Feathered Friends, RR's and a Quaker bit and some chit chat...

Well, so much to yap about where to begin.... let's start with the super-d-duper mail I got yesterday. I received from Carla a great package for the Feathered Friends Exchange.
Here is a snap of the whole package -

Carla included along with the Pyn Keepe some lovely finishing fabric, ribbon and trim. She also put in two really lovely skeins of overdyed floss from ThreadWorkxxx - a company that I have never tried but have seen and wanted to....
there was also a sleeve of dark chocolate buttons - just yummy!!!!!
Here is a snap of the Pyn Keepe -

It fits in so well with my growing collection of Pyn Keepes - just a really lovely addition!!!!!!

I finished the borders on the HFFRR last night so will get that in the mail on Tuesday to Anna for her kind contribution. Here is a really wonky snap before mailing....
( I will still need to remove the LM initials and stitch in Anna's)

I have also joined up in Donna's new RR called Witching for Stitching a Halloween RR that I am really excited about....... I feel a trip to NIAH tomorrow is in order.... :) I did want to express my thanks to everyone that offered to stitch on the missing square -
the stitching community is so nice and generous!!!!!!!!!!

When I started the HFFRR I originally had some ideas how I was going to finish this off - but now I am wondering if that is what I want to do - How have others finished them off, I wonder - any ideas out there you would like to share....? I am open to just about anything.......

I also worked a bit on BPC and here that progress snap -


For some reason I really like stitching this particular medallion - I have no reason to like it more than others but I do - go figure. I think it is because it looks a little like ribbon old fashioned ribbon candy and that brings to mind a load of fond memories........

Danielle - I really don't mind sharing how much I paid - it was $105.00 plus $4.00 shipping from that isle of loveliness, England (when I placed the order for some reason I thought it was coming from Kentucky - but it arrived via the Royal Mail)

Jennifer - I just had to bite the bullet and get The Book - we just aren't gonna eat for three days and save on washing clothes by wearing our underwear and socks twice - because if you turn them inside out you get two days out of them instead of one... :)

I know that Lynn received her SBBC Birthday Package I sent and is waiting until the 6th to open it on her Birthday - so no snaps of that here - yet - I don't want to spoil the surprise. :)

There you go another week - only 209 Days until Christmas - I need to get busy!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Take care,
edgar

Lust and Ye shall receive!!!!!!!

Yesterday the mail brought something that I have been after for quite a while now...... I just decided that if I was ever to have a copy - I was going to just the plunge..... and so a couple of weeks ago I ordered IT - "THE" book -


I have been watching eBay and Amazon to see when, if ever, a copy would appear. The only time I ever saw it was this one copy on Amazon. It just sat there taunting me - "Buy Me - you know you want to---do it!!!" Just about every day I would go to Amazon - and there it would be in all its Quaker deliciousness - like an addict - I had to have it...... "Buy ME..BUY ME!!!!!" - "You know you want to... you're gonna be Sorry!!!!!" I caved and acquired - my holy grail- Before we went out last bight I had to skim through and what a great book!!!! The dust cover is even a charted sampler!!! Isn't that a super bonus!!!! Now its mine - all mine - BWAAAA HWAAAA!!!! (evil Snidely Whiplash laugh)!!! With this book now out of print - and the likelihood of a reprint pretty scarce I am super glad to have gotten it when I did so that I only paid a high price and not an outrageous price. (such rationalization, I tell you!!)

We went over to Alameda for a super Birthday party for Sweet Mary (from NIAH). It turned into a Hobbit style party where the guest of honor gives out presents!!! I was the recipient of a great needlebook that she had hand stitched up. We also got the great bird pins, to wear instead of hats....(thank god as I do not have a hat head!!) AND she gave us all some Japanese Peeps - not at all like the fluffy sugary ones here but delightfully soft and vanilla cake like
- here is a snap -

Here is a snap of the 7 Chocolate birthday cake that Roberta made.

She told us the different chocolates use but I am totally not remembering so you will have to just trust me. We got home pretty late so there was no stitching - :( - but we had such a great time it was worth it!!!! :)

Thank you all for the all the comments - !!! I really appreciate them!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Take care,
edgar

Super mail, exhanges, and a RR arrives home...

Yesterday was a great mail day as I got my scissors from Carol.
They are just great and so pretty. Here is a snap -

The iridescence is really beautiful!!

I finished up an exchange for the MAWE and it is going out this morning. So look for it to arrive Miss Wanda - I did not forget!! The first piece I made was a complete and utter disaster and was not worthy enough to send so I made a second one which I am much happier with and I hope you enjoy it!! It should arrive in a day or two.

Finally I have my HHFRR back home. Here is a snap of the piece -

Here is a request - As you can see the top middle square is incomplete (explanation below)- it is about 100 x 100 and the theme is LHN to include some sort of tree -
I would love it if a stitcher out there could angel-stitch the square for me as I wanted to have a large multi-stitcher stitched piece.
If anyone would like to work on my piece just let me know, thanks!!

Explanation : This wonderful RR was put together by the sweetest person ever, Miss Donna , and she has been a rock - trying to get everything worked out - as there have been some major issues the last 4 or so months. The top middle square is incomplete due to the disappearance of a single stitcher. She has completely flaked without a word to anyone about what is going on OR what has happened to 3 - of the RR's that she has - and the only reason I have mine back is that Janice had mine and sent it directly to me when she finished and not her - Now, we all understand that things happen to all of us and some commitments are hard to keep - but I really think that if you can't finish something you would at least let someone know there is a problem or send what is not finished or will not be finished to the group leader so that the original stitchers can have back their pieces - I know I sound pretty harsh - but it really chaps my hide when given every opportunity to put something right is ignored.

That is all I have to say about that!!!

I guess it is good to vent - but it is very aggravating!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar

A gift received and some BPC stitching....

I heard that a small gift that I sent out has been received - here is a snap -
I made it for Carolyn and it has arrived all in one piece!!


She needed a little something as she is having to focus all her energies towards here family right now. I really enjoyed this stitch and will stitch it again soon!!

This weekend was a total movie weekend.... "The Hindenburg" - 1975, "The Big Country" - 1958.....that was the Saturday and Sunday night big features....then yesterday on TCM was the Memorial Day programming and the focus this year were films about the home front. The films I really enjoyed were "Tomorrow is Forever" - 1946, "Since You Went Away" - 1944 and last but not least - "The Best Years of Our Lives" - 1946 all excellent films. After the film fest I played spin the dial and found a marathon of a show that I really like. The marathon was called "Holiday-Incarceration" a 24 hour event showing of "Lockup." This is a show on MSNBC that goes into Prisons all over the US and talks to prisoners and guards.
I find it fascinating - and just can't stop watching.

The stitching that I got done was finishing up on some exchanges -
and the snap I can show is of the progress on the BPC -

It is really coming along!! This is a smaller piece than the BP Sampler so it is stitching up way faster - I already have another Quaker kitted up and heading up the queue... in fact I have quite a few kitted up and ready to go, but that is just one of the guilty pleasures of needlework.... getting all the stuff together and then wondering which one to jump to next....

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

take care,
edgar

Final shows and the Sun King

Last night what little stitching I did was on an exchange so there are no snaps from that - it was also the final episodes for "Ugly Betty" and "Grey's Anatomy." Some of the cliff hangers for both shows were a bit predictable..... but overall I enjoyed both and will certainly tune back in the Fall.

I also finished a pretty good book. Working at a book store I often am able to get copies of books before they are published, called advance readers editions. "Mistress of the Sun" is such a book.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction of the last half of the 17th century and the court of Louis XIV. Sandra Gulland also wrote a series of three books about Joséphine de Beauharnais the first wife of Napoleon. I have not read them but have heard very good things about the series. If you would like this book about Petit and Louis let me know in the comment section and I will send it out to you next week. This book will be published here in the US towards the end on next month, I think it has already been published in Canada.

I hope everyone has a great long weekend - !!! Thanks for stopping by!

Take care,
edgar

Cruella, Corn and some stitching

I don't think I have ever babbled about my love of all things Disney - I am talking old Disney not the majority of new stuff they are pumping out. What I really enjoy about Disney are the parks - WDW and EPCOT in Florida - I have been to both so many times I couldn't begin to count them - I have also been to Disneyland here in California - I had a really great time both times I visited but it is very a very small space a felt cramped and crowded both times - I really prefer the Florida experience. I also really enjoy most of the movies made under the Disney banner. All that said last nights movie was "101 Dalmatians" - 1961 - I just got my copy from Amazon - it was only $8.57 and was supposed to be a "gently used" version, but when it arrived it was brand new never been opened. I just love these movies!!!!

Now the corn part of last night - Rico was watching the Food Network and some cook suggested roasting corn in the oven - the way you do it is buy the corn BUT leave the husk and silk on. Turn the oven on to 350 put the corn with the husk and silk still on in and cook for about an hour. When you take it out of the oven it looks like this -

Then you peel the husk and what is left of the silk off and it is done like this -



Slap some butter and salt & pepper on it and it is some good eating - It couldn't be easier - We also had fried chicken and rice - one of my favorite dinners!!!!

Last night was a stitching night for me - I worked on the BPC - and here is a progress snap -


That's about it - two out going exchanges today - since they have quite a way to go I want them out and on the way - I just have very little faith in the mail system!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar

More stitchy stuff

After work I ran over to NIAH and picked up a chart I had ordered -


Not the best picture, but you get the idea - It is called Noah's Webster and is by Prairie Moon While there I picked up some other things - some for upcoming exchanges and some for future projects - no snap as I am not too sure what is going where. :)

Last night was Ingrid Bergman night at the movies at my house. The double feature was "Intermezzo" - 1939 with Leslie Howard. A really nice love story worth a look. The second feature was "Joan of Arc" - 1948 a beautiful if long film and not a good jump from the stage to film as the entire thing feels very stagy. Most of the actors rattle on a bit much and overact their parts - but Ingrid is in top form throughout!!
The DVD had no extras but was a very good transfer.
Jose Ferrer plays the Dauphin in this his first film appearance - he is very good in this roll.

More exchange stitching - so no snaps.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care
edgar

Super-dee-duper mail day!!!!!!!

Yesterday was a cornucopia of stitchy stuff for me!!!
Here is a snap of everything

Let's start off with he lovely linens - I was RAK'ed by Jennifer in Ohio - she was just the nicest and the linen is just gorgeous. She hand dyed most of it and I have to stitch something special - especially for Halloween - I also got a package from Vicki at HDF - the silk pile to the left - this is for a secret project for someone that reads this blog - so you won't see any of it made into anything until the gifty is given - AND I also got a package from Drema from Needlecraft Corner - it is the pile of Belle Soie on the right. I have just fallen in lust for this silk and now I need - want - crave - this silk. I just can't help it -
I'm just a silk-floss-floozy when it comes to Belle Soie!!!!

I sent out my SBBC package a little early as the mails are so wonky and I want this to arrive on or near her birthday - I have seen how long it has taken some packages to arrive and just a suggestion - mail early - it is taking a good 5 or 6 extra days to get anything anywhere.

No stitching snaps from last night - it has been exchange stitching for the longest -
but I am enjoying it!!!

TCM had a guest programmer last night and one of his picks was "Roman Holiday" - 1953 - directed by William Wyler. This is one great movie that I have seen so many times. If you have not seen it go rent it. Audrey Hepburn is great, Gregory Peck is great and Rome looks great!!! Just an all around stupendous movie!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Take care,
edgar

Busy Weekend - exchange received....

This weekend we once again went yard saleing - I think I am now addicted!!!! I only got a couple of things - big glass Pyrex measuring cup - for a $1.00 and a really nice basket for $3.00, and 3 DVD's for a $1 each. One of the DVD's is the Criterion Collection version of "Great Expectations in " - 1946. A DVD that I have lusted after for longest time but felt it was just too expensive - but for a buck - you can't beat that with a stick for price!!! Dale has a Jeep and we road all over with the top down Sun out and wind blowing!!!!!- It was nice most of the day. We also road over to IKEA in Emryville as I have needed to replace a bookcase for the longest time and I had found one there that was not too expensive. That was the project Saturday night - putting the bookcase together. Then Sunday I pulled down the old one and sorted through the books and tossed a bunch out - but cleaned off what I wanted to keep and now everything is back in place. received

I know that Karen received the SBBC Feathered Friends exchange and here is a snap -

I lifted this from Karen's blog as I think I erased the snaps I took - I just can not find them!!

The weather has turned around and we had tons of fog roll over the city Saturday evening and it is now chilly and cold and back to normal!!!!! Hooray for the marine layer!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar

It's getting cooler..... and a broken bus

The temps dipped down into the 70's last night and today they will be in the 80's. After yesterday in the 90's it will be nice. On the way home yesterday the MUNI bus broke down due to the heat (that was the story the driver was handing out) So before it broke down...imagine if you will the bus trying desperately to chug its way up a steep hill, literally moving slower than I can walk. Once at the top she stops the bus and says "We're gonna coast down the other side of the hill" - my heart filled with - joy - elation - TERROR!!!!! These rickety monsters don't stop very well - so wooosh down the hill we went stopping three times to let people out. Then at the bottom of the hill - announcement - "Last Stop, everyone - off." Now I only had about9 or so blocks to go - but they are all basically going up a hill until the last 3 and those are going up a steep hill and it makes you feel like a mountain goat. Remeber it is 95/98 degrees with the sun a-blazing so it is not pleasant. When I finally got home - off came the sweaty clothes and I plopped in my chair in just my underwear!!! If I had gotten a big old frosty screwdriver I could have been my dad back when I was growing up!!!!!
I always say - whether you like it or not we all turn into our parents!!!!

My stitching last night was once again for an exchange -
I really like it and may stitch something else for the exchange. :)

Here is the last installment of snaps from the gardens -













and the last snap will be of some Poppies - California's state flower -

Thanks for stopping by!!

take care,
edgar

Sweltering and stitching

As you all may already know we here in SF are in our first heat wave. Slowly this week we have gained about 5 degrees everyday - and today is supposed to be the warmest yet. It is sure to get into the 100's out in the east bay and here in the city it will be in the middle 90's. The reason for this unusually warm weather is that the winds are coming from the NNE off the land and not off of the ocean.... Warm weather around here never lasts more than a few days and will dissipate by Sunday and be back into the 60's - I called my Mom on Sunday and it was 95 degrees in Ormond Beach and very windy. These winds were spreading all the wild fires in and around southern Volusia County.

Last night I worked on a bunch of things - the one I can show is the BPC -
here is an update snap -


While working on BPC the movie that I had on was "Love in the Afternoon" - 1957 with Gary Cooper and Audrey Hepburn. A cute movie directed by Billy Wilder. I really enjoyed the flick and Audrey look spectacular as always.

Here are today's snaps from the Gardens -

I really love all kinds of pine trees and there were so many different ones - this one is just a really nice short needle grey/blue coloured one.


You really can't tell but these are some giant lillies that stand about 4 to 5 feet tall, I am standing an shooting straight out at them. They are growing in a mass up a small rise, but still very big.



I am not sure what these are but there were masses of them and aren't they pretty!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

take care,
edgar

Busy, Busy, Wednesday...

Last night was a busy stitching evening - exchange and BD finishing. Those snaps will go up in the future. The two movies were from TCM Salutes Southern Belles - First up was "Steel Magnolias" - 1989 - with an great ensemble cast and a super movie that I have seen numerous times. The second feature was "Raintree County" - 1957 - with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. This is a very good flick that is in the style of
GWTW - big story with some Civil War.

Here are some more of the Garden pics....








Natasha - this weekend is supposed to be beautiful and very warm - just a perfect time for visiting GG Park and the Gardens. I would love a copy of the dumpling recipe.

Thank you all for the nice comments and for stopping by!!!

Take care,
edgar

MAW Exchange received.....

I had the most super mail yesterday!!!!! Most of it I can;t show as it is either for upcoming presents/exchanges or are patterns for presents in the future and a ton of floss for things. I can show a gorgeously finished biscornu that I received from Cathy B for the MAWE .
Here is a snap of the top -

Here is a snap of the back - with our initials and the date -

I had wanted a biscornu in fall colours and here is a super one. The pattern is from Workbasket Evens - October - which was a super pick as that is my birth month!!! The floss used in Needle Necessities "Woodland Fantasy". The MOP buttons are a bit washed out in the snap but a re lovely as are the surrounding caramel coloured beads. Thank you so much, Cathy!!!!!!!

I am working away at exchanges in the evening so no snaps of my stitching.

Here a re some more snaps from the Botanical Garden Excursion -








The movie last night was "The Adventures of Marco Polo " - 1938 - an uneven and almost silly movie. Most of the cast you are hard pressed to believe are Chinese but it was the 30's and the production is over the top Art Deco Asian inspired instead of authentic Forbidden city inspired. Gary Cooper plays MP in his adequate fashion and his side kick Ernest Truex has some of the best lines in the entire movie. I would recommend this as watchable but not believable.

There you go - Thanks for stopping by!!!

Take care,
edgar

Monday again....

This weekend was kind of busy - I had panned on working at the bookstore both Saturday and Sunday - but was not on the schedule for Saturday so we went out garage-saleing - I bought two things. The was a blue granite ware roaster for $3.00 - it is a sort of middle size. The roaster I have now is a really small one and this will be perfect and for $3 who can beast the price!! The second thing I bought was a black messenger bag. I have been needing to replace my book bag for the longest time as the zippers were giving out. I only paid $3 for the bag - I have been pricing them in the stores and the can run upwards of $90 and be way to big. After we dropped Dale off ( he bought a ton of Halloween stuff!!) We went on over to the -


The Gardens are in Golden Gate Park - and it was such a wonderfully sunny day we walked all over this place. I took lots of snaps so I will spread them across the week to not overload everyone - here are some of the open spaces -


Here are some of plants that were in flower





The garden is a lovely quiet oasis from city noises and stress.

I stitched and finished a few things but nothing I can show as they are all for exchanges and my Birthday Partner - her birthday is next month and I want to make sure the package gets there for her special day!!!

Thanks stopping by!!!

Take care,
edgar

It's Friday again - and some ramblings.......

Last night was once again Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy. I don't know how much longer I can Take Ugly Betty - as that show just seems to spin n the same story line in different permutations weekly - Grey's is till pretty good - but time will tell.

I stitched quite a bit last night but it was all secret exchange stitching -
no snaps. So what else can I babble about.....
how about what I have bee reading lately.
Probably the best book I have read in the recent past is -


"Marie-Therese, Child of Terror: The Fate of Marie Antoinette's Daughter"
A very good biography about the fate of Marie Antoinette's daughter and her life as sole survivor of her family.
I also finished up the third in the Fablehaven series -

"Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague."
This is a very good series for middle/high school students....if you liked Harry Potter you will like this series. Mull is writing the fourth book now.
I have also just finished -

"Escape on the Pearl"

A very good book about an event I had never heard of
and it takes place in and around Washington DC.

I am reading now the 2nd book of the series -


"Inkspell"
The third book is coming out soon "Inkdeath" so I want to be up to speed when it does. This is also another Independent reader choice - middle/high school. You may wonder why I have added the IR books to the rotation - I felt that since I work in the children's book area that it would be nice if I could at least recommend or talk about the books a little better if I had read them.
---------------
Natasha - I have never tried "Blueberry dumplings" but they sound really wonderful!!
Vonna - you should try the tobiko/or any caviar - just a exquisite mouth feel and such a fresh salty/sea flavor!!! Delicious!!!!
Yoku - I just adore Tobiko and order it every time I have sushi!! I also like the spicy tuna hand rolls - I do like Ikura but I prefer the smaller tobiko, I also like the squid, and octopus and what would a sushi dinner be without wasabi, just the best stuff!!!!
I think the only sushi item I do not care for would be the Unagi (eel)

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Take care,
edgar

Wet and Happy!!!!!!! and some things I like.......

The hot water came back on so the first thing I did was take a good long shower when I got home yesterday!! I

I picked up some blackberries yesterday-

Just because they looked really nice. I sure do enjoy these with some vanilla ice cream - yummy!!! I was thinking about berries in general and how much I really like them - it is almost like a bite of warm weather - whether they are black, blue, straw, boysen, lingon or rasp - the different berries that are available are just delicious!!

Then I got to thinking about different things I like that sort of pop in your mouth
like - a Sushi topping - Tobiko -



a delicious fresh tasting caviar that is just delicious!!!!
Then there are ZotZ Candy -

These are really sour hard candies that have a REALLY sour fizzy middle!! :)
The train of thought then pulled into wacko station and I remembered how much I really like Pop Rocks (Space Dust in the UK) - They stopped making them right after I graduated from Mainland Senior High in Daytona Beach,(Go Buccaneers!!!) They are being made today and you now can get them all over the place!!! It's a party in your mouth!!! :)





I did quite a bit of stitching last night -
but there a no snaps as it was all for upcoming commitments -

I'll leave off today with a snap of some really lovely tulips we got last week -
that still look pretty good -




Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar