A Weekend Posting

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends I do hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Mine was great - since it was three days long how could it not be!!  Thank you all for all the kind comments about the Valentine I sent to Carol.  it seems that Blogger makes it harder and harder to use, sorry for the odd word verification.   I read that my HOE Ornament arrived at its new home with Erin over at Fairy Tales and French Knots.  Here is a snaperoo of the piece I made for her...

Quite a few of us stitched this piece from Mary Garry for this Exchange.  I have always liked this chart and was happy that Erin likes what I sent.

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Keeping with a stitching theme today I had a finish over the weekend....  

 "Tis the Season" Blackbird Designs - 36ct LL Pear - using the recommended Belle Soie

I have been dragging out and enjoying this stitch far too long, but all good things come to an end. 

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We also got to an Estate Sale - and to call it a mad house would be an understatement.  There were way too many people crowded in one little house and way too many grabby types!!  Eventually I made my way upstairs and in one of the bedrooms was a gigantic pile of linen - from tablecloths to napkins, lace, tatting, pulled work, Berlin lace everything just in a great big pile -  most of the pieces where in not very good condition, lots of holes and stains.  But, digging away (I love to dig) I did pull out a small sampler - not very old and in a very crumpled condition, but very sweet...

The linen is very thick.  I think this was some sort of kit that was printed linen and the stitcher did the decorative stitching.  It is about 8x10 and you can still see the tape that must have held it to some sort of backing for framing.  I think that for .50 it was a total bargain!

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It is also that time of year for candy makers to go into overtime....

So, of course I did my part and made it to Walgreens for a sack of delicious black jelly beans!!  A most delicious treat!!

I think I'll wrap up todays post with a snap of my ever-blooming Christmas Cactus'....

This crazy thing is blooming about every three months now - and even the little red one is sort of on the same schedule - since I took this shot on Saturday a bunch of additional blooms have popped out on both plants.

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There you go sports fans - thanks again for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Weekend Things!!

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thank you so much for the kind comments about "Tis the Season" - it's a fun piece to work on.

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Our weekend started off with a lovely evening - we decided to drive across town a find parking on our own and stop for some dinner first.  Driving up Grove Street we found a very convenient Parking lot and stopped there instead of the big Performance Parking Garage a block closer to the Davies Symphony Hall - we thought - or I thought - it would be so much easier to get the car out after the performance.  We walked down to Jardiniere for supper - it a really nice restaurant and they know that most of the patrons are stopping there on the way to Davies SH.  After finishing we walked the block on over and had plenty of time to spare.  We found our seats and settled in for a great performance.  I got off a couple of snaps at the intermission - although pictures and recording devices are strictly prohibited - here is a snap from out vantage point...

The seats we had were super - right on the front row center on the 2nd Tier - my only issue with being right on the front means that there was the obvious heights issue - I do not do well with heights of any kind at all - but I sucked it up and enjoyed the performance.

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Saturday we got up early went out breakfast and did our weekly grocery shopping - and then off to estate/junque saleing -  not very much at all out there, but I found a couple of pieces...

 

The great platter is only marked "forget-me-nots"  - which has to be the name of the pattern.  The vase at about 9" tall, I think is from the 1930's and from Japan?? - inside I found a receipt inside from a now defunct department store here in SF called "Willoh's."  I have found a few references on line but no real info about this store, but the receipt is dated December 20, 1946 and is for 2 blue gown at $2.98 each and 1 green gown at $2.98. 

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On the stitching front I worked a little on an exchange piece and I started a new piece....  I just couldn't resist...  here is a snap - 

I pulled the floss and picked out a piece of linen and got a tiny start - This is "On the Oregon Trail" from Heartstring Samplery.  I am using the called for floss and stitching it on a piece og LL 36ct Vintage Light Examplar.  I got this chart when it first came out and have been wanting to get a start ever since.  it is a band sampler telling the story of the an imaginary family's journey  from Illinois to Oregon City.- the only change I have made is to stitch it not as charted but flip the bands to start the story at the top and not at the bottom.  You can click HERE to see the completed piece on Beth's Etsy shop.

I also worked a bit on "Tis the Season"......

I am taking my time with this piece as it is on the small side so I can savour the stitching....  this will be put away for a bit while I finish up the exchanges and stitch up the March Cottage.  I got "March" the other day and have pulled the floss, now to stitch it up.

and yesterday I baked up a coffee cake....

.....it's a "Chocolate Streusel-Ribboned Cake" and is pretty tasty.  I'll post the recipe in the morning.

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That's about it for today sports fans - thanks again for stopping by, do stop by again!

Take care,

edgar

A Few Friday Things....

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends I am totally at a loss for a title today - sometimes I can try for clever, sometimes just saying it does it, but today, who knows!!

Let me start with a "Tis the Season" update snap...

there are actually a few more stitches than this but as you can see the red bird is complete and now the "vine doth creep."  I have a few WIP's and and actually contemplating another start - I know I will weaken as the days more on and will probably have a new start soon...  how can one resist!!

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Tonight we start off the weekend with a super treat!!  A friend/coworker of Rico's gave us....

... two tickets to the Symphony tonight - so we are going to hear some wonderful music!!  The conductor is Herbert Blomstedt and the music they are featuring is Mozart's Piano Concerto No 9 and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 5.  We are going out to dinner first then on to the Symphony for a really nice evening out!!

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I caught to flickers last night - both comedies...  the first was an older film "A Big Hand for a Little Lady" - 1966 - starring Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards, Paul Ford, Charles Bickford, Burgess Meredith and Kevin McCarthy.

It is a film I have seen before  - but not in along time.  It has a great twist at the end and is totally worth a look!! 

The second film is a more recent comedy "Coneheads" - 1993 - starring Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, David Spade , Michael McKean and Michelle Burke.

Based on a SNL skit this full length movie is just as funny!!  I'm a big SNL fan and totally enjoy this film every time I have seen it!!  There you go two funny films  - giv'em a try.

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That's about it for today sports fans.  Thanks for stopping by, do stop again.  I loved reading your comments form yesterday!!!  Thank you so much!

Take care,

edgar

"Tis the Season" Update and It's Chihuahua Friday....

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends another week gone an we are once again sitting on Friday looking at two days off.  Nothing planned on our end except the usual errands to the grocery store in the morning and the odd Estate sale - I really should run the vacuum and I am sure I'll do a load or two of laundry.....  I am thinking of making some stuffed cabbage - sometimes you get a hankering for something comforting and filling and I think it would hit the spot!!

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I wanted to show and updated snaperoo of "Tis the Season" (please excuse the wrinkles...)

It is coming along nicely - 

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and - since it is Friday we must have a snap of a chihuahua and I think it is little Miss Lolly's turn...

she was not going to take her eyes off of the "cookie" that Rico was holding - they never do when there might be a snack around!!

There you sports fans - thanks again for stopping by and for your sweet words!!  i do appreciate them all!!!!!  Stop buy again soon!

Take care,

edgar

We have a Winner!! Some Stitchin'and some Nuts

Blogging Buddies it is a cold and breezy morning here in SF. The weather actually did drop quite a few degrees from Saturday to Sunday - so we are on track with what the weather magicians have predicted...  now lets see if we get some of that rain later on this week.

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Friday evening after I gathered up all the entries in the Gift-a-way drawing - I hauled out the BOD (bowl of destiny) and had the Hag Claw (Rico) draw a name...

and from the depths he drew forth a name...  Tracey!!!

She can be found over at "More than just Cross Stitching" a Blog that she hosts with a group of friends.  We spent some time Saturday and Sunday gathering up everything.  When I get her address off the box of goodies will fly....  Once Tracey has received it I will post a snap.  Congrats to Tracey - I wanted to thank everyone for their interest and entries - there where over a 140 comments!!

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I did some stitching....  here is a small bit I did.....

... on "Tis the Season" - not much to show, but it is coming along nicely.  I also started up the La D Da - travelling piece....

That snap looks odd - the piece is still in the q-snaps - I chose to stitch it on a piece of 35ct WDW "Havana" using Belle Soie silks - "Red Fox" with the accent "Chester's Blue."  

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Remember last week , Dale sent me some peanuts... and so I had a hankering for some sugar nuts... and since they are super easy to make, I got my rear in gear and made some.  The three ingredients are peanuts, sugar and water... et voila, something delicious to crunch on!!  Here are some step by step photos .....

Throw the nuts, sugar and water in a pan - turn the heat to medium high....  stir and stir until all the water evaporates....

Pour the dry sugar coated nuts onto a pan ....

... put the pan into a pre-heated 300/325 degree oven - and about every 10 or so minutes stir them around - and after about half hour they are roasted and deliciously enrobed in a crunchy sweet coat.  Let them cool off to room temp and enjoy!!

Easy peasy, they are really delicious - and should be stored in an airtight bag/container, they don't last long - so I am not sure how long they keep.

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I will leave you with a snap of the Bay Bridge,

After Mass we drove down to the Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street yesterday looking for breakfast, but there was nothing really open so we drove back to the Mission and had a great breakfast at The Pork Store. 

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That's about it for today sports fans - thanks for stopping by, do come again!!!

Take care,

edgar

A Little Night Stitching

Blogging Buddies, thanks for stopping by this morning.  It will be a short post today - not very much going on at all - which is a good thing.  I like routine and sameness!!  The weather should be changing here in the Bay area very soon and we are to be getting rain in the  next few days....  I'll believe that when I see it!

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Last night - it was a low key vegi/beef soup with cheese toast for dinner.  Rico is coming down with something so he felt like crap - and even stayed home from work today!!  Hope he feels better by the time I get home.

I stitched some on "Tis the Season" and even got out the camera for a snap before wrapping it up.

I had an email asking about the size of this piece and thought I would show it next to the Belle Soie so you can get an idea.  As you can see it is on the smallish side, but the colours are just lovely.  Digging around last night through the stash heap I came across another Cardinal/red bird chart I am thinking of kitting out to begin after I finish up this piece.  It is amazing how many things one can start......

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For the past few days I have had a tune in playing my head - along with all those voices!!  Does that ever happen to you?  I found a clip on You Tube so that you may also enjoy my "ear worm."

This is from the film "Topsy-Turvy" - 1999 - starring Allan Corduner, Jim Broadbent - and a huge cast of excellent actors...  The clip shows Shirley Henderson - an actress I really enjoy!! - as Leonore Braham playing Yum Yum in the Mikado.  The film is all about the creation/production of the Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan in 1885.  A really fun movie!!

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That's about it for toady sports fans.  Do stop by again!!

Take care,

edgar

A Slow Monday Evening

Blogging Buddies it was a very quiet evening - thank goodness.  I was super lazy and hauled out the enchilada leftover for dinner!!  It was just as good on it's return engagement the second night.  I plugged in the tree - yes, my tree is still up and blinking brightly!!  With everything else gone it is only the tree and that is left and that must come down tonight.  With the January Cottage completed and February chart in route I was sort of between projects - well, not really ... I guess I could of pulled out a WIP but why do that when I could here something new calling my name... start em.. start me... start me..........   So I gave in  - after about a half second - and started something I kitted up for Christmas.  If you cast your mind back a few months you might remember I had everything together to start BBD's "Tis the Season" so out it came and I made a pretty sad little start...

I am using the called for Belle Soie and stitching it on LL "Pear" - which looks mighty like a shade of khaki and not very greenish, but nice.

The reason not much stitching was getting done is that I started to watch - on DVD - the super costume drama "Edward the King" - 1975 - starring Timothy West as Edward VII and Annette Crosbie as his Mother, Victoria.

I got the first two discs last night and got through the first one and about half way through the second.  I watch it up to the point just after Edward survives his attack of typhoid fever in 1871.

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The recipe for "Orange Blossoms" is posted over at Blacksheep Bakes so you can click HERE to go there.

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That's about it for today sports fans.  Don't forget to sign up for my Gift-a-way on THIS Blog post.  Thanks for stopping by today, do stop by again.

Take care,

edgar