Peggy Lee

Friends, Stash and Diamonds

2011-11-17T13:45:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon friends. Thank you so much for your welcome back comments on my last post. It's so good to be back. I've missed you all.

Let's start with the FRIENDS part of the post title.

On Tuesday I had the chance to meet once again with a two of my new friends whom I have met through blogging. It was the quick, throw-together type of meeting but I was so glad to see them again before we head back to Kentucky. Catherine and Brett met me at the Starbucks near the Strawberry Sampler for a cup of coffee before storming the shop for more stash.

We asked one of the girls that works there to take this pic for us. Then we went to the shop.

Of course I picked up a couple things while there. I can't remember ever walking in this shop without leaving with something to add to my stash.

It was so good to see Catherine and Brett again before going home. Thanks once again girls for a great time!

I guess that covered friends and stash...

Let's get to the last part of today's post title.

***DIAMONDS***

This morning Masterchief took me out for breakfast at the Hollywood Diner in Delaware. Don't ask me what town. I couldn't tell you. Maybe Catherine could help us by leaving it in a comment...(hint-hint)

After breakfast he took me to Kay Jewelers and told me to pick out anything in the store and it would be mine. I already had my eye on something in there so before he could change his mind I didn't waste any time getting to this......

It's a beautiful one carat anniversary ring in white gold! Our 6th anniversary is December 12th. I'm so glad he's not making me wait until then to wear it! Also Delaware has no sales tax...YAY!! Luckily the one they had in the case was my size so I was able to walk out of the store with it on my finger.

I ask myself every day, what on earth did I do to deserve a man like Masterchief? He's so good to me. He even proof reads my blog post before I publish for typos. (I love you Honey. More than you know)

That's it for today folks. As you can imagine I am on cloud 9. I'm going to see my grandson on Saturday, I'm going home a couple days after that, I have more stash and I have new bling on my finger. What more could a girl want?

I probably won't post anymore until we get home...about a week or so. Take care of yourselves. I am *this* close to sitting on my couch with needle and linen in hand. (((((squeals)))))

~~Peggy Lee

Playing Catch-Up

2011-11-14T11:01:00.000-05:00

Oh gosh...I think I might forget how to do this. It's been a while since I've posted and I feel so "out of the loop". I haven't had any time to browse through your blogs. I really miss that.

My last day of work was Saturday but Masterchief was asked to work till this Friday. They kept a handful of Senior HP's to finish up. This outage wasn't nearly as hard as past ones. I grew very tired for sure but was able to keep the pace for the most part. Remember my last post about how I was to move up to be a Junior HP? Well I did all the testing...and did it well if I don't say so myself but the final signature was not to be had in the end. The required 6 months experience is usually waived when the supervisors approve of your work but we have a new RPM (Radiation Protection Manager) now and I assume he goes by the book. I have been doing this work since 2009 but since we only do two outages a year my accumulated time only came to 4.5 months. With this outage under my belt I should have no problem moving up next Spring. Since I already completed the training I should be able to move up without having to do it again.

Here are a couple of pictures taken of me while at work. There are cameras everywhere in that place and once in a while the house tech will take some pictures and send them to us.

The Senior HP is cutting me out of my outer protective clothing here. It's made of a sort of plastic so I'm drenched underneath!

Off with the face shield. So glad to have it off. It gets steamy under there.

So....we are in New Jersey until this Saturday morning when we will then head up to PA to visit with my family for a couple days. Then we will be homeward bound. We miss our home so much. We will get home in time to have Thanksgiving with some very good friends. Can't wait!

Let's get on with the stitchy pictures....

On my last day off we ran up to Glen Mills, Pa to The Strawberry Sampler to pick up the two pieces I was having framed. I suggested that Masterchief drop me off at the shop while he took the car for an oil change but for some reason he wouldn't agree to that. Hmmm....I don't get it.

I am forever grateful to my stitchy friends that went with me to the shop. They helped me pick out these frames. I love the detail in this one. This is "I Sew'd My Heart", a freebie from Heartstring Samplery.

Next up is "My Ways" by La d Da.

Again, the detail in this frame is gorgeous. Thanks to Nancy once again for lending me this chart!

That's about it friends. I will spend the next few days catching up and commenting on your blogs. Thanks for hanging in there.

~~Peggy Lee

Moving on Up!

2011-10-17T19:31:00.002-04:00

I have never tried to post to my blog using my phone so I hope this works OK.
When I started training last week I thought I would get all the testing completed on the first day. I was then told that they wanted me to test to move up from a Decontamination Tech to a Junior Health Physics Tech. It takes a little more training and a little more responsibility. I was really nervous about it but it looks like I'll do just fine after all. My last bit of testing is tomorrow then I'll just wait to be called in to the plant. I am nervous and excited at the same time.
The reactor goes down on Saturday night. Then the grueling schedule begins working six 12-hour days for about three weeks. Three weeks doesn't sound like a long time but when we are working those hours it seems like a very l-o-n-g time!
Needless to say I haven't had time to even think about stitching and won't now until I get back home in mid November.
I already miss browsing through all your blogs. Can't wait till I can visit you all again.
Please cross an X for me!
~~Peggy Lee

We Had A BLAST!!

2011-10-08T18:32:00.000-04:00

It's a beautiful day here in New Jersey. Yikes, I can't believe I said that! Please don't take offense if you are from this state but I only dislike N.J. because I miss my home so much while I'm here. Oh and the cost of living is so much cheaper at home!

On Thursday I met with a few fellow stitcher friends and we had a great time together. We first met at Starbucks where I tried to stitch with them but I only got a few x's in. Try as I might, I cannot stitch and talk at the same time.

Pictured here from left to right is Anna, Brett (I affectionately call her Bert, oh I hope she doesn't mind), me and Catherine. We spent almost two hours there before heading over to The Strawberry Sampler for some much needed stash shopping.

Since I belong to the COTM club at Sassy's Fabby's I didn't need any linen. I did however need an assortment of threads for a few charts I wanted to kit up. I also wanted to come home with the 2012 Book Of Days. I got their LAST ONE! Whew! Well here's a pic of what I ~~needed~~ purchased...

A girl can never have enough needles so I picked up a package of my favorite, John James gold petites.
I never go away from the shop without also grabbing a pair of scissors. I've been drooling over these online for a while.

I always bring with me something for the girls at the shop to frame. This time I had two pieces ready for framing. Here is My Ways by La D Da....

I just love the little daisy-like pattern on this one! When I laid eyes on it I knew it was the one.

Next up is the frame I chose for I Sew'd My Heart by Beth Twist at Heartstring Samplery.

I was so glad to have Catherine, Brett and Anna there to help me decide on the frames. Thanks so much girls!

Lastly tonight I will leave you with my latest finish. During this week I have tried to spend the majority of my time studying for the tests I will need to pass in order to work at Salem Nuclear. The tests are good for a year so I am required to take them about every other outage. It's very nerve-wracking for me because I only got in to this business a couple years ago while Masterchief doesn't need to study at all because he's been doing this forever. He's such a smarty pants (tongue sticking out, fingers waving from my ears). I managed to fit a few stitches in at night before going to bed.

It's Praise God by La D Da. I think I will try to frame this one myself. I will not be stitching anything else now until I go home again in mid November.

Well I need to get going and fix something for Masterchief's dinner. I have had to get creative for our meals since living in a hotel. We aren't staying in a room that has a kitchenette so it's microwave all the way! Tonight it's ham slices lightly warmed with instant mashed taties and canned beets.

Thanks for visiting with me today. Until I can pass my needle through linen again, please cross and X for me, won't you?

~~Peggy Lee

Hotel Living....

2011-10-04T10:47:00.000-04:00

Good Tuesday morning friends!

We arrived in New Jersey Saturday afternoon. We always make hotel arrangements way in advance but this time we didn't. Over the past couple years we had our fill of where we always stayed. The price kept going up but the service/cleanliness went down. The housekeeping was deplorable! So not too far from where that hotel was is a Super 8 that was built just last year so it hasn't really had time to get run down yet. I guess as a rule Super 8's are a no frills chain (I've never stayed in one before so I don't really know). This one doesn't have a fitness room and no microwaves in the rooms. They do offer a refrigerator but it's one of those tiny cube-shaped ones. They were kind enough to let us use two of them and we went to Sam's to get a microwave. There's not one single drawer in this room! There are cubby holes instead.

Here is a picture I took of our home until mid-November:

I had to use the spaces below the TV for our canned goods, etc...so the second bed really came in handy for our clothes. We would be living out of suitcases and tote bags without it. Besides that, Masterchief and I don't sleep well in a King sized bed. It gives him too much room to pivot, leaving me clinging to the corner of the mattress. He says he's trying to "find me". Isn't that sweet? Grrrrr.......
I think the best part of staying here instead of where we were the last couple years is that the staff here speaks English. It is very frustrating to ask for something as simple as towels or a set of sheets and have to play charades to get them!

Masterchief started his training week yesterday. I start next Monday so that leaves this week for me to study...study...study! I will be glad when I don't have to do that anymore like he does. Masterchief has been doing this for so long he can go in there and pass every test without studying at home first.

To keep my head from exploding, I study for a while and then check blogs, email, Pinterest etc...

I can't wait for Thursday when I will meet up with Catherine from Bramblewood Stitches. We will be going to The Strawberry Sampler among other places. I'll be sure to share the details on the next post!

So with all that said I better get back to it. I've really enjoyed keeping current on reading all your blogs. That will end next week when I start work. I'm doing my best to get my "fix" while I can!

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your visits so much!

~~Peggy Lee

Quick Post ~ Progress and See Ya Later!

2011-09-29T07:45:00.000-04:00

Good Thursday morning friends! This will be a very quick post. Today is when CRAZY begins in this house. I've been slowly getting things organized to pack but now is when it gets serious. I have two days to get this house in order and have everything packed. Masterchief and I have a system: I pack everything and he puts in it in the car. Somehow I think I'm getting the short end here!

This is what the bed in the spare room looks like......

What a mess! Today I will work on getting this stuff in to tote bags and suit cases.

Here is where I am with Praise God by La D Da.......

I am going to take this one with me but I probably won't get much stitching time in after the first week of being in New Jersey. I may also be able to squeeze a post in after the first week. After that I will be too busy to even read blogs.

I am so looking forward to meeting up with Catherine again. She might even have a couple more stitchers in tow for me to meet!

That's my progress report for now. Until I am able to check blogs again, please email me if anything major happens in any of your lives. I hate it when I've been away at work and I come back to the blogging world again only to make a stupid comment not knowing what has happened. Has that ever happened to any of you?

Oh...and please drop me a line "just because" every now and then. I'd really appreciate some contact from the real world once in a while. I can't promise you I'll answer right away but we do check emails daily while working.

Thanks for taking the time today........I appreciate you ALL so much!

~~Peggy Lee

It's a Stitcher's Prerogative........

2011-09-23T17:30:00.000-04:00

........to change her mind! I know I said I would be starting a design by LHN but I don't have the threads on hand that I need. I have put them on my list for when I am able to go to The Strawberry Sampler in a week or so. Instead I rummaged through my basket of charts that I have all kitted up, just waiting for me to stitch the poor things. I came up with this one.........

It's "Praise God" by....yep, you guessed it, La D Da. I even got to start it today while Masterchief was out in the addition working. I'm stitching it on 40 count. Ugh...why do I torture myself?

While lurking through blog posts today I found a good recipe for biscuits that are baked in a cast iron skillet.

I only changed the recipe by adding 3 tablespoons of sugar but my Masterchief said I could add more next time so I think this one is a keeper folks! Believe you me....he will tell me if I should throw the recipe in the trash. Truth be known I am glad he doesn't tell me how delicious everything I make is when it's clearly a bomb. He absolutely LOVES my recipe for banana cake.

Well that about does it friends. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. It is cool and drizzly here but that's OK. It's a great day for baking!

Ohhh...click HERE if you want that recipe for the biscuits.

Thanks for visiting......

~~Peggy Lee

Another Finish!

2011-09-22T16:24:00.000-04:00

I finished My Ways early this morning. I left something out. Can you guess what it is? A big huge THANK YOU to Nancy for lending me this chart by La D Da. It will be back home very soon!

I have already picked out what I will stitch next. It was a very difficult decision because I do love to stitch samplers so much but this one at least has words in it.

I have already picked out what I will stitch next. Battle Hymn of the Republic by LHN.........

I am a softy for anything patriotic so this one should be a fun stitch. I won't get much time to work on this one though because Masterchief and I will be leaving for work (New Jersey) on October 1st. I don't stitch, blog, read blogs or much of anything else during work time. I barley have an hour after arriving back to the hotel from work before I have to be in bed and do it all over again the next day. It is very tiring but it will only last about a month and it will be over. Masterchief's report date is one week before mine so during that week I will be studying and meeting with stitchy friends. I will be sure to take my camera with me. I am SO looking forward to it! I will need Catherine's help in picking out threads for this next stitch. It calls for all DMC but I prefer to use variegated threads.

Oh....if any of you quilt please click HERE to see how you can help. A young girl's fiance was laid to rest just days before they were to be married. He served in Afganistan. Such a sad story. Thanks for looking.

Mmmm....I just heard Masterchief say something about lighting the grill. Dinner is always good when he's cooking!

Thanks so much for your visit! I do so appreciate all your comments.

~~Peggy Lee

Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake

2011-09-19T17:49:00.000-04:00

I had no idea this recipe would stir up so many requests so instead of emailing it several times I am posting it here. Believe it or not there is one small piece left on the counter yet. It won't make it through the evening I'm sure!

Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake

1/2 cup butter or marg. softened

1/2 cup shortening

1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

3 cups sugar

6 large eggs

3 cups flour

1/4 teas. baking soda

1/4 teas. salt

1 6oz. pkg. grated or shredded coconut

1 teas. vanilla

1 teas. coconut extract

Get the butter, shortening and cream cheese out and let them come to room temperature. Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed for 2 minutes or until soft and creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating just until yellow disappears. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add to butter mixture. Mix at low speed just until blended. Stir in coconut and flavorings. Pour batter in to greased and floured Bundt pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour 30 minutes. Do the toothpick test. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely. Garnish with a drizzle of powdered sugar glaze and toasted coconut if desired.

It was a big hit here!

~~Peggy Lee

That's Random!

2011-09-17T18:21:00.000-04:00

Just sharing a few pictures with you that I've taken in the last few days. Random things, really.

A quick post..........

We have been having much needed rain recently. Masterchief just put this rain gauge on the deck and look what I saw perched on it...........

We have enjoyed these little bundles of energy all summer and will be sad to see them go. Just before I sat down to blog I heard them bumping their little beaks in to the kitchen window where the feeder hangs. Silly little things!

Masterchief and I enjoy playing cribbage and usually have an ongoing game in the works at all times. On this particular night I thought he must have super-glued my peg in the board cause he was spankin' me hard! This is the look I usually get when he's full of his Masterchief-self..................

That's ok...I'll get him next time. I still love him enough to make him this Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake...............

I gave him a thin slice before he started mowing the lawn. It wins his approval but be warned....it's called POUND cake for a reason! I'll share the recipe if anyone wants it. Just let me know. This would be prettier with a glaze on it but I knew Masterchief wouldn't care for that.

I must finish this post with something stitchy so here's my progress on My Ways.........

Please forgive the crummy picture. I held it up with one hand and took the picture with the other. I am really enjoying this stitch but it is a bit harder for me because I am using 40 count. I remember a few years back thinking...."I want to stitch on 40 count now while I can because I know there will come a day when it will be too small for me to see". Well I was right! Last night while stitching on this I was really having a hard time seeing the tiny little holes in the linen. I commented to Masterchief how I was having such a time with it. I thought maybe I was just tired or something but then I looked up and realized I didn't have the lamp swiveled over so it was positioned above my head! That was cause for a few chuckles.

I hope you all are having a peaceful weekend. The weather here in southern Kentucky was absolutely beautiful today. I actually had enough energy to help mow the lawn. I am very proud of myself.

Thanks so much for staying with me on this very random post.

Happy stitching!
~~Peggy Lee

Samplers and Old Jars...

2011-09-14T14:32:00.000-04:00

Good afternoon dear friends. I'm in a good mood today. Do I hear a "YAY"?? I finally had enough and went to see my doctor on Monday and it turns out I'm not going through menopause after all! I'm NOT crazy....and oh gosh NO, I'm not pregnant either. Anyway things are looking up.

Let's show the stitching first because after all this is a stitchy blog, isn't it?

Last post I told you about the sampler chart called "I Sew'd My Heart" Beth Twist is giving out to those who take a picture of wherever they may be with her blog page in it somewhere. (See last post for linkypoo) I went to work on it right away and finished it in just under a week. I'm not a quick stitcher so this amazed even me......

I made a few small changes. The heart and flowers are to be filled in with a slightly lighter color but I like them this way. No wonder I got it done so fast, huh? I woke up at 3am the morning after finishing this with the urge to stain it with tea. So there I was in the dark squeezing tea bags over my finished sampler. If Masterchief would have woke up and saw me he would have thought I was sleepwalking for sure!

I also started another piece. Yes, it's another sampler. Did you expect anything else from me here at Kentucky Sampler? Nancy was so kind to send me the chart for "My Ways" by La D Da. Click HERE to see her blog. Thank you so much Nancy! If I had to choose my favorite designer I would have to say it's Lori Markovic with La D Da. Every chart doesn't speak to me but so many of them do!

Of course....AGAIN......I didn't have all the called for threads so I had to substitute all but one. I had the recommended Black Crow by TGA Sampler Threads, which is what you see here. I really don't have that many threads in my stash but I tried to choose colors that were as close as I could get to what Lori recommended. I am stitching it on 40 count so it takes about 10 minutes after I start to stitch for my eyes to get adjusted. The finished sampler should measure 4 5/8" x 6 1/4".

Now to the Old Jars part of the post............

I'm afraid I have created a monster in Masterchief! I brought home a couple old Ball canning jars one day a few years back and now he is the local authority on how old they are, what they are worth etc... I try to use as many of them as I can for pasta, rice, beans, old scrabble letters, wooden nickels, dice. You get the idea. Here's the problem: There are too many **TOO MANY** to possibly use in this house! I have blue jars everywhere. They have taken over my bakers rack.....

Did ya notice how I sneaked a bit of my stitching in there?

I will admit I love these things but we really do need to come up with some other type of display tactics. I need to share this last picture of Masterchief's very first "Bill" jar. The a in Ball is buggered up and it looks like an i.

Not sure if you can see it here. It is now one of his most prized blue Ball jars.

That's it for today friends. Thanks so much for stopping by.

~~Peggy Lee

Red Border Study...FINISHED!

2011-09-03T10:57:00.000-04:00

I suppose you can guess by the title of this post that I am VERY excited to have finished Red Border Study II on Thursday night.........

The one on the left is Border Study In Red which I completed in 2004. The one on the right is Red Border Study II. The suggested thread was DMC 815, Garnet but I chose to use WDW Brick. The designer is Valerie Bieber Mertz from Heron House Designs. She lives in the same town as my son which is the next town over from where I lived while growing up in PA. Small world! I am saddened to report though that despite my repeated attempts to contact this designer I have not been able to locate her. I found a Valerie Bieber Mertz on Facebook but I received no reply when I dropped her a line through FB. Short of stalking her, I've given up. I had someone email me asking me how to get these charts and I'm sorry I haven't been able to help. These charts were designed in the year 2000.

Beth Twist is having a little offer of an adorable sampler she designed to anyone who takes a picture of their phone/laptop etc... set at her blog page wherever they happen to be at the time. She has quite a few interesting photos already. Carmen Sutton of Cardan Antiques and Needlework and I met while I was in Tennessee and she sent a picture of our meeting to Beth. Beth then sent us the chart for her sampler. I picked out the threads and linen last night.....

.......and started it already.........

I had to make substitutions for all of Beth's suggested threads because I didn't have any of them on hand. I tried to pick out ones that were very close.

Well today I'm trying to get all my cleaning done so I can sit my fanny on the end of the couch and stitch away without guilt. It's a hot one out there today. I have my clothes lines full, my floors mopped and vacumed and the dust has been dusted!

TCM and my needle calls. They have been showing early talkies on TCM this morning....my favorite!

Have a great weekend everyone and thank you BIG BUNCHES for stopping by.....

So glad to be back home (I caught myself checking my pockets for the hotel key card as I went out for my morning walks the first two days back). **rolls eyes** Good grief

~~Peggy Lee

Meeting a Fellow Blogger.....

2011-08-30T18:40:00.000-04:00

I have met the best people since I started this blog! While here in Tennessee I met yet another fellow stitcher/blogger. Please meet Carmen from Cardan Antiques and Needlework. She loves samplers too! It all started with an email after she read my post last week complaining of the taxes here in TN. I think I understand it all now but I'm still glad I live in KY.

Anyway Carmen is so very talented. She invited me to her home and gave me a tour of all her stitched treasures. She has drawers, walls and cabinets full of them! You know I always have the camera in front of my face but I was so busy keeping my chin off the floor that I didn't take one picture. Oh she does beautiful work and she designs too!

Her husband, Danny volunteered to fix Masterchief's truck. The starter gave out on it and by the time he would get home from work he ran out of daylight. We were both left speechless by the kindness of strangers. I mean really..... here he is crawling under the truck getting all nasty greasy for a complete stranger!

We are eternally grateful to Danny for taking the time to help us on his weekend.

After Carmen showed me a few antique shops in the area we all went out for dinner at Carrabba's. Masterchief and I have never been to Carrabba's before and we really liked it.

We almost wish we would be staying in TN a little longer but we will be sure to look them up if we are in the area again.

Here is a pic of all the charts and goodies Carmen gave me. That's right.....she just gave them to me! I am speechless again.......

I feel like anything I put here just won't express enough how thankful we are to Carmen and Danny for helping us out with the truck and for the kindness shown to us. They are both very down to earth kind hearted people who would do anything for you. THANK YOU BOTH!!

Here is a pic of progress on Red Border Study II

I took this picture this morning but have stitched two more rows at the top since then. I really like doing this piece because each row completed results in a mini celebration. I didn't realize how much I had accomplished until I saw the last picture I took of this. Of course I owe it all to Masterchief's starter dying in his truck. He had to use the car to get to work and that left me with lots of stitching time in the hotel room.

Today it took at least 15 minutes to load each picture up so I am calling it quits for now. Masterchief should be here any moment. He messaged me to say he was on his way back to the hotel because they have finished the job. We will be home in a day or two now. We want to take a day to do the tourist thing in Nashville before heading back home.

A big HUGE thank you again to Carmen and Danny for your kindness and new friendship. Words will never express our gratitude. I am also so very inspired from looking at all the samplers on your walls. I can't wait to get home to my stash!

Next time I blog it will be from my old Kentucky home!

~~Peggy Lee

A Finish, a Start and a Crafty Idea!

2011-08-23T12:43:00.000-04:00

I've had plenty of stitching time while here in Tennessee. Yesterday it seemed that my head was...well, somewhere else. I couldn't concentrate on anything. Neither one of us has been able to sleep well here. We adjust the air to where we think we will be comfortable and then we wake up through the night, sometimes hot and other times cold. The refrigerator runs loudly and it will sometimes make that tapping sound like when housekeeping taps their key card on your door to announce themselves. It took us a night or two to figure out no one was actually at the door at 2 in the morning! SHEESH!!

Ok so lets get on with the meaning of this posts title.........

Here's the finish......

I'm sure Catherine will be glad to have her LHN Singing The Blues chart back. She's been so patient with my keeping it as long as I have. THANK YOU CATHERINE!!
Never you mind that the bird looks like a stripey toe sock. I probably should have planned my variegation in the thread a bit better but oh well. He's a happy little guy. I chose to substitute the swirly thing for music notes like others I've seen. Just in case you haven't seen or don't remember my first attempt at this chart...CLICK HERE to see it. I had chosen a pretty blue linen and switched up the threads for a more colorful spin. Well that's all history now and I really like this finished version. I'm not sure how I'll finish it yet but I'm just glad to have it done.

Now for the start............

This is Heron House Designs Red Border Study II. I'm not sure what year it was when I stitched the Border Study I. I think it was 2004. I know we still lived in Pennsylvania when I stitched it. It's not framed at the moment so when I get this second one done I will have them both framed at the same time. That will be pricey, won't it? Let's just not think about that right now. I'm using WDW Brick on this. I really like the different stitches in a few of the rows.........

I love me some Algerian Eyes!!

The hint to the crafty idea is at the top of my blog page on the side bar. I was browsing through blogs the other day and found this awesome idea to use old embroidery hoops. I don't use hoops anymore so I'm sure I have several stuck in the back of a closet somewhere. I see them all the time at thrift stores and don't pick them up but now you can bet I'm gonna grab 'em! Just click on the picture to check out Jane's blog.

I just spent the last hour or so on the phone with Carmen. See her blog HERE. She is a local here in TN and has offered to stop by my hotel and guide me in the direction of a few places to shop. I love to meet my fellow bloggy friends and am thrilled to get to meet Carmen this afternoon!

Well I must give my laptop a rest. It's darn near smoking now it's so warm. Time to get stitching.

Thanks for stopping by today. I have SO enjoyed browsing through your blogs and leaving a comment here and there. You all are so talented!

~~Peggy Lee

Welcome to Tennessee!

2011-08-18T15:13:00.000-04:00

It's a beautiful state (what I've seen of it so far) but holy cow! When I got back from the grocery store I noticed two different taxes on my receipt. One for 7.75% and the other for 9.25%. I don't know what all that is for but it just seems like that's alot. I'm sure I'm missing something there but so far I've only had my receipts to look at.

So far this week I have stitched a little and explored a lot. I found a place to get my hair cut close to the hotel. It was VERY expensive. At home I pay $12 (plus a tip) for a cut and here I paid $45 (plus a tip). I had to fix my bangs when I got home too!

I slept so good the first night here but since then I haven't slept well at all. For some reason I brought my OTC sleeping aid with me and I think tonight I will be taking it.

My laptop has finally given it up for the hotel internet and finished uploading all the updates so I can finally blog from it instead of using Masterchief's laptop. Here is the pic I wanted to include with the last post.....

I found the plate at Pier One and had to have a wine glass while here at the hotel. As for the M&M's, well that's just one of life's little necessities.

I have managed to fit in a few stitches during the day while Masterchief is at work.

It takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r to load a picture up here at the hotel so that's it for now. I think I need to take a nap. I have been up since 3am.

I have so enjoyed reading your blogs and leaving comments. I think I have left more comments in the last few days than I have in a long time. It feels good! A few of you have even gone so far as to reply to them. I thank you so much for that.

I'm so glad you stopped by today. Check back for continued progress on my stitching. I think I'll be here for another week.

~~Peggy Lee

Today....

2011-08-16T15:18:00.000-04:00

......I did the laundry (washers and dryers are free here at the Candlewood). YAY! While the clothes were in the dryer I ran down the road to pick up a bottle of my favorite wine, Beringer's White Merlot only to get back to the hotel and remember that I don't have a corkscrew here OR *gasp* a pretty wine glass!!

So.....after folding the last of the three loads I ran down to the car and poked "all shopping" in to the handy dandy navigation thingy the car came with and lo and behold there were several places to spend money within a 5 mile radius! Now you must understand here that if I should do that very same thing from my driveway at home it would have to reach out about 20 miles to get to the nearest drug store/Walmart...not counting gas stations and dollar stores of course. I haven't been in a Pier One since I worked at one in PA about 6 years ago. They still smell the same in case you're wondering. I bought a stemless wine glass and a pretty white plate that looks like lace along the edge.

I have spent the last 30 minutes taking a picture and trying to load it on to Masterchief's laptop but for some reason it won't recognize the camera card and my laptop is refusing to connect up here at the hotel for the moment so maybe I can get a picture to you later. Sorry.

Anyway....I have already broken in the wine glass and I am happy to report that it works just fine. I think I'll keep it.

I have not started any stitching yet though. I have been spending the last day or two extending my feelers into the area here. Brentwood is beautiful but I have found that the women here dress up in their (almost) very best just to go grocery shopping. I'm not used to that where I live in KY so needless to say I have felt like a bit of a slob in my capri's, Kentucky Cats T-shirt and sandals. At least I remembered to use my tweezers, slap on some deodorant and brush on some mascara before I left the hotel today. Those girls just don't know how lucky they are!

I need to turn the AC back on now. Poor Masterchief has been a bit warm since I arrived here. He likes it cooler than I do but he doesn't complain much. He's more than I deserve!

Hopefully I will have some stitchy news in my next post.

Until then....
~~Peggy Lee

NO...Don't Go!!

2011-08-13T06:28:00.000-04:00

Well here it is the end of the week already. Time has a nasty way of buzzing by when you don't want it to.

I just wanted to pop in very quickly to touch base. As you can imagine it's been a busy week here.

I haven't had a moment to stitch or browse through your blogs but I'm sure you understand!

Masterchief had to leave for Nashville the day Josh, Laymie and Liam arrived here. I will be taking them back to the airport today and then I'm off to Nashville to join him. This job should only last another couple of weeks so I will most likely stay with Masterchief until he's finished there. I plan to stay in the hotel room and get as much stitching done as I can. I've already packed a few things to stitch. Of course I will be stitching on Singing The Blues by LHN. Hopefully I will get that finished so I can send the chart back to Catherine. I have also tucked Something Wicked This Way Comes by La D Da in my bag. I think I've had that one all kitted up for some time now and just never started it. I'm also bringing a sampler I've been working on for who knows how long. Do you have any of those WIP's that last for years and every once in a great while you pick it up to put a few stitches in only to put it down and start something else? Well that's what this one is! Maybe some day I'll devote more time to it and get it done. It's that darn border that always gets me!

I'm taking my little laptop with me as well.....to catch up on all your blogs.

The kids are back to school here already! Have any of yours started back yet? That just seems crazy. I was shocked to see a school bus zoom past me out here in the country while I was taking my morning walk the other day. Where did the summer go? I would imagine it's hard for the kids to start back when it's still so hot out, although I have to say we here in southern Kentucky have had a little bit of a break from the high humidity. It sure has been a scorcher this year!

Well I need to get packing and get squeezing my little Liam as much as I can before I have to send him back home with his parents. I wonder if they would notice if I tucked him in with my things and took him to Nashville with me?

Until next post....do take care!
~~Peggy Lee

Anticipation...it's makin' me WAIT!!

2011-08-06T20:53:00.001-04:00

Today was supposed to be the BIG day. Josh, Laymie and Liam should be here right NOW but their flight was cancelled due to "no available pilot". Now what is that? That cut our time with each other short by one day. The flight was automatically rescheduled for the following day. Grandpa Masterchief will now only see them for a few hours and then he's off to Nashville for a job. It was an unexpected call but when someone waves a dollar at us we can't pass it up, especially in times like these!

So....tomorrow I will be squeezing my little Liam!

He doesn't quite fit in to Daddy's boots yet but they better watch out....he will be singing bass before they know it.

Tomorrow is also my birthday and what more of a present could a grandma ask for? I am so excited!

On another note........

I have a hard time keeping all of you straight. Oh please don't take offense. I read SO MANY blogs it is hard for me to remember who said what and who stitched which design. I hope I am not the only one who suffers from this disease. I say this in hopes to find a dear, sweet follower (or reader) who has sent me a couple emails telling me that I inspired her to stitch the LHN Bluebird piece in a colorful way. A weekend or so ago she sent me an email with a picture attached to show me exactly what she was stitching since she doesn't yet have a blog. I received the email while on the road with my phone and couldn't see the picture. I figured when I got home I would look at it on the big computer and then reply. Well wouldn't you know it, when I checked my gmail at home, IT WASN'T THERE! I had somehow deleted it with my phone and now it's forever LOST! So please....dear friend....if it was YOU who emailed me that picture of your stitching, I so badly want to see it. Please, please send it to me again. I've been just sick about losing it.

I haven't stitched anything in the past few days because I've been "Spring" cleaning. I haven't even baked anything. That's just not normal around here.

Until I blog again............

~~Peggy Lee

Grandbaby...Stitching Progress and Chocolate Pie!

2011-08-03T15:50:00.002-04:00

Sure has been a while since I've posted, I know. I think about doing it every day and then time just gets away from me. I really haven't been doing much stitching. We had our nephew here for a two week visit recently. Josh, Laymie and Liam are coming to stay with us for a week. We pick them up at the airport this Saturday! I am so excited. This will be the first trip to Kentucky for my son. Laymie and Liam were with us for a couple nights last Fall while Josh went to a fitness expo in Ohio. Liam has grown like you wouldn't believe. Be prepared for a post with lots of pictures after their visit! Here is one Laymie sent me recently....

Aww heck....I can't just give you one.....

Laymie says he's cruisin' for chicks here. Can you believe he is walking already? Saturday can't come soon enough!

I think when I left you last I had finished the G block on ABC Tapestry. Sometimes it's hard to judge the size of a piece so here I have put my big 'ol paw in the pic....

Now here is a picture of what it looks like today. Remember that the corner block and the A, B and C blocks are now rolled onto the scroll so you can't see them here.....

Every time I thought about blogging my progress on this piece I put it off thinking...I just want to wait until I get all four blocks outlined, THEN I'll blog about it. Well I would have had it finished last night but I counted wrong on the stitches along the bottom and had a little frogging session. After that I stuck my needle in the fabric, pushed my quilting rack away and promptly stomped in to the kitchen to prepare myself some pasta!

Pasta is a healer. Amen!

I managed a new beginning on the Bluebird piece (Singing The Blues) by LHN. Catherine was so kind to lend me the chart and now I feel bad about having it so long. Remember the very colorful rendition of this earlier? I still don't feel bad about putting it through the shredder. I thought maybe I would experience some post-mortem blues but NOPE! I still form a sneaky grin at the corners of my mouth when I think of it. *evil laugh here*

I used WDW Whitewash for the border and I chose Belle Soie Blue Lagoon for the main color of blue. It's the same blue I used for Liam's Sampler. LOVE it!!

I made a Chocolate Dream Pie for Masterchief a couple of weeks ago. The recipe is on the back of the Dream Whip box and it's been a favorite to make for years. No baking required and OH so delicious! Look what I turned the corner into the kitchen to find one evening....

That's a good third of the pie, wouldn't you say? I managed to steal a couple bites but it was gone in a flash!

I'm just guessing here but I think that recipe is a keeper.

I want to thank all of you who have left me very supportive and encouraging comments this summer. I just haven't felt the blogging mojo like I used to. I browse through your blogs faithfully but when it comes to posting on my own blog my get-up-&-go can be found taking a nap.

Take care of yourselves and try to stay cool. Before you know it we will be freezing in the middle of Winter trying to remember what it feels like to break a sweat!

Until next time, cross a few X's for me!

~~Peggy Lee

Blogger Lag.....

2011-07-20T21:48:00.000-04:00

As I sit here in my stitchy chair browsing through the blogs of my faithful stitchy friends, I am feeling...well...not so stitchy.

Yes my friends I am afraid it's happened. I have turned in to one of those bloggers who reads your posts almost faithfully but rarely leaves a comment. Now how awful is that?

I never wanted this blog to reflect any boo-hooism's on my part. I just don't want to bother you with any of that. It's not my bloggy-style. I can't seem to get past the part where I click on "New Post". And yes, I've done that. I sit and stare at the screen and can't think of a single thing to tell you.

Here's a couple pics of my ABC Tapestry.

I wish I would have taken a picture before I sat here to let you see what it looks like now. I have just about outlined the four blocks that go under D E F and G. Then all I will have to do is do the "guts" of each block.

My 13 year old nephew is visiting with us for two weeks. If there isn't a 3-ring circus marching through the house every second he is bored to death! We went out on the lake today and he spent darn near the whole time in the water. I got a terrible sunburn. You'd think I would know better at my age, right? I'm gonna really be hurting in the morning.

Well it's bed time for me. The bed is going to feel really good tonight.

Oh...I'm gonna give that little bluebird chart another whirl. I'm going to stay away from the paper shredder this time though. :o)

Tomorrow I rest. Then it's on to a full day of showing my nephew the sites of Kentucky.

Goodnight friends.....
~~Peggy Lee

Happy Blogaversary WINNER!!

2011-07-03T08:38:00.000-04:00

A big thank you with *hugs* to all of you who entered my first anniversary giftaway here! I gained some followers in the process....WELCOME! A big thanks also for all the sympathy and suggestions for my "ailment". Some of your comments were very helpful, and VERY funny!

--Sorry Sweet Sue about your verification word...that's just too funny!

--Cathy from KY in CA....I can't believe what you did to your stitching piece! I roared when I read your comment. Thanks for sharing.

OK I won't put it off any longer. The winner is..........

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

MOUSE

FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM

The MYSTERY PRIZE is a $40 gift certificate to my favorite online shop, 123 Stitch.

Mouse, please email me with your information so I can let them know. Congratulations and thanks again to all who entered!

Masterchief and I would like to wish you all a VERY HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY.

~~Peggy Lee

The Country Cook

2011-06-29T17:47:00.000-04:00

While I can't tell you exactly how I came across her blog, I can tell you it was one of the best "blog happenings" I've stumbled on.

Her name is Brandie. I can honestly tell you I only read her profile information (very quickly) moments ago and found out she has also married a Navy man. Well no wonder I liked her immediately!

I can quite honestly say she runs a VERY close second to the other recipe blog I follow (Pioneer Woman-Ree Drummond). I have tried several of her recipes and each one has been a big hit with Masterchief.

I was among those who felt too proud to admit that I needed a recipe for iced tea. Oh come on...I know you are out there. She has an EXCELLENT recipe for iced tea on her blog. Masterchief has declared it a keeper. That one and her short cut apple danishes. Brandie has since come out with those same danishes only CREAM CHEESE!! Now I ask you.......how can anyone in their right mind bake ANYTHING with cream cheese and have it not pull you to your knees?

Another thing I like about Brandie's blog is her style of writing. It's as if I'm right there in her kitchen. She's very down to earth...just keeping it REAL. I just know you'll love her blog.

Now HERE'S THE LINK TO HER BLOG. I purposely didn't link any specific recipe because I want you to peruse her blog for yourself. I am positive you will find many recipes to try.

PLEASE....please let me know what recipes you have tried. I would so much like to know your opinion on this.

Remember to enter my mystery giftaway on the previous post by Saturday night!

~~Peggy Lee

HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY TO ME!!!!

2011-06-24T15:48:00.010-04:00

That's right...tomorrow marks ONE YEAR since I first started my blog! I feel a giveaway rumbling around somewhere. I can't promise it will be anything big, in fact I don't have a clue what to offer so let's just call this

THE BIG MYSTERY GIFT-A-WAY

*gracious nods to Edgar*

It could be so many things! If you are interested in a chance to win this most mysterious gift-a-way please leave a comment on THIS POST ONLY. No need to mention it on your blog but if you felt so inclined...hugs to you. I don't like to jump through alot of hoops to enter a giveaway so let's keep this one simple. I will pick a name next Saturday night....that's July 2nd, and announce it on Sunday, July 3rd. Masterchief just came in the door mumbling something about a bottle of his favorite BBQ sauce but I've put my foot down this time.

Now let's get to the reason it has been so L-O-N-G since my last post.

remember this?

Well I don't really know how to break this to you without making myself sound like a hormonal, spoiled teenager.....it had an unfortunate meeting with the paper shredder. *hangs head in shame*

Without going in to alot of detail lets just say in the past six months to a year I have been experiencing alot of changes both mentally and physically. Sometimes these "changes" get the best of me and...well...things happen. I wish there was a magic pill to take all this away but I'm told it's "natural". I'd like to give Mr. Natural a swift kick in the teeth right now but would that really get me anywhere?

***** I'd like to thank Catherine here for being patient with me when I called her about my paper shredder dilemma. You are a peach Catherine and I feel another call to you coming up in the near future!*****

I also want to say I feel absolutely no remorse for what I've done with the little bluebird on linen. In fact I felt a sense of relief when the shredder froze up and I had to quickly hit the reverse button. I might have smiled a little...maybe. This does not mean I have given up on that chart. I will probably stitch it again but not with so many color changes. I was really going nuts with all that, wasn't I?

I have not abandoned my stitching all together. I dragged this big 'ol stand out of the back bedroom and began stitching on it once again.....

Masterchief took these pictures over my shoulder while I was stitching on the "F" block of ABC Tapestry. I had the flag done and was working on the flamingo.

I don't know if you can see it here well enough but if you look just behind my head in that little blue glass thing hanging from my lamp you can see my scissors stuck in there. It's a convenient place to keep them.

I am almost done with the F block as you can see here. I have stitched the Flag, Fox, Flowers, and Flamingo and I'm working on the Fish in the lower right-hand corner. G-block, here I come!!

I sent Masterchief outside with the camera the other day to take pictures of the flowers, etc...

Our Hydrangea is really beautiful this year. I can hardly believe how fast it's growing!

I bought this "birdie welcome" at Tractor Supply on Tuesday (my FAVORITE store). Isn't it cute?

These Gerbera daisy's do well in the front flower bed. They tolerate the hot afternoon sun and are SO beautiful, don't you think?

Let me tell you about our lonesome tobacco plant. I walk almost every morning as soon as I wake up for about an hour down the road. I saw this lonely little tobacco plant that had obviously fallen off a truck on the way to the field around here. I felt so sorry for it that I had Masterchief stop along the road while we were out to pick it up. It would have died! I don't smoke anymore (YAY)...and neither does Masterchief (YAY) but I still felt sorry for this little plant that would die if I didn't rescue it. So we planted it at the sunny side of our house and one day it will grow up to be big like it's little lost friends in the big fields just down the road. Besides......if this menopause thing gets the best of me I'll just go out to the side lawn and roll myself a big fat one! :o)

I guess that's about it for today's post my friends. I can't begin to tell you how guilty I feel for not being the model blogger. I thing about posting almost every day and then my mind wanders off to...whatever...

I browse through my posts almost daily and leave comments when I feel I can.

Now remember: leave a comment on THIS POST only to have a chance to win my one year blogaversary gift-a-way. I'll just quickly say here that the pot ($) has gone up since Masterchief came in the house from his man-cave. My goodness, he is a most generous man! (I promise NO BBQ SAUCE unless you specifically request it). Sheesh....I feel like a lawyer talking really fast right now.

Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to visit with me today. I wish each and every one of you lived within a few miles of me so I could visit you ALL!!

Kentucky Kisses....

~~Peggy Lee

Singing The Blues progress

2011-06-08T21:09:00.000-04:00

I've been slowly working on my latest stitch. I decided to add another color to the mix. When it came time to stitch the alphabet in this piece I wanted it to be in a different color than the bird. I want that cute little bluebird to stand out so he will be the only BLUE in this piece.

I apologize for the nasty pic. I ran an iron over it in light speed and threw it over the desk chair for a quick photo-op. Remind me to go check and see if I turned my iron off.....

I thought since the alphabet was positioned in the upper left corner it should resemble sunshine...kinda...sorta...does that make any sense? It was my mistake that I started stitching it with two threads instead of one like I had been using thus far. I had already stitched a few letters when I realized I was using two threads so I decided to continue on this way. I tell ya lately I have been all about embracing my mistakes and working around them! It's a sickness I NEVER thought I would be afflicted with but I'm workin' it girl!! I was always a perfectionist about my stitching before so this is as big of a surprise to me as it is to all you other perfect stitchers out there! Oh by the way...I'm using DMC #783 for the sunshiny alphabet.

Masterchief and I went to Sam's Club today. When we plan to go there it's usually an all day event. It takes about 1 1/2 to get there from home. He is out mowing right now and I'm feeling a bit guilty for not being out there helping him. It's awful sticky out there!

I followed the advice of a couple dear bloggy friends and changed the way the comments are left on my blog. Please let me know if this is easier for you.
I also noticed that my one year blogaversary is coming up at the end of this month! It hardly seems like a year. I want to have a giveaway of some sort but right now I have no idea what I will be offering. Be looking for a giveaway announcement soon! I'll come up with something. I'll have to keep this on the DL or Masterchief will be wanting to throw in a bottle of his favorite BBQ sauce! Shhhhh....... :o)

Hope the remainder of your week is cooler than mine!
~~Peggy Lee

A Weekend Start

2011-06-06T08:11:00.000-04:00

Good Monday morning everyone! I really shouldn't be sitting here blogging because Masterchief and I have been invited by friends to a day on the lake but I wanted to show you what I started over the weekend...

Please excuse the wrinkles. I grabbed it off the couch for a quick picture this morning. This chart, "Singing The Blues" by LHN was so kindly sent to me by Catherine from Bramblewood Stitches. Thanks Catherine! I chose a pretty blue 32 count linen I had in my basket and also changed up the colors a bit. I can't wait to finish it.

Yesterday I finished a little freebie offered by Heartstring Samplery. You can find the chart on the sidebar at her blog along with others. I am the first to admit I'm not the greatest at finishing so please keep that in mind...

I'm not the straightest stitcher in the world but I like it.

I think I promised a picture of "Ah Tis Spring" by Notforgotten Farm. I haven't done anything to it yet. I'm not exactly sure how I will finish it. I don't think I want to frame it. I'd love to have it on the front of a tote bag or something like that but that is most definitely out of my talent scope! Does anyone have any suggestions?

I chose not to put the words "Ah Tis Spring" along the top for mine. I might change my mind but for now I like it this way.

I think I'm slowly coming around to "normal " life here at the lake again. Masterchief spends alot of time out in the addition. He is really coming along out there. I will take pictures this week.

Hope you all have a wonderful week.
Thank you for your comments...I appreciate the time it takes to leave them! Really I do!!

~~Peggy Lee

A Very Patriotic Giveaway...

2011-05-30T21:58:00.000-04:00

Head on over to Feather's in The Nest for an awesome giveaway! You must enter before midnight on June 1st so HURRY!!
Click HERE and good luck to all.

~~Peggy Lee

OVERWHELMED!!!

2011-05-27T08:20:00.001-04:00

That one word pretty much sums it up for me lately. I have a list of things to do and not enough gumption to get them done. Seems it's taking me a little longer than I'd like to bounce back from this last job. I haven't posted anything much worth reading on here lately and with each day I allow to pass without posting the overwhelming feeling mounts!

So with my new glasses and a hot cup of coffee, here goes......

Here's what I've been up to since I left for work in March:

I worked the Spring outage at the Salem Nuclear Generating Station in Salem New Jersey.

I caught a sinus related bug during this outage and had to take two days off...something I've never done before but when I have a fever I'm defeated.

I managed to finish La D Da's ABCD.

I also finished Ah Tis Spring by Notforgotten Farm but I can't seem to find a picture of it right now. I'll try to take one and post it later.

I tried to visit a few shops while traveling. I picked up this cute pin cushion made of wool at By The Bay Needleart in Maine.

I had Liam's Sampler framed while near The Strawberry Sampler.

Sorry the photo isn't all that great. Along the bottom of the piece I stitched in his full name and birth date. I was going to give this to Josh, Laymie and Liam after the outage but Masterchief and I came down with some sort of horrible virus/flu bug while visiting his mother in Maine that we didn't dare stop in PA to visit. I would have felt so bad if we would have passed it on to them. I'll need to arrange a safe way to send it to them.

Speaking of Maine, before we got sick we had a good time with my mother in law. We drove up to Freeport to the LL Bean outlets.

Here we are at the Jameson Tavern right across from the outlets. We stopped here a few years back and had such a good meal we wanted to return for another.

I belong to a thing through Sassy's Fabby's where I get a piece of linen each month so on the rare occasion that I do get to a real shop I usually pick up a few pretty threads to add to my stash....

As you can see I also picked up a couple pairs of scissors, some threads minders and two lovely buttons I just couldn't resist!

The "overwhelming" part of this post begins here. The work for me is when we return home from an outage. We work every Spring and Fall so when I get back home I have a closet full of clothes from the previous season that need to be put away. Of course then I have to get out all the ones for the current season. While thinking about doing all this I'm knee deep in suitcases full of clothes we had with us while working. I can't really unpack until until I do the changeover....or I have to do it at the same time. See? I'm overwhelmed just blogging about it! Good news is I have completed MOST of that task. We don't have alot of room to store off season clothes so I was thrilled to find something to add to my *this is an awesome thing* list!
They are bags you can pack full of clothes, blankets, pillows etc... and then suck the air out of them to make them a fraction of the size they started out to be. This has given me so much room to store things I can't even begin to tell you! They come in many sizes. AWESOME!!!

Our friends invited us to go out on the lake with them last Friday. They got a bigger boat and this is the first summer they will have it out. The water was still too cold to jump in but we had a great time out on the water. The lake has risen so much we could hardly recognize landmarks (or couldn't see them at all).

This same couple called us last Sunday night with a deal we couldn't refuse. They invited us to go to Gatlingburg, TN for a two night visit. They had been there several times but we hadn't visited Gatlinburg yet and I have really wanted to...so...of course we said YES! It's only about a 3 hour drive from here so after driving from Maine to Kentucky this little trip was just a hop skip and a jump from home.
We took a ride on the sky lift...

Going down! The couple in the lift you see here is our friends Dale and Barb. She doesn't like the lift so much but was gracious enough to go on it with us.

Here we are with the Great Smoky Mountains behind us and also standing at the TN NC line.

The sun was shining in my eyes here. I tried to hold them open as long as I could for the picture but by the time he pressed the button I was reduced to a wink!

We could see this Momma duck with her furry little babies from the balcony of our hotel room....

While shopping in Pigeon Forge we found a cross stitch shop called Dixie Darlin. Of course I didn't get out of there without a few things...

The last picture has "Simply Red, Plus" by Homespun Elegance, an assortment of threads, a 9x9 piece of 30 count Weeks linen in chestnut and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" by LHN.

Of course we wouldn't have been proper tourists if we didn't do THIS.....

Doesn't my Masterchief look so handsome here? I chose the southern belle gown with hoop skirt because most of the other props included short lengths with fishnet stockings and these legs DON'T do fishnets!!!

Now I can successfully cross blogging off my list for today. Oh you should see my list! I am slowly getting things accomplished and should be back to whatever normal is for me soon.

So glad to be back.....

~~Peggy Lee

Super quick update

2011-05-11T13:30:00.001-04:00

Just a very quick post from here in Kittery Maine to tell you that I miss you ALL so very much! I haven't turned my laptop on in ages, just haven't had the time. I am trying this Droid blog ap out for the first time so please excuse any typos.

The nuke plant kicked us out on the first of May. Last Tuesday we left for Maine. We planned to stay here visiting with Masterchief's mother till Monday morning when we would leave for PA to visit with my family for a couple days (major grandson squeezing) but we are still here in Maine. Masterchief got some kind of flu bug during the night Sunday and he is still recovering. I woke up in the night last night with the same exact thing he had. I have never known him to be this sick. So far it hasn't hit me as hard as it did him but that's the weird thing about this bug....as soon as you start to feel better...WHAMMO!!! It hits you again! My dear sweet MIL made two flavors of gelatin and went to Kmart to buy me some granny-panties (you can thank me later for not going in to detail as to why I needed those).
The worst part about all this is this bug hit us both so hard that we don't dare go to visit our sweet little grandbaby if there is any chance at all that he will get this. I am absolutely heart broken about not seeing him but I would never forgive myself if he caught this.

Sorry to be such a wet rag on an otherwise wonderful day. I only wanted to let you know that I miss reading your blogs so very much and as soon as we get home and settled in I will be in bloggy heaven once again. I'm also going to figure out that picture loading problem because I have finished "A tis Spring" and I also have Liam's sampler all framed up. OH NOOOOOOO...that's right...I was going to give that to his mommy and daddy while there!!
Oh beans.....
Take care my friends.
~~Peggy Lee

It Just Doesn't Feel Right!

2011-04-19T08:06:00.000-04:00

I haven't crossed one X since training week here in New Jersey. Do you think I will forget how?
It's not the job that's too difficult...it's the HOURS. They asked us to work seven days a week. Masterchief worked two weeks solid but I convinced him (ok I begged him) to take yesterday off with me. He got some much deserved rest. I didn't rest all that much and now I think I should have. I've never called off work before since getting in to this business but today I did. Everything hurts. I will be spending most of the day in bed.

Thanks to all of you who offered advice on my picture problem. I won't have time to look in to it until I get home so no pics until then. It's not like I'm stitching anything anyway.

The Strawberry Sampler called and left a message telling me my LIAM sampler is framed and ready for me to pick it up. Trouble is I only have Monday's off and they are closed Monday's. Whoops! I'll have to get it when this job is over.

In the meantime....want to see what I've been doing? GO HERE

Take care of yourselves. I miss reading all your blogs and seeing what you all have been working on. I will have so much to catch up on when I return home in May.

Going back to bed. Hopefully this is only a 24 hour thing.

~~Peggy Lee

Progress, a Finish and HELP!!

2011-04-03T18:53:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends!

It's been a long week here in New Jersey. Masterchief is already in the plant preparing things for the outage to begin. I spent the week in training on the other side of the parking lot. I didn't have very many tests to take this time as some of them are only due once a year and I was just here in the Fall. This next Fall I will get hit with most of them once again! There is one test however that everyone is required to take before gaining access to the plant EVERY time. It's called the "procedures test". I suppose I got too full of myself and didn't study as hard as I should have because I didn't pass it on Friday. I am allowed one more chance to take and pass it on Monday. You can bet your bottom dollar that I will get every question right this time! It's a wake up call to get my head screwed on straight...that's for sure. This next week will be our last week of eight hour days. Next weekend the reactor is shut down and that is when they crack the whip.

I was able to finish ABCD by La D Da and work a little bit on Ah Tis Spring by Notforgotten Farm.

Hmmmm....I tried to put two pictures up in this spot but I got a message from Google saying I have reached my 1GB limit for loading pictures to my blog. I've never heard any of you comment about this. Has anyone else received this message? Do we really need to pay to upload pictures on here after reaching a total of 1GB? I can't imagine having a stitchy blog without pictures....HELP!!!!

I'm so disappointed that I can't put those pictures here but you can go HERE to see them if you want. You might have to scroll down a bit to see one of them but they are both there. Feel free to browse through all of the pictures you want. Masterchief and I have been putting them up there for years.

Hope you all have a great week.

~~Peggy Lee

Stash pics and more....

2011-03-25T13:48:00.000-04:00

First I want to start off by clearing something up. It seems I have been posting more often since I have been "away from home working" after telling you all that I would be absent from the blogging world for a while. I have been away from home for two weeks now but I don't start work until this Monday. Meanwhile I've been a little bored sitting here in the hotel room while Masterchief started work this past Monday. He usually goes in a week or so before me because he's been doing this for years and he is in more demand (and is so much smarter than me). He reminds me of this every chance he gets but I remain silent when he can't find his glasses or he forgets which foot to put what sock on. Oh I'm just kidding of course....he really is alot smarter than I am. After all he's been doing this for a long time and the man has 20 years on me!! Anyway I'm saying all this to let you know that my blog-world silence or slacking will begin on Monday so until then I'm livin' it up baby!!

I took a few pictures of what I bought at TSS yesterday. Deborah commented that she couldn't believe I only bought a pair of scissors while there. I bought a couple other things but you must remember I just paid somewhere in the vicinity of $150 to have Liam's sampler framed so I couldn't really get much more. My bag was small on the way out the door but I can't wait for the day when I can go back in there and pick up the sampler in it's framed beauty!

The above picture is everything (minus the framing) I got at The Strawberry Sampler yesterday. I broke a needle while finishing up the name and date on the bottom of the sampler so I bought another pack of John James size 26 gold plated petites. I like the shorter needle and after using them I find it awkward to use a longer one and I spoil myself just a bit by paying the extra dollar or so for the gold plated ones. The shop was having a sale on their threads too. As of April first they are going up a dime each (no joke). I bought 10 for $2 each and got 2 free. It was funny to see the different tastes of the three of us (Catherine, Brett and me) when picking out our threads. Brett liked the bright Springy colors while I chose more of the muted "old sampler" colors. Catherine and Brett both like purple and I really don't. I don't know why but I really just don't like the color....no, it has nothing to do with Barney. I kinda like the big lug.
You can see I also picked up four of the little thread rings. They were $1 each. I think I might pick up a couple more of them later. The scissors I just had to have! They are Sullivan's Heirloom Embroidery Scissors...4", stainless steel. They are so pretty, don't you think?
All of these things are atop a piece of 35 ct. WDW Onyx fabric. I have never worked on black linen before but I've been seeing a few pieces in your blogs that are absolutely gorgeous so I think I might give it a whirl. I'll need to break out of my shell and get a few bright colors to use with it though. I'm sure Brett will appreciate that!
Here is a closer picture of the beautiful scissors and the threads. I can't wait to get home and put these beauties in one of my scissor frogs. I can never have too many scissors!

Sweet Sue commented about the ABCD by La D Da looming over my head in the picture on yesterday's post. She remembers that I had a very hard time with this piece when I started it a while back. Seems it was cursed from the get-go and I couldn't make one correct stitch! I would not be defeated though so I put that piece aside and broke out a brand new piece of linen to restart it on. I brought it with me and I almost have it finished.....

I better get crackin' though because there will be NO stitching going on once I start work.

I don't knit or crochet. My only "talent" is cross stitching so when I wanted more of those hand knitted dishcloths but was too cheap to pay for them I decided I was going to learn how to knit them myself. So.....dishcloths are the ONLY thing I know how to knit and I have no desire to learn to knit anything else. Thanks to my sister in law I can knit a dishcloth when I need one. She taught me a few years ago. While visiting with Laymie last week I had her pick out a color of yarn she liked so I could knit one for her. Because I don't knit these very often I need to refresh myself using Youtube as to how to cast on and such. I am down to the last four stitches on the needle and I know I need to do something different here so this is where I stand until I look up how to finish it.

Lastly...I want to thank Catherine once again for a great day yesterday and for bringing her friend Brett along. Brett is new to the stitchy world and Catherine is the perfect teacher to help her along. Before we parted ways Catherine gifted me this adorable little votive holder with a few tea lites to get me started. She thought maybe my hotel room needed some refreshing and she was right!
Thank you Catherine....I LOVE IT!!

Have a great weekend everyone. I'm so glad you visited with me today. It's cold here in New Jersey but at least the sun is shining!

~~Peggy Lee

A Day With Stitchy Friends...

2011-03-24T17:53:00.001-04:00

I had a great day today even though it was way too short. I met Catherine (Bramblewood Stitches) and her friend Brett at The Strawberry Sampler. Afterward we went to Trader Joe's and the Christmas Tree Shop. Here's a few pictures I took today...

I'm so glad Catherine was there to help me decide on what frame to get. I think this one will match best with the woodwork in Josh and Laymie's house. I'm so indecisive when it comes to these things and she really helped me alot. Thanks Catherine!!

I wish I would have asked this very helpful lady's name.I've never seen her before in the shop but she was GREAT. Thanks lady!

Here's me, Catherine and Brett at the shop....

Oh I cringe when I look at this one. I really should have worn something other than my most favorite sweatshirt in the whole world today. Comfy clothes should be left at home. Lesson learned.
Oh by the way.....Kentucky plays tomorrow! Woo-hoo!!!

Catherine and Brett at the shop

You'll have to check out Catherine's blog soon. I'm not sure when she will post next but I DO know she has a few other pictures on her camera that will amuse you.

That's all I'm sayin'.

I had to leave the girls at the Christmas Tree Shop at 1:30 so I could go pick Masterchief up at work. I wish I could have stayed longer but hopefully we can squeeze another meeting in before I have to go home to Kentucky. I had a blast today.

Thank you...thank you....THANK YOU Catherine and Brett for a memorable day (bunny hats and all).

Must go finish Masterchief's dinner. He's a hungry boy today.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to go check out Catherine's blog!

Oh I almost forgot....
I have an addiction to those bags they sell at grocery stores. You know the ones. The bags to get you to not use the plastic ones. The reusable ones. I like to get bags from all over so for instance when I shop in Kentucky I can use a bag that only comes from a store found in the northeast...or vice versa, got it? It's just a thing I like to do. Anyway...I found this really cool looking bag at Trader Joe's today and it just so happened to be the last one. Now if I was a true friend I would have let Catherine have it, right? But lets face it friends, I only just "met" the girl and well, ya snooze ya lose, right? Sorry Catherine but the bag is mine, ALL MINE. To rub salt in the wound the very nice fella (good lookin' too) let me have this very fine $1.99 reusable bag for FREE....at NO CHARGE I tell ya!! Maybe we could turn this bag in to the sisterhood of the traveling bag or sumthin' or other. What do you think Catherine?

I picked up the shaker at the Christmas Tree Shop. It will come in handy when we return home.

After Masterchief got done eating dinner tonight (because I've been working on this post for over an hour now) we played a game of cribbage. He beat me tonight but tomorrow night I will have my revenge!

So after he won I insisted he refill my wine glass. It's the least he could do.

OK I'm really going now. I've got to steam my veggies for my dinner tonight.
Tomorrow I will post a picture of the scissors I picked up at the shop today! I just LOVE them!!!

Until then...
~~Peggy Lee

Finished!

2011-03-23T15:52:00.000-04:00

I finished Liam's sampler today. I put his name and date of birth along the bottom of the letter blocks. It's a good thing too because tomorrow is the day I'm going to The Strawberry Sampler. I will turn it over to the girls for framing.

I used the chart for ABC Tapestry by Rosewood Manor. I am also using this chart to stitch the entire alphabet. I have some of it done but it will take me a very LONG time to finish that one! I got the pattern for the letters from a book I had. I can't remember if I got it from a yard sale or E-Bay.

This book really has alot of nice things in it including an alphabet made of carrot letters! It's so cute.

Well anyway this is a short post today. I'm headed off to the stitchy shop tomorrow where I will meet with Catherine from Bramblewood Stitches. I am very excited about it....we both will have our cameras!

I can tell you I am NOT cut out for hotel living! Housekeeping leaves so much to be desired here. I went down to the front desk to tell the manager we can only turn off the heat by unplugging it, and that's not an easy task. He responded by telling me "I know, this has been a problem". Not...."Oh I'm sorry for your inconvenience I'll see if I can get someone up there right away to fix the problem"...or..."I'm sorry, may I offer you another room"? We did manage to get a replacement for the refrigerator in our room though. I got up in the middle of the night to give the old one a kick. It sounded like a mad hornets nest was in there when it ran. Funny thing is when I kicked it, it quit! For a while anyway.

Masterchief is "home" from work. His training is complete (almost). He only has to sit through an all day class on Friday with a test following.

Thanks for stopping by.....
~~Peggy Lee

My Week In Pictures

2011-03-21T19:44:00.000-04:00

Masterchief's first day of work was today so we left a week early to spend time with family (especially my most adorable, precious grandson). We stayed with Josh and Laymie last week then we were off to New Jersey yesterday (Sunday). We stay at the same hotel every time. It was with mixed emotions that I seemed to know just where to put things in our hotel room. We know this is what we must do to put beans on the table but we both miss home the minute we have to leave it to come here.

So let's begin the picture show.....

Liam's expressions are so cute. I think it was the flash that brought on this one

We went to see Mrs. Dixon, a dear woman who isn't feeling well lately. She is 97 years old and hasn't seen Josh since he was a young boy.

Liam slept in her arms the entire time we visited

Grandma got to change a few diapers. It's funny how that's something you never forget how to do!

Grandpa gets in some squeezes

E-Trade baby in training

Proud Daddy

My favorite picture

Such a happy boy

Waking up from a nap...yes, he naps ON his Momma. He isn't spoiled...not one bit!!

Grandma introduced him to Barney, much to his daddy's dismay

I just LOVE his little giggle

On Saturday we went to my brother's to help celebrate his birthday. I could have sworn he was turning 47 this year. OOPS!

Ready to blow out the big 4 6

Wish I could share some stitchy news with you. After all....this IS a stitching blog, isn't it? I didn't put needle to fabric once during the week. I was so busy visiting friends and family that I really didn't have time and when I did find myself with nothing to do I quickly scooped up my little chubby love (Liam that is...not talking about Masterchief here) and gave him lots of kisses and squeezes.

We arrived here at the hotel yesterday and I did my usual disinfecting of the room before putting anything away.

Notice the glass of wine nearby. It was a necessity!

I hope to get Liam's full name and date of birth stitched across the bottom of the finished blocks so I can take it to be framed this Thursday. Masterchief brought a huge stack of stuff for me to study back with him today. I'm hoping I won't have too many tests to take this time.

I won't be able to browse/comment/post much while I'm here working. I'm not exactly sure when this job will be over but they usually last 5 or 6 weeks. After we are done working here we are heading up to Maine to visit with Masterchief's mother then back to PA for a day or so to visit with family again before going home to KY. I will be so glad to finally get back home. After staying in a hotel for as long as we have to our home feels like a mansion!

Thanks for your visits and comments. I appreciate each one.
Thanks also for understanding about my upcoming temporary absence. It's every Spring and Fall!

Take care of yourselves....
~~Peggy Lee

Hey...It's COLD Here!

2011-03-14T09:24:00.000-04:00

Howdy friends! Sorry I haven't been too good about posting or commenting lately. I've been a little busy.

Since Laymie and Liam left last weekend I've been packing, cleaning and making umteen lists of what NOT to forget. Then I lost my list! Oh well, I think I remembered what I'll need to survive.

Soooo.....guess where I am?

watching TV with Grandpa

We (and by "we" I mean Masterchief) drove around 11 hours to Pennsylvania yesterday. I slept most of the way. We can't even make it too far out of the driveway without my falling to sleep!

Knowing that I would be sleeping most of the way I stayed up to finish Liam's Sampler. I finished the M block and now I need to put his full name and date of birth along the bottom, just underneath the blocks.

I need to rush off now. I need to hurry and make breakfast for Laymie, she's eating chocolate chips cookies and soda for breakfast!

Thanks for your visit. I appreciate each comment!

~~Peggy Lee

Addictions....

2011-03-08T14:13:00.000-05:00

See these?

I am addicted! I can eat an entire box in one sitting...not that I have. Well I wouldn't admit to it anyway.

Now see this?

I'm gonna get more!

Go get yourself something crispy and salty. You know you want to!

~~Peggy Lee

No Stitchin',Lots of Spoilin'

2011-03-06T18:52:00.000-05:00

I haven't been very good about following my blogs for the past few days. My daughter-in-law and grandson were here and I was in HEAVEN!!

We left for Columbus Ohio on Thursday morning to pick them up. My son was attending some sort of annual fitness expo thing. I don't know much about it....lots of muscles being flexed. We went to get Laymie and Liam to stay with us while Josh collected free protein bars and got lots of autographs from muscle-covered beings. Let me just say here that women shouldn't do it. That's all!

Columbus is a hair over five hours from where we are here in Kentucky. It's about six hours from where Josh and Laymie live in Pennsylvania. We met at his hotel and did the big switcheroo......and back to KY we drove with new cargo in tow.....

I wanted to get a picture with Liam and his sampler while he was here. I was thinking maybe I could have it framed in the back of the finished piece so years and YEARS from now it could be found. I haven't decided anything about that yet. Does anyone have any ideas about that type of thing? I want this sampler to be treasured for generations.

Liam checks the chart to see if I missed a stitch

Liam grants his approval to my progress on his sampler so far

Liam gets some advice from Grandpa

Liam needs to learn how to keep a secret...don't tell Grandpa all the things Grandma promises to buy him!

Grandma wishes she had one of these! It would keep her busy for hours.

Sweet-tatie face!

These early morning visitors were glad I served ham and sweet taties for dinner

Spring has sprung! Our October Glory Maples are budding!!!

Well my weekend was busy but VERY happily so! We arrived home at 4:30pm from taking Laymie and Liam back to Columbus to meet Josh/Daddy and I'm already in a big boo-hoo funk!! I miss them already. I really like living in Kentucky so much but this is the only reason why I miss PA. I wish I lived closer to my Josh and his family. Hey...maybe I can convince them to move to KY!

I will be spending this week packing and getting the house in order before we leave for work on Saturday morning. We will be spending a week in PA visiting with family.

I just got a text from Laymie that they are at a stand still on Interstate 80 and still far from home. The weather is terrible. I'll be near my phone for a while!

Be warm...
~~Peggy Lee

A Finish & CAKE!!

2011-02-27T17:22:00.000-05:00

How are you on this fine Sunday afternoon friend? It was actually warm enough to wash the car today! There was thunder to be heard in the distance but we got it done in time to put it back in the garage before it rained. Masterchief does the outside and I usually do the inside. I DO NOT do windows. I mean...I will do them but they never turn out streak free. It's just best that I don't, ya know?

I finally felt brave enough to finish my Rose Garden by BBD. I sewed, ripped out and sewed again but I got it right, I think. I don't know why I am so thick between the ears when it comes to these things but I truly am. It's embarrassing! I was this (<-->) close to sending it to Faye at Carolina Stitcher to finish for me but I really wanted to try it myself. I wanted to have the satisfaction of knowing that I DID IT! Well...I did it and the next one is being sent to you Faye. I can't take that again!

I have it hanging on my lamp I sit under for stitching right now. I didn't make the hole big enough for turning so I REALLY scrunched it up while turning it right side out. I tried to get all the wrinkles out but I think there might still be a couple on there. I stuffed it only lightly because it wanted it to hang nicely. It's not perfect but I'm OK with it.

I made a coffee cake for Masterchief the other morning and it was just OK. He said it "needed" something. He suggested chopped apples or some kind of fruit. So........I made it again yesterday and added two mashed overripe bananas and one chopped apple to the batter.
Success!!

I had enough little bites of it to make a serving so I hit the elliptical extra hard this morning. I'm so glad tomorrow is my day off from that thing. I usually do three days on and one off. By the third day my back is telling me to take a day off!

If you are interested in the recipe for this yummy coffee cake I can email it to you, just let me know.

That's it for today. Thanks for spending a moment with me. I always enjoy your visits.

There are alot of giveaways coming up. Check out my sidebar!

~~Peggy Lee

Just when we were wondering if the darn thing worked at all.........

2011-02-25T17:26:00.001-05:00

It worked...and worked....and WORKED............ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!

If it wasn't blaring because of a tornado warning it was screaming because of a strong thunderstorm watch. I suppose I should say here that I really am thankful to have it. It has alerted us in the past to let us know when we should be in our "safe spot". It's just hard to be so thankful when it's going off every few minutes in the middle of a deep sleep! Masterchief was up though. If there's weather happening he has to be out in it. Doesn't matter what time of the day or night...he loves the stuff! You will find me in the bathtub wearing my antique colander on my head, hip boots on, clutching every bed pillow in the house singing "the old gray mare just aint' what she used to be".

Thank you CATHERINE for emailing me to ask if I was alright through the storms. You are a so sweet to be concerned and think of me! Sorry I haven't responded yet. We drove in to town today for a few groceries...that's an all day affair. We only got very high winds and lots of rain. No tornadoes or lightening strikes. You may have heard about the Amish family who lost four of their children crossing a creek in their buggy here in KY. That was in the far western part of the state. Such a sad story. The youngest was only 5 or 6 months old! So very sad. Let's keep that family in our prayers!

On the stitchy side of things I finished the A block in Liam's Sampler....

I think I need to mention here for people who might not know that I have affectionately named this current creation of mine "Liam's Sampler" for my grandson who was born November 1st. This pattern of lettered blocks is taken from a chart made by Rosewood Manor called "ABC Tapestry". I am also working on completing the entire alphabet using this chart. I have it on a quilters rack because it's gonna be a BIG ONE BABY!!!! I haven't worked on it in the past few months though because I want to finish Liam's Sampler before we go to New Jersey for work. I will be taking it to The Strawberry Sampler to have the girls there frame it. They do wonderful work!!

Here is the whole piece so far....

I started the border on the M block and had to rip almost all of it out yesterday! It was a rainy day so the frogs must have come up for air. I hadn't counted over far enough between the two blocks and didn't realize it until I had all of the single line border done and half of the Algerian eyes around the edge. I was so TICKED!! All is well now. I frogged it all out and then walked away for a while. That always helps.

Well that's about it for now. Thank you so much for your visit with me today.

Parsley....I wish we lived closer so I could share that head-sized chocolate bar with you! I hope you and your hubby feel better soon.
Sharlotte.....I'd REALLY like to give you those 14 pounds you misplaced back to you. I think I found 10 of them. Just sayin'.

Catherine.....again you are a sweetheart for being concerned about us here. I definitely want to meet with you at the shop when I roll in to town during the week of March 21st. Can we arrange that?

Thank you ALL for leaving comments here. I love it when I hear that little B~L~I~N~G on my laptop!!

~~Peggy Lee

**********EDITED**********

I just received lots of pictures of my little sweetie and since I only posted this blog a bit ago I thought I'd add it as an edit......

There were many to choose from but this one was my favorite because it shows his chubby little profile. Thanks for humoring me. Only six days till I see him!! **squeals**