Monday, April 1, 2013

More empty nesting

Got a bit more done on Rachel.  The top and left borders are done.  And the poor bird on the left just looks plain naked right now.


More on those keys in a bit.  See the poor bird?


Ah well.  Hopefully he'll have more plumage soon.

The father type and I did some more empty nesting this week.  We did a bit of antiquing.  Nothing much picked up except for these.


Found some old (or new) cigar boxes and some old skeleton keys and couldn't resist.  After seeing Mary's blog with her cigar boxes and finishing, I went for it.  And I've been longing for some cool old keys for a while.  Don't ask me why.

Sunday, the father type and I had Easter alone with no kids.  The boy child is at college, of course, and the girl child was spending time with friends.  The father type did make a nice small Easter dinner for us though.



There was pie as well, which is not good for my waistline.  lol!

Here is a pic of Mia being excited about bird watching.


And here is a pic of Mia being nonchalant about bird watching.


Silly cat.

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  I hope everyone has a great week.


44 comments:

Annie said...

The sampler is coming along great. Lots of nice motifs and colors to keep it interesting.

Those cigar boxes are great finds!

Kind of sad not to have the family together at Easter, but sounds like the two of you had a nice time just the same. Time and life march on!

Cari said...

Rachel is beautiful. She has such wonderful colors and I love the big birds. She'll look great with Charlotte Clayton won't she?

The cigar boxes and keys are a great find. I love old keys too. I got some from my Mom's collection after she passed away. I have them tied together with some fun ribbon and put them with my sewing stuff.

Sweet Mia is all that...just as sweet as ever. Enjoy your week !! Hugs

Ellen said...

You are making nice progress on Rachel.

What nice finds you made while antiquing. I love to go off and do the same, although it has been months since I've done so.

Sounds like your family traditions are changing...we've been there so we know what you are going through. How nice that your hubby made dinner--that gave you more stitching time, right?

BrendaS said...

Nice progress on Rachel! Glad you had a nice Easter:)

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

I love progress your stitching ....
bisous my friend

Anonymous said...

Stunning sampler

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Damn, Margaret! You are the fastest stitcher I know!!! ;-) Rachel looks great and even the bird looks good!

Leneslines said...

Love how Rachel is coming along, look forward to see the plumage:) Mia looks good. She has grown! Happy belated Easter.

Laurie in Iowa said...

Big Bird to Margaret.... please, please... can I have my clothes???
Rachel looks wonderful, nice antique shopping finds, yummy food and great photos of Mia.
Always enjoy Monday mornings and seeing your new blog post.

Linda said...

I like old cigar boxes too. Don't really do anything with them tho... and I have a huge collection of old keys - mine are smaller - got them at an antique shop over the years (the place is now gone darn it)! But if you ever need a little key for something, I'd be glad to send you one....

Linda in VA

Bertie said...

The bird must be nice to work on, seeing the colours appearing, look forward to that!
Food is looking good, love asparagus, yummie.
Does Mia get out of the house? nice boxes Margaret, will have a look at the link.
Have a great week;))

cucki said...

Super sweet sampler x

Deb said...

Rachel is really coming along. I do love the colors in this one!!

Love the cigar boxes and the keys. I've been trying to find a few of those (boxes) but have only come across a couple. I need to do something with them sometime.

Is Mia missing Eli now that he's back at school?

Carol said...

Nice progress on Rachel, Margaret! Our Easter was quiet, too, as we only had one of our sons here... Add that to the miserable weather and it wasn't the best day. At least I had some chocolate bunnies to cheer me up! How nice that your husband cooks--I'm so envious :)

Mugwump Woolies said...

Rachel is so pretty. The colors are just wonderful. We had an easy and quiet Easter here, too. It was so nice!
Love the keys!
Have a great week,
Robyn

The Inspired Stitcher said...

The sampler looks great. I have to agree, the bird will look fine once it gets some feathers.

Got to love finding hidden treasures like the boxes and keys.

Dawn said...

Rachel is beautiful. Love your weekend finds. Good to get out and treasure hunt.
Mia is so sweet 'relaxing' as she watches the birds.
Have a great week!

woolwoman said...

Rachel - just beautiful !(sigh) my silk conversion is on the way. I got the chart and linen thinking that would hold me back from a start - NOT - seeing yours materialize before my eyes was just too much temptation. Glad you had a nice dinner and fun antiquing with your DH this weekend. Enjoy your weeek! mel

Vickie said...

oOo! You had yummy asparagus. I have that waiting to be cooked up in the frigde. Love it!!
Your sampler is so pretty, even with a large, naked bird in it! ;)

Faye said...

Rachel is a stunner!!!! I'm going to multi task between AAWFAA and Scarlett House Ann Priest...... Low key is how we were too this weekend......

Beth said...

Two interesting collection - keys and cigar boxes - both very cool. Mia looks to be quite entertained.

Ann at Beadlework. said...

I love all the red in your sampler, it's looking so good. Mia always puts a smile on my face, she is such a cutie.

Merry Wind Farm said...

Hi, Margaret,
Rachel is coming along lovely. Sounds like a nice Easter with your hubby, it was quiet here, too, just me and my mother, Evan was working. We just had sandwiches!
In the one picture of Mia birdwatching, is that a lamp stand next to her? It looks like it is ready to hit the floor! My kittens are always knocking things over, and they do it on purpose!

I have a little teeny thing I'd like to send you, Can you email me your address? Mehitable1@aol.com
Melinda

Mary said...

Margaret, I'm so flattered you like my cigar boxes enough to track some down for yourself! Funny you shuld mention it just now,as I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with the size of all my current projects and was thinking anouther cigar box might be just the thing!

Rachel of course is to die for - I really must track her down for myself.

Glad you had an intimate Easter, just the two of you, Gotta love a man who can cook!

Evelyne said...

Nice Progress on "The Rachel Sampler".
Very delicious dinner!
Love your antique finds.

Hugs, Evelyne

Linda said...

Great progress on Rachael Margaret. You take the cutest pictures of Mia. I love the one with her hanging over the chair. I have one cat that lays like that.

Linda

valerie said...

Awesome progress on Rachel! You've gotten so much done already. So nice of DH to cook Easter dinner. It looks yummy! My Easter dinner was sushi...now I wish I had ham! LOL

Wanda said...

Rachel is beautiful! I've just ordered her although I don't know what century I think I will work on her! Oh, well, patterns are also just fun to have. I love your old keys. I have some mixed in with dishes of buttons in my sewing room (just out of reach of our two cats). Have a great week, Wanda

Anna van Schurman said...

What will you be making with the keys? Your stitched piece is so beautiful! Even with the naked bird. ;)

Mouse said...

ooooo lovely progress ....
and love old keys ... what you got planned for them and the cigar boxes ???

hellooo Mia ... Bentley is snoozing at the moment too ... :) love mouse xxxx

Chris said...

Gorgeous progress, I can't wait to see the whole bird next week.
Looks like you guys are having some low key(ha ha) fun.
Hugs!

Adele said...

I enjoy seeing pictures of Mia and her various sleeping poses. Cats can warm your heart with their antics!

You are making nice progress on the Rachel Howells sampler. The border flowers are stunning. However, the inscription in the upper right hand corner is puzzling. Can you figure out what it means?

Kathy said...

Margaret, love that bird! I think he's so cute right now, even naked, as you say,lol. Glad you had a nice Easter with hubby. Always nice when they decide to do the cooking. Mia is a riot. It amazes me how many different places they find to sleep. Mine is all over the house from one bed (even though it's not a bed, he thinks it is) to another.

Kathy said...

Margaret, love that bird! I think he's so cute right now, even naked, as you say,lol. Glad you had a nice Easter with hubby. Always nice when they decide to do the cooking. Mia is a riot. It amazes me how many different places they find to sleep. Mine is all over the house from one bed (even though it's not a bed, he thinks it is) to another.

Unknown said...

Can you post what fabric and count you are using for Rachael? Sounds like the empty nest is a lot of fun!!
Thanks!! Shelly

Giovanna said...

Nice going on the sampler - I'm sure the bird is well dressed by now :-)

Liz said...

a quiet one here too for Easter, just me for most of the days which did enable me to stay in my sewing room for the entire day....now that can't be too bad :)
lovely stitching as usual...
xxx

Krista said...

Great progress on your sampler! Mia looks quite stretched across to that window sill! must catch those birds!! :) Have a great week, Margaret!

Sherry said...

Rachael is looking wonderful! I am ready for an empty nest! Sounds like you had a lovely Easter.

Jean said...

Your rachel is really coming along beautifully Its hard at first when they are gone for holidays. :)

Catherine said...

Rachel looks wonderful ~ I really love this one!!
I've often wondered why colleges can't plan spring break around Easter. Such a meaningful day for so many. Your dinner looks yummy!! Mia never fails to bring a smile to my face!

Sally said...

Rachel is gorgeous.

Every time I see Mia she makes me smile!

Anne said...

Rachel is coming along beautifully! I hope her bird gets some plumage soon! Love the skeleton keys! My sister found some antiquing and she framed them. Looks really good framed. Those cigar boxes are pretty neat and would be great for finishing! I like how Mia watches birds enthusiastically and lazily too! Does she swish her tail while she watches? That's what Titus does!

Melanie said...

I love all old keys! Very great find there. They are quite fashionable as pendants lately too, at least on Etsy.