Monday, August 30, 2010

Maine!!!! Mia and stitching too.

Sorry I missed posting last week.  We were on vacation up in Maine.  Ah, Maine!  We've been going up for the last 11 years.  I can't believe it's been that long, but when I think that the boy child was 5 when we started, well, it makes sense!

Before we get to the Maine pictures, I thought I'd show you my Family Sampler progress.  This is what I accomplished before we left for vacation.  Mia is actually pretty good at letting me stitch this small piece -- as long as she's sleepy.  lol!


I'm filling in the background of the top portion before I tackle the bottom portion.  Once the fill in is done, you won't be able to see the threads that are carried across the back.  :D  It's on 40ct silk gauze over 1 with Belle Soie silks.

While on vacation, I took advantage of having no curious Mia around to start on Ann Pennsylvania Peacock, by Little by Little.  Here's my progress on that.


I'm stitching it on a mystery 36ct fabric using the called for GAST and DMC threads.


I just love the colors in this piece!


You want to see where I did my stitching while on vacation? 


Nice, huh?  We rented a beautiful little house in Boothbay Harbor that was right on the water, literally.  The views were spectacular.


That's the dock connected to the house.  The kids took advantage of the dock for swimming -- some of the grownups did as well.


And after swimming, one could take advantage of the hot tub by the house.  Luxury!



Here's the view of the house from the dock.



The picture was taken at low tide.  The water at high tide goes right up to the house. 

Anyway, we all had a great time.  We rented the house with my sister's family so their kids and our kids got to hang out.  And the girl child got some cooking lessons from her uncle.


Which was great for me -- usually I help the uncle with the cooking, but I got off this time!  :D  And the uncle is a great cook (that's pound cake in the picture there.)

While we were gone, my friend Kathy (no blog) and her son took care of Mia for us, coming over to the house to feed her and play with her.  When we got home, we were amazed at how much Mia had grown!  Her little kitten face even looks more catlike than before.  It's hard to tell from pictures how much she's grown, but I'll show you anyway.  Here she is right before we left, sleeping with the boy child.


And here she is in a picture taken just a few minutes before.  Yes, she's sleeping on my lap right now while I type this.


That's my laptop behind her, and my huge midriff in the foreground.  See how big she is now?

I'll leave you with one more idyllic picture taken from the house.


I miss it already!

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  I will be stopping by blogs and visiting on a regular basis now that I'm back!  Have a great week!  Don't forget to watch the US Open!!  Tennis -- yay!

51 comments:

BrendaS said...

Great progress on your stitching!

The house you rented looks so relaxing. I would miss it too!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

You had a great vacation!!! And I know the sadness of missing it :)
Thank you for sharing all your lovely pictures! Look at Mia...she's growing so much. I love your Family Sampler too...that is truly going to be gorgeous Margaret!

Sharon said...

What great pictures. I love where you vacationed just so pretty. Your stitching is just gorgeous, you always stitch the most loveliest of all samplers and Mia is just as sweet as can be. Getting so big so fast. xoxo

Deb said...

Those vacation pictures look Idyllic! So relaxing. You had the perfect spot to stitch. Looks like pure heaven. Love your progress on both your samplers but especially Ann. I think you're crazy for doing the other one - I'd go blind for sure. But it looks great!

And Mia looks like she's grown so big. Just like kids but quicker.

Annie said...

That looks like a fabulous getaway.. the perfect vacation. Beautiful stitching too.

Catherine said...

Your stitches look great. Love the colors!!

Thanks for sharing the pics of your beautiful vacation spot! We were supposed to travel to BoothBay back in July, but had to cancel as our oldest son's baseball team made it to States which was held the week we were to be in ME! The spot you had was absolutely beautiful!

Laurie in Iowa said...

Oh Margaret, what a wonderful spot you had for stitching while in Maine. It looks like a fabulous place to spend a week or more in the summer... but I bet it's really cold there in the winter months.
Wonder progress on both your samplers.
Mia is adorable... but I still think she's going to grow a bit more. Enjoy her baby days... they grow up so quickly.

Brigitte said...

Oh Margaret, what a terrific spot for holidays! And even with a stitching place for you overlooking the lake and everything. That's like a dream come true.
Very nice progress on your Family Sampler. And wow, a Little by Little design. Looks great!

Melissa said...

Margaret! Your vacation house is pretty awesome. It would have been hard to leave even with cutie pie Mia to come home to.

The Scarlett House said...

Ah Margaret, that stitching spot looks like it was wonderful. I can see why you enjoyed it so. I haven't been to Maine for many years, but I loved it. Nice progress on your latest samplers.
I bet Mia is glad to have her family home.

Sandy said...

What a great place to stitch, Margaret. Nice rental choice!! Your stitching is wonderful, as always. I don't know how you're focusing on the Family Sampler, though ... tiny! And APP is looking soooo pretty. Little Mia sure did some growing. What was Kathy feeding that baby?!

Melanie said...

What a glorious stitching spot! Just a lovely place.

Raven/Missy said...

Your stitching looks fantastic! What a wonderful place to stitch, just gorgeous!

KarenV said...

Mia is really growing up! Such a cutie :)

Glad you had a nice vacation, it looks like a wonderful spot. Great stitching progress too :)

Carol said...

I haven't been to Maine in 33 years, Margaret--went there on my honeymoon! Your lovely photos are making me want to get back there very soon...

Both your stitching and your growing kitty are beautiful--always a treat to visit your blog :)

Sylvia said...

Lovely pictures of Main - great house you had there. Ann P. is such a lovely sampler - she is next on my list, all ready to go. I just need to get through some of the Christmas stitching, and then I'll start her.

Mia is growing and she is so cute. BTW I have seen you in person and your midriff is not big....

valerie said...

Wow, what a great vacation spot. It just looks so relaxing not to mention the most gorgeous stitching spot ever. Wow! Great progress on your family sampler and start on Ann. The colors are very soothing in that one. Mia is a total cutie...don't you wish they stay kitten size forever?!

Deborah said...

Looks like you had a great time in Maine. It's so beautiful there. Your stitching is awesome.

Siobhán said...

Wow Margaret, what a vacation!! The pics are fantastic--the house must have been AWESOME! Great progress on the stitching, too. Mia sure has grown in one week!

Berit said...

Beautiful! Amazing stitching (as ever), and love those water/house pics! I can totally see the Mia-Transformation, too! :o

Oh, finally, love DD's suit--sophisticated!

Dona said...

It's been too long since I've visited blogs. I'm so glad you had a good vacation - beautiful views! And Mia - she's a sweetie! It doesn't take long to fall in love with them. I missed commenting on the post before this one. What a lovely young lady your daughter seems to be. I know you're proud of her. My babygirl turned 20 in June. How could that have been 20 years ago?

Loretta a/k/a Mrs. Pom said...

Awesome house! We've haven't been back to Maine in (gulp) 30 years and I am dying to go to Boothbay and then Acadia. Looks like a fabulous family time and they are to be treasured these days!

samplerlover said...

Hi Margaret, it looks as if you had a wonderful time while you were away and the spot that you picked to do your stitching looks like the perfect spot.
Your Family Sampler is looking lovely and I have always liked Ann Peacock. Looking forward to seeing more of her. She is the one with the face that is stuck on right. Interesting, shall look forward to see how you go with it. - Sandra

Liz said...

What a great holiday house Margaret, a couple of weeks there wouldn't be a hardship..!!
Mia is growing into a lovely cat, gorgeous colours on her....
Lizzie
xxx

Karen said...

What a beautiful vacation spot! It looks like a lovely, relaxing place to spend a week.

Your Ann is beautiful...gorgeous colors! I'm looking forward to watching your progress on her.

Natalia said...

Margaret, it looks like you had such a wonderful vacation !! Main is beautiful... I've wanted to go there for a long time, but haven't yet. By the way, I love your Pennsylvania Peacock !!

Jackie's Stitches said...

I'll need to get with you about places to visit in Maine if we go next year. Your photos are beautiful and it looks like a wonderful area!

I can get how much Mia has grown! WOW! That didn't take long at all.

Littlebit said...

Beautiful stitching, Margaret!! And oh my, you really had the perfect stitching spot. I don't know how you left! You should have let me know you were going there--I would have gone too..love that house. lol!

Katrina said...

Well you know how gorgeous I think your vacation spot is!!!! Looks like such a good time. Glad Mia was none the worse for wear :-). She's such a pretty kitty.

APP is gorgeous I so want to stitch her. She's moved to the top of my short list. Love your silk gauze piece.

Melissa said...

Oh wow, what a lovely post! Where to start first?

The place in Maine looks wonderful. It sounds like you had a fabulous time!

I love your stitching, and now I want to get Ann P as well! lol. It's easy for you to tempt me!

And Mia looks very sweet!

Lois said...

I was just thinking you'd be getting all geared up for the tennis Margaret! Me to!! What beautiful pics from your trip, the house looks wonderful and what a beautiful view to be looking out on to.

Loved seeing the pics of what you're working on, all looking great.

Mia certainly has grown - what a sweetheart!

Dona said...

P.S. Margaret! The U.S. Open!! Woohoo!!

Cathy Lloyd said...

Oh wow! What a vacation! Looks like it was so much fun. I love the piece you are stitching on now! FABULOUS! I love the colors too. Glad you are back tho...missed you!

Anonymous said...

What gorgeous photos of beautiful Maine. Thank you for sharing them. :) So glad you had such a good time with your family! And lovely stitching, too...how could it not be with that view to sit in front of!

Alice said...

What a fantastic view out of the house onto the bay. Now is that a holiday or what! Great photos of your vacation. I love your new projects. The "little by little" design is very pretty but I never could get myself to stitch it because of the face. I am looking forward to seeing how you will finish it. Mia has definitely grown and clearly has a great character. Enjoy her.
Alice
xxx

Michelle said...

What a glorious time you had!! Beautiful photos. I'm loving your new start on Ann PP. She is fantastic and I love the colors too. Mia is darling, and she does look more grown up. Amazing what a few days can do!

Sherry :o) said...

Mia does look bigger - they grow as quickly as our children, don't they? It looks like a great vacation and you made good stitching progress!

Loraine said...

Oh I so want to be on vacation with you! What a fabulous house, and the views are wonderful!
Love all the stitching you got to do too. You have such wonderful taste in samplers. I love the silk gauze piece, and the new Ann! Darling beyond words!

Kajsa said...

That looks like a great vacation! I love Maine. Lovely stitching, but yours always is.

Cari said...

Oh my gosh Margaret...your vacation looked like it was perfect...just perfect. Thanks so much for sharing your pics. And your stitching, of course, is stunning. I just saw your 40 ct. gauze piece in the Attic's newsletter...you go girl!! Have a great week and hugs to Mia !!

Sharon said...

Beautiful stitching and beautiful vacation photo's. Your stitching spot was awesome!

mainely stitching said...

Okay, I have to insist that next time you are in Maine you let me know so I can drive down to where you're staying and say hello! :)

marylin & poussy said...

Oh these photos are wonderful you are very lucky! Your embroidery are wonderful that with the bird I like! Big kisses

Alma Allen said...

A family vacation in a great location looks so idyllic! You couldn't have found better light for stitching if you looked all year. Wonderful view, great food, and something for everyone to do that they enjoy. Perfect vacation! Little Mia looks so sweet! Love Ann Penn. Peacock too.

Giovanna said...

What a wonderful place for a break! Can't think of a better place to sit and stitch. You've made great progress on your WIPs - love to see how those background threads disappear.

Nancy said...

Nice progress on both of your beautiful samplers! I stitched Ann Pennsylvania Peacock a couple of years ago, and it's my favorite sampler! I envy you stitching by the water. I think that would be heavenly! Thanks for sharing your photos, and Mia is just as sweet as can be!

Mary said...

That was a great post Margaret. Your family sampler is looking good and what a difference the background makes. "Ann" is looking so pretty - it is nice to do some light colours for a change. Mia is so sweet - I am sure she would have been pleased to see you all back. Your stitching spot looked like heaven to me - I am sure you came back very refreshed.
Mary

Karoline said...

What a stunning place for a holiday, no wonder you miss it.

Family Sampler and Ann are looking lovely

Bertie said...

Your miniature is wonderful Margaret, love the colours too.

How wonderful to be able to rent a house on the beach, and you stitching there with that view must be absolute bliss. Great family pictures and the tub looks so inviting, did Mia get a swim too!! LOL.

Joy said...

What a wonderful place to stitch! Mia is so sweet...bet she was happy to have you home. Lovely stitching as always.

woolwoman said...

Margaret - what wonderful photos of your vacation house in Maine - I have a friend who has a summer home there in Boothbay Harbor - too bad I never took up her offer to visit up there. Your WIP's are gorgeous as always - hope you are enjoying the US Open this weekend - we are vacationing in the Smokies - the weather is glorious here - it was in the 50's this morning - WHEEEE - Mel