stitchy knitty empty nest again

I have a stitching finish!  Shocking, I know.  :D

Margaret Cottam Mystery Sampler by La D Da

called for threads and linen (except for linen being 40ct)

I'm so glad I found this one languishing in my UFO pile.  I do love it!

I've also worked on my mitered square blanket, usually while watching the US Open.

I'm well into the 4th row now.

We had to say goodbye to the boy child once again -- time for him to go back to college.

I can't believe it's his last year of college.  How did that happen?  Here's to a good senior year!

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

Too much to talk about....

One problem with not posting as often.  I have too much to talk about when I do post!

First, the various projects I've been working on.  I started and finished Plum Street Samplers -- Serial Bowl Collection, Sampler Lesson 2.  (I still have to finish finish it though...)

Then I found an old UFO and started working on it -- the Margaret Cottam Mystery Sampler by La D Da.

I've also been working on my mitered square blanket.  I'm 6 squares from finishing the third row.

We celebrated the girl child's birthday together in NYC.  It was a fun day with yummy food and a great bookstore discovery too.

And then we went to Maine!  The girl child only stayed for half the week, but despite that and lots of fog and clouds, we had a good time.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

(Loved this "chandelier" in Abacus)

Someone was very happy to see us when we got home.  

(This was actually the day I was packing for Maine...)

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

So I was wrong -- or the hazards of model stitching

So Paulette was kind to me and told me to send her model back even though there was a tiny bit more to stitch.  (Hopefully, Paulette thinks it's just a tiny bit too.)   And my supplies for stitching the next model hadn't arrived yet.  So I had a couple of days to play.  So I started something new.  A hazard of model stitching -- you figure you only have a bit of time till the next model comes, so you decide to stitch something new on the spur of the moment.

It's the Margaret Cottam mystery sampler by La D Da.  I think it's so pretty!  And very La D Da as well!  I haven't put in the last number on the year yet since I don't know when I'll finish it.  (I'm using the called for fabric in 40ct with the called for fibers.)

So then Saturday came and we went off to get our Christmas tree, tramping through the fields of our favorite tree farm up north, and marveling at all the enormously tall trees they had this year.  Just to show you how tall the tree is that we chose:

Tall!!  (The father type is 6 ft tall.)

So we did our usual cutting, driving home, decorating, etc.  And I figured that the model supplies would be waiting for me in the mailbox.  No supplies in the mailbox.  So what does my little mind say to myself?  Ooooh, more playtime!  And what kind of mood am I in now?  A Christmas one of course!  Time for another new start!

(I have to say that this is the first time in at least a couple of years that I've actually been in the mood for Christmas when we've put up our tree.  Yay!  It's really nice!)

So anyway, some friends were talking about those Carriage House Samplings stockings that we all want to stitch up.  And that got me to thinking.  Well, I have this one stitched up.

A Virtuous Woman Stocking

from a Hands to Work retreat kit

36ct fabric with NPI fibers

And I have this one stitched up.   (Please note: neither one is actually made into a stocking yet.  Sadly.)

Sampler Stocking by CHS

40ct Meadow Rue

NPI fibers

And I so want to stitch this one.

(I grabbed the picture from Kathy Barrick's old website.  I hope it's ok.)  

So guess what I started on Sunday?

Noah's Stocking by CHS

40ct Lentil

NPI fibers

I've had this kitted up and ready to go for years!

I'm already thinking about which other one to stitch.  lol!  I know I have the Quaker one ready to go (except maybe for fabric).  But I do love that Pennsylvania German one.  And I don't think I even have the chart.  Sigh.

Anyway, now you understand the hazards of model stitching.  Since there was another reprieve from the next model, it called for a second start.  lol!  Not good!  Poor Sarah Elizabeth Brooke.  (Remember her?)  Two starts while waiting for the model supplies.  I do know that if the supplies don't arrive today (which I think they will), I won't start another project.  I'm in the mood for Christmas stitching!

Mia has been just fine with the Christmas tree.  Unlike poor Chris, whose tribulations with her Christmas tree and her two cats can be read here.  Mia's reaction to the tree as it arrived was pretty much the same as last year, except for a bit more trepidation this time around.  She just didn't like something new to come into her house.  lol!  But she did sniff around and explore.  No real interest in the tree otherwise.

Hopefully, she'll continue to exhibit no interest in the tree.  :D

Some blogging friends have left suggestions as to what to show or what to discuss in my blog as I dive into model stitching again.  So next week, I will try to get to those suggestions.  It's so nice to talk to blogging friends and get ideas and be inspired!

I'll leave you with the picture I used for our annual Apple photo book that we send to our family members each year.  (And yes, we get a copy for ourselves as well!)   (And yes, I'm an Apple girl, through and through.)  Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  I hope everyone has a wonderful week!