A Sail Away Treat and an Exchange Arrives

GR&DF I am so happy to see so many throwing in for the Sail Away Drawing (yesterdays post) it is a great piece to stitch. Yesterday the mail brought a real treat and another super memento for the Sail Away SAL - Loraine kindly made needle books for all the participants and I received mine yesterday. Here are 2 snaps...

This is the book closed showing off the wonderful sampler printed fabric......



and here is the inside with the cute boat applique. I have inserted the scissors I attached the Sail Away Fob that Terri made us and I have a complete SAL treasure!! Thank you ladies both for the great experience, the fun and the keeping me sort of on track!!

I had the sweetest email this morning from Marie, my HOE Hallowe'en Exchange partner,
that she received the package I sent her. Here is a snap -

I stitched up a standing Pyn Keepe. The pattern is from the BBD booklet - Trix of Treat and is called Trix or Treat. It is a chart I have wanted to do for so long and just never had the chance - This was the perfect time - it is stitched on 28ct BOF Sandpiper linen using the recommended floss'. The treats I sent along were just fun things of the season - I had a great time as always making this exchange and Marie like everything so all is well!!

Last night I worked almost exclusively on TiTD Sampler - no snap.... so whats up with me being so lax!! I am working along the bottom filling in all the white background stitching behind the numbers - it is pretty tedious and I am not sure why?? I usually like this kind of stitching - the only thing I can think of is that it is a mottled white floss and I do not like stitching white!! I will get a snap today so you can see the progress. I will finish up my exchange ornie this weekend and get that out next week - I think it is really cute and I hope my partner likes it!!

I finished up watching "The Moonstone" - 1972 and BBC production shown over here on Masterpiece Theatre. The story is a Victorian whodunit type with a very convoluted story. It is a 5 part series - I watched the first three parts this weekend on Disc I - Entertaining and well done as are all the BBC things - but a bit drawn out for my taste. I also got a couple more Upstairs Downstairs in and they where more satisfying by far!!

Just in passing - I sit here at my computer all day listening to Internet radio and often listen to those stations that play standard songs from the 30's through the 50's (surprise, surprise) and have really taken to a new singer out there I had never heard of, his name is Julian Yeo,(this will take you to his home page). At the bottom of this page you can listen to him sing "C'est Si Bon" and then "Too Close for Comfort" from his new album. The album they play lots from is his debut album called "Old New Borrowed Blue" and is just full of great songs. I really enjoy his phrasing and interpretation of songs - his publicist calls it a "new - old" approach. If you get the chance you should give him a try!!

There you go for today!! Thanks for stopping by!

Take care,
edgar

A Gift, A Give-A-Way and a Gully Washer

GR&DF it's Tuesday and I pushed it a bit on the title - sometimes I just haven't a clue as to what to head this sucker with. At some point I know I will break and just put nothing, but until that time I will keep trying for the clever and descriptive - :)

Yesterday the delivery guy brought me a Birthday Gift from a dear sweet friend that already does so much!! We all know and Love dear Vonna - she sent me a great gift box of goodies from Dillman Farm in Bloomington IN.


Included in the box is some Apple Butter (a favorite of mine), some Strawberry Jam (yummy) and two kinds of fudge - can you go wrong with any kind of fudge!!
What a great way to wrap up a Birthday!!

Keeping with a friends sort of Blog today - I wanted to have a small Give-a-way - As you saw yesterday I have finished up Sail Away - this was also a gift from a dear friend - Becky - a while back. Made even more special by doing it with a group of friends as a SAL!! I want to make a gift of the Instructions and chart to a stitcher out there that might want to kit it up their self.


Here is a snap of everything including the remaining silks - there really isn't enough of any one colour - but you can get the idea of the colours required if you wanted to use some other floss. It is in very good condition as I always stitch from copies of the chart and not the original charts. So, if you would like this copy of Sail Away to stitch - and it is a great stitch!! - just leave a comment on this post before this Friday, October 16th at 3 PM PST. I will have the Hag Claw draw from the BOD (Bowl of Destiny) and announce the winner next Monday.

My stitching for the last couple of nights had been throwing a couple of strands of floss at TiTD and working on my exchanges. I do love them so but they do seem to stack up don't they!!!

The flickers on the tube have been that superior BBC series - Upstairs Downstairs and not I Claudius. When I was standing in front of the DVD's looking for IC I saw the UD set and thought "I hadn't seen that in a while." So off the shelf it came and I am working my way through the 4th Disc. The complete series is 81 episodes so it will take me a while to get to the end. Rico gave me the whole series a few years back and I watched it then but haven't in a while so I am very excited to rewatch them. I was also poking around on the Internet yesterday and found that they are in production for a 2nd UP series which follows Rose the house parlor maid a few years later into another position as a Housekeeper. It should bee airing next spring (I think) in the UK and eventually here in the States - I can't wait!!! If you have never seen the series I would highly recommend it. Each episode can be watched individually but it is always better to see it from the begging. To watch the progression through the years and see how all the characters develop.

Last but not least - we are in the midst of our first big storm of the season - a bit early - but a total downpour right now!! Here is a snap of it rolling in over the city last night.....

This was the last bit of sunlight breaking through from the west and hitting the buildings of downtown SF - aren't the clouds lovely!!

There you go sports fans!! Thank you once again for all the super nice comments - I do appreciate them and your time for writing!! Have a great rest of the day!

Take care,
edgar

A Low Key Weekend - and a Finish!!

GR&DF the weekend was quite slow and easy - I am still on the mend from my cold and Rico has gotten it and was not well all weekend. He seemed to have gotten a bit sicker and was pretty low - while I felt much better but I was still a coughing, hacking mess. So Saturday I made a big pot of Chicken noodle soup....

...and we have been getting it down for two days - I love soups and chicken is one of my favorites. It turned out pretty tasty but I think we may be a the end of our tolerance for another bowl of soup - there is only so much one can get down before you just can't look at it again!!

Dale and I ran around on Saturday - even thought the entire weekend we were fogged over with steely grey skies. It ruined the Blue Angels demonstration that was to happen. This is the yearly Fleet Week here in SF and part of it is the Blue Angels and all the flying they do over the city. Friday practice was really spectacular but very loud. On late Sunday afternoon they had a couple of fly overs but not the full on demo's. Back to Saturday - here is a snap of the few things I picked up -

The books where a $1 a piece - and you know how I love transferware - after going through the dishwasher the plate went onto my stack of b&w plates and the little pitcher went into the cupboard. I am not sure what the reason for the handle to be on the side is but isn't it sweet. I think it might just be a cream pitcher - but if there is a really reason please let me know, thanks.

This weekend - I finished up "Sail Away" and I think it turned out rather nice - here is a really crappity snap, but you can get the idea....



I also worked on some exchanges and as per usual I needed to get a couple of DMC colours I did not have. So off to Joann's I went and while I was there I picked up these little beauties....

They had 3 pairs left and each one had a slightly different Tartan situation on the handles - I picked the ones that were most cover by the tartan - they certainly do look like Christmas to me!!

I think that's about it for today - Thanks for stopping by!!

Take Care,
edgar

Winding down the week

GR&DF the week has ended and I am feeling at about 90% today - that percentage is up from last night as all the coughing I was doing dropped in to around 10% - I am sure that Rico enjoyed every hack, huck and choke from that fun fest!! I am thinking it was probably the tail end of the little cold I had. All day yesterday I could feel the raspiness in my upper chest when I took a breath - but that has mostly dissipated and this morning it is only the occasional hack and choke.

There was not much stitchity stuff last night - I got together and finished up for mailing this morning both the "Birthday Give-away" and the HOE "Hallowe'en Exchange." That is two more off my list. I put a couple of silk stands into Sail Away, but mostly worked on another upcoming exchange piece and then went to bed early.

The flicker for the evening was last part of the multi part Duchess of Duke Street - I have once again savoured that morsel and will put it away for a couple of years to enjoy again later. I think now I will haul out "I, Claudius" - 1977. I love rewatching superior things on the tube. It is the same with books - I love to reread things and have a short list of rereadable books. One I just finished for the 16th or so time is "And Ladies of the Club" by Helen Hooven Santmyer, 1982. A gigantic piece of wonderfulness I would highly recommend.

There you go sports fans a short one today!!
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Have a great weekend.

Take care,
edgar

Some Lovely Mail

GR&DF thank you so much for your kind get well wishes - I am feeling better. Probably sitting still last night and having hot soup and going to bed earlyish has done a world of good. What is left now is a raspy cough and a stuffed up nose - but I guess it could be worse.

Yesterday when I came in there were packages waiting and then the mail brought more lovely things - so where to start......

I received from my SBBC partner Su a wonderful package -

She stitched up and lovely bag, strawberry and reindeer pyn pillow. The finishing is perfect as is the stitching. Included in the package is some very pretty linen, fabric a cute pair of scissors and a wonderful little Pin Wheelie project. Thanks you so much dear Su!!!

I also got a package from Valerie -

She included some chocolate, licorice (a favorite) and some lovely HDF silks - how sweet was that!! Thank you dear Valerie!!

Another package from a great friend of many years was from Daytona Beach - I am sure I have mentioned this company before...... Angell & Phelps - she sent me a box of their tasty truffles....

This little chocolate place has been around since 1925 - and is a Daytona institution and my favorite candy. If you ever get to Daytona Beach, Florida you should stop by their shop on Beach Street and pick some up!

There was also a package from Vonna - a while back in the throws of cleaning out the guest room closet I came across a piece of needlepoint I did a really long time ago - I thought to myself if anyone could make this into something nice it would be Vonna.... and yesterday this arrived.....

Her finishing is just gorgeous and how she made my little piece of needle work into a beautiful pillow I haven't a clue. This piece brings back so many memories - it was the first painted canvass I had ever done and the first piece I had to decide what coloured wools to use and the first time I had ever used a metallic thread - I couldn't be happier and would highly recommend Vonna and her super finishing!!!!

Last but certainly not least of the mails - I received the Shepherd's Bush chart - Hallowe'en Night - I won in Becky's Drawing over at Stitching Smalls with Friends -

She also included 4 Bats and a Cat - how great are these Hallowe'en pieces!! I know that Hallowe'en Night will be the next Shepherd's Bush piece right after I finish Sail Away.

That's about it sports fans - Thanks for dropping by!!

Take care,
edgar

Back from the Brink

GR&DF that may be a bit much - "from the Brink" - but I left work early on Monday feeling like crap and then stayed out yesterday feeling not good and crappier - with coughing and raspy with phlegm - kind of achy in the joints - just sort of blah. But, I am back today at about 72% - which is up from the 31% I was yesterday morning. I even slept until 11:30am - which is unheard of - I would have probably slept longer but the school yard at the bottom of the Noe Valley was reverberating with the outdoor voices of children at play and I don't think a corpse could have slept through that.

I did finish up the section I started on Wendy Jo's AEoL RR - and here is a really poor snap -

This is really a lovely piece of white linen with Wavy Navy blue floss - this picture makes it look all grey - I will get this in the mail in the next week or so to Deb as the next great shifting will be in about 3 weeks on 10/27.

Aside from that stitching I did nothing but sit around in my sweats and watch TCM. I did want to mention a couple of movies I saw over the weekend that were pretty good. The first flick is called "Sweet Land" - 2005 - a wonderful film about a mail order bride from the "Olde Country" coming to rural Minnesota around 1920. This love story is told in flash back - first back to the late 60's then another flash further back to 1920. I really enjoyed this film and would recommend it to just about anyone. The photography is just great. The second film that I also enjoyed was "The Visitor" - 2007 - a very good film - but it might not be to every ones taste dealing with illegal immigration and apartment squatting. It is a short film at 104 mins so I would suggest giving it a try.

There you go sports fans - Thanks you for all the kind Birthday wishes!!! Do stop by again!

Take care,
edgar

A Really Nice Birthday Weekend!!

GR&DF another year rolls by and I ain't what I used to be!!! We had a wonderfully quite and relaxing weekend - and even though I moved one year closer to oblivion it is nice to sit down and to look back on the past.

But first I should announce the winner of the 2nd Annual Hobbit Birthday Giveaway -
After cutting up 27+ pages of emails....

... and filling up the bowl of destiny.... then getting out the Hag Claw....

and with The Peach checking the name ..... we have a winner.....


- Teresa S from Washington State - is our winner this year - Congratulations!!!!! I was just blown away by the comments - you are all so nice!!! and then from Friday's post the super Birthday Wishes - once again they wash over one like cyber hugs!!!! Thank you all so much - You certainly can't beat this group of great people!!!

What we did this weekend - after spending Friday afternoon at the auto fix it place - and spending not quit a bazillion dollars but damn close - was to stay in the house and not do a blasted thing on Saturday. I worked on Sail Away quite a bit and took this picture in the fading light of day -

It really isn't this blue/grey but the light sort of bit the big one so there ya go! I did notice right now that I forgot to back stitch the little sheep's legs so they are sort of floating on the grass - which is kind of odd!!

Then on Sunday - we did something we have been talking about for a while now. We drove on over to the Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire - It happens on the first Sunday of every month and they have over 800 dealers attending. We spent 7 hours there and saw only about 3/4's of the booths. I did take my camera and got a few snaps - since it is close to the Holidays there was lots of Christmas stuff - like this....

Great Santa light bulb - now I don't know if it worked or not but I thought it was really interesting. There were also these....

great glistening reindeer - this picture does not in any way come close to how great these sparkly beauties looked - they really caught my attention.
Here is the a little grouping of Holiday cheer....

I did get something - Dale wanted to buy me a Birthday present and I picked out a wall pocket/vase. Here is a snap -


The one on the left is the one Dale got me yesterday the one on the right came out of my Great-Grand Mother's home in Decatur Georgia. I can not remember ever seeing another wall pocket like this and when I saw it I had to have it!! I got two wall pockets from my Grand Mother's estate when we broke up her house - both came from her mother's house in Decatur, Georgia. Here is a snap of the other pocket -

I love having a pair of the blue and white ones, but now I have to decide where I want to hang them. I always remember my granny having Ivy growing in them and they hung in the Florida Room (sun porch).

Other presents I received for my Birthday.... some cards from loved ones....

Filled with love, cash and gift certificates!!
I also got some presents from cyber friends living far away - Carol in the UK sent me -

This really cute needle book and some of my favorite gold needles!!
From Margaret, New Zealand came ...

...a great addition to my Royal Comparatives. Carol S one of my first cyber friends sent me a Gift Certificate to Stitching Bits and Bobs - and with all the great releases coming out now that will certainly come in handy!! Thank you all Dear Friends - my special day was just GREAT!!!

I think that's about all sports fans!! Thank you again for all your good wishes!!

Take care,
edgar