Thursday, December 10, 2009

More letters and getting the tree

I was going to post sooner, but then of course I got into the "let me finish one more block" mode and waited till I finished one more block.  So here are S and T on my Prairie Schooler ABC piece.



 

And here is the whole piece so far.



I'm using 30ct Legacy Custard Creme over one with DMCs.  I changed DMC 502 to 503 in the Time block.  Still having problems with colors being too close.

In other news, we went for a Christmas tree this past weekend.  The girl child is still at school so it was just the boy child, the father type and me.  This year, the father type was determined to go to the farm of Kate Millett, a feminist who was apparently famous in the 70's.  (I'd never heard of her.)   So we went in search and found her house.  The father type got to meet her and get her to autograph a book for him, and he bought a couple more too (all authored by her of course).  Then we went in search of the elusive tree farm that was supposed to exist opposite her house.  Turns out there really wasn't much there in the way of trees.  Most were too tall, even for us.  And I would say there weren't more than maybe a half dozen to a dozen trees at that.  That were a reasonable size that is.  There were quite a few that were waaaay to big.  For example, this one that the boy child said we should take home.




But we were lucky.  After shaking snow off of various specimens, which were all tall (but not as tall as that one in the picture), the father type found one sitting off by itself, fairly non snow-covered, and a pretty good size.  (We'd learned our lesson after one year where the tree took up practically half the livingroom.  Now we look at trees that look like a good size but are actually way too big and say "oh, that's way too big," instead of taking it home and finding that it takes up half the livingroom.)   So the father type swung into action and sawed the tree down.



Then the boys lugged the tree back over the snow (it had snowed miraculously the day before to give us the perfect snowy day for tree cutting) to the car and we headed home.





Here's the boy child decorating the tree at home.





It was quite a successful day -- I always crack the whip and make us decorate the tree as soon as we get home.  So now we have a tree and it feels like Christmas.  (I got voted down emphatically on the "let's get an artificial tree this year" suggestion so it's vacuuming needles for another year.)

I hope it's starting to feel like Christmas for you as well!  And happy Hannukah for those of you who celebrate Hannukah.  It starts at sundown December 11.

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hello.  It's almost TGIF time!  (I keep thinking it's Friday but it's not.)

33 comments:

Laurie in Iowa said...

Your tree is beautiful. I love the scent of fresh cut trees... but curse when I'm still vacuuming up the pine needles in August.

I can't believe how fast you are cranking out those PS alphabets. Love all you've accomplished so far and looking forward to seeing more snaps of your sampler.

Nancy said...

You have a gorgeous Christmas tree! Enjoy!

Your Prairie Schooler alphabet looks beautiful! I love the little lady holding the scissors.

Giovanna said...

Ever the speedy stitcher, you :-) Wow, lots done, and Time is probably my favourite of the lot. Lovely tree! We still have to put our artificial one up - a job for DH and the boys, I just scatter Xmas-themed stitched items around.

mainely stitching said...

Wow the tree you did get would take up nearly our whole living room. (I am so glad we're moving, LOL!) It's a gorgeous tree.

PS is looking FABULOUS. I love the Legacy linen - such a dream to stitch on. :D

Glenna said...

Your blocks are coming along beautifully. I have wimped out on the 45 count and will restart one of these days when I'm not frittering my time away on shiny threads.

I love your tree (and also, the huge tree you didn't bring home). We have an artificial tree and it's not atmospheric. And I still have to vacuum up after it--it's oldish now, and it's shedding plastic needles. Depressing. Much better to have a live tree.

Siobhán said...

Gorgeous tree, Margaret! It looked like the perfect day for a trip to find a Christmas tree. :)

Love your PS ABC progress, O Speedy Stitcher! ;)

Love to Stitch said...

Love your Christmas tree--it is Perfect! How fun to go and cut down a tree-- something I have never done, maybe someday! You are cruising on the ABC PS! Wow, I am enjoying watching your progress!

Unknown said...

Margaret - what a beautiful tree. How fun to go traipsing thru the farm and find a tree - and your husband even chopped it down, WOW. Your son is so cute!

Lovely work on your alphabet. I am looking forward to starting on mine, though it will be hard to put down my A&E.

Enjoy your weekend.

Cathy Lloyd said...

We went Christmas tree cutting one year when Christy was 4. We drove for what seemed like hours. Christy was dressed all in her snow pants, boots, etc.... Surprise for a 4 year old...she had to go to the bathroom... couldn't get her clothes off fast enough! Spent the rest of the day in pee pants...I hadn't planned for a change of clothes. Needless to say, we've never gone to cut a tree since!

Love your PS! LOVE it over 1! Enjoy Margaret and enjoy the season with your real tree!

Anonymous said...

wow! I can't believe how fast you're putting out those PS blocks! I've been working on mine for close to a week and I haven't even finished half of the A block! Very nice! I will have to jot down your changes in color choices for when I get those those parts.

Michelle said...

Totally in love with your PS blocks!!! They are amazing. And the colors are just beautiful! Congrats on getting your tree, we will be putting ours up on Saturday - it's been outside since last Sunday.

valerie said...

Wow, amazing progress on your PS ABCs! They look great...I've never stitched on Legacy Linen before. Am I missing out on something I should know about?!

Great tree! You guys are brave to actually go to a farm and cut it down yourself...or well, the Father Type is! lol

Cari said...

Margaret, Your stitching is beautiful...of course. You are coming along fast, fast, fast girl. I love it!!

And your tree is just beautiful!! There's nothing like a freshly cut Christmas Tree!! Have a wonderful week! Hugs

Georgie said...

Wow, look at all that snow! We don't get snow where we live, in fact, it's Summer here. So it's a hot Christmas for us! My favourite block it T, I just love that clock

Deb said...

I think that you found the perfect tree, Margaret, and the perfect day to get it. I love live trees, but get voted down in favor of that "tree from hell fake thing" that I have now. Years ago we bought a real tree and the darned thing took up most of our living room. But it was a great tree.

Speaking of great, your PS Alphabets are wonderful. I just can not believe how much you have done on this already.

cathymk said...

Oh my Margaret your PS Alphabet is moving along beautifully!

Your Christmas tree is gorgeous!

Melissa said...

You are making great progress with the PS alphabets!

Love the tree. You are getting into the Christmas spirit. (I'm behind schedule!)

Cathy B said...

Margaret, your tree is beautiful! The lights are so pretty! I bet it smells wonderful!

And your PS sampler - I can't believe how quickly you are stitching those blocks!

Loraine said...

What a great tree! I love real trees, and haven't bought one for years. At least when you vacuum up the needles it will smell "Christmas-ie" in your house!
I can't believe how fast you are stitching your ABC PS sampler. You will have that done in no time! I opted for the 28 count even-weave. 30 count still looked a little too small. I am loving yours! You are such an inspiration. Thanks for posting pictures. I love looking! You are my stitching hero!

Sandy said...

Good thing you didn't go with Eli's first choice of Christmas trees!! LOL

The one you got looks gorgeous, as do all those stitched ornaments on it.

Every single block of your PS Alphabet is looking so pretty, too, Margaret ... love it!

Julia said...

I must ask... how ginormous is that piece of linen you're doing the alphabet on? Even at 40ct it must be the size of a dinning room table.

We always wait till the last minute to get a tree. I don't think anyone at this house is all that into Christmas trees. When we go away for Christmas we don't get one at all.

Margaret said...

Julia, I'm stitching it over one!! lol!

woolwoman said...

Margaret - OH how I love your PS piece - it is SO beautiful - I think it is going to be smashing over 1 on the 30ct. WOW - thanks for documenting the process of cutting down a tree - this will remind me that we NEVER want to do this LOL - of course it would not be snowing here but I would always be worried there would be something "living" in the tree that would get in my house - I always remember the Christmas Vacation Chevy Chase movie with the squirrel running out and wrecking havoc - that would be my luck LOL - Hope you and the family have a wonderful holiday season! Melody

Dona said...

Margaret, your tree is beautiful and full. It looks like you guys had fun bringing it home, too.

Great progress on your PS. I really like the S and T blocks, but I like them all it's hard to pick a favorite!

samplerlover said...

Hi Margaret,
Love the photo's in the snow. Ahhh snow. Could do with some here at the moment. Back to the trees lol. It looks like you all had a lovely time together amongst the trees.
You know Margaret, your PS ABC is really looking lovely. I have never really looked at this sampler as it isn't usually my "thing" as you know, but I checked out what you have done so far and it is quite lovely. Because you doing it all over 1 it just makes it look so special. - Sandra.

Lisa said...

I love your PS alphabet Margaret!! And how fun getting the tree~~loved the pics.

The French Bear said...

Your needle work is incredible, the stitches are so tiny and perfect!!! OMG I love the piece so far, can't wait to see it finished. I am so slow at cross stitch!
Thanks for stopping by and entering my draw, good luck!!!
Hugs,
Margaret B

Alma Allen said...

Love your tree! Looks like your son is a big help!!!

Have to confess, I called a needlework shop and ordered the patterns of the alphabet sampler. Yours is turning out quite splendid! And I thought I might like to do one too when I go to the nursing home. Barb went ahead and ordered the kit....I didn't go quite that far.

Brigitte said...

You made some great success on the PS alphabet. It looks so neat stitched over one.
Your tree is such a pretty one. We always have a real tree, too, so I know all about needles falling off and being dragged all over the hosue before I et to vacuuming them, lol.

The Scarlett House said...

Missy, you are leaving the rest of us in the dust! Looks fabulous.
Lucky you that you can have a real tree. I miss that smell. Is that a big stone fireplace I see? I'm soooooo jealous.

Katrina said...

Love your PS piece and your tree is gorgeous too.

Sherry said...

Beautiful tree! I love that you look for your own out in nature! Your alphabet sampler is really coming along! I am drooling!

Jackie's Stitches said...

You've gotten a lot completed! I'm tempted to think about doing this myself....